Medicare Advantage

Before Oct. 15: what Newark members should check

Essex County has 46 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 10 plans are not coming back, 10 are new, and 12 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 2 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Newark, not which plan to pick.

Medicare AdvantageNewark, NJ

NEWARK, N.J. — When the Annual Enrollment Period opens Oct. 15, some Newark-area Medicare Advantage members will find that the plan they have this year is not being offered in 2027. Others will see the same plan continue with tweaks spelled out in their Annual Notice of Change. And a new insurer, Devoted Health, is entering Essex County for the first time.

Here is a plain-English look at what is changing, and what a member should do about it.

What's changing in Essex County for 2027

Newark is in Essex County, where Medicare Advantage availability is set. Two carriers that offered plans in 2026 will not be back in the county in 2027: Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC) and Braven Health. A new carrier, Devoted Health, is entering the county.

The table below lists every 2026 plan sold in the county. Here is how the picture shifts for 2027:

• 10 plans are leaving
• 10 plans are new
• 2 plans are being renamed
• 10 continuing plans have a change on file (premium, deductible, plan type or name)
• 36 plans continue

Plans that will not be offered in 2027

If you are enrolled in one of these plans, your coverage under it ends Dec. 31, 2026:

• Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• HealthSpring True Choice (PPO) — Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)
• Braven Medicare Choice (PPO) — Braven Health
• Braven Medicare Choice Plus (PPO) — Braven Health
• Braven Medicare Freedom (PPO) — Braven Health
• Braven Medicare Salute - No Rx (PPO) — Braven Health
• Wellcare Giveback (HMO-POS) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Patriot Simple (HMO-POS) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage Secure (HMO-POS D-SNP) — Elevance Health (Anthem)

CMS calls this a plan "non-renewal." You will get a written notice from your carrier by early October explaining the end date.

Plans that are new for 2027

Ten plans are joining the county lineup:

• DEVOTED C-SNP CHOICE ENHANCED 004 NJ (PPO C-SNP) — Devoted Health
• DEVOTED C-SNP CHOICE GIVEBACK EXTRAS 005 NJ (PPO C-SNP) — Devoted Health
• DEVOTED C-SNP CHOICE PLUS 003 NJ (PPO C-SNP) — Devoted Health
• DEVOTED CHOICE 001 NJ (PPO) — Devoted Health
• DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK 002 NJ (PPO) — Devoted Health
• DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK EXTRAS 006 NJ (PPO) — Devoted Health
• Wellpoint Extra Help (HMO) — Elevance Health (Anthem)
• Horizon Specialty Care (HMO C-SNP) — Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
• HumanaChoice Giveback H7617-127 (PPO) — Humana
• UHC Complete Care NJ-8 (HMO-POS C-SNP) — UnitedHealthcare

A "C-SNP" is a Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan — you have to have a qualifying condition to join.

Two plans have new names

The plan itself is continuing, but the name on your card and paperwork will look different:

• Aetna Medicare Enhanced (Regional PPO) — was Aetna Medicare Signature (Regional PPO)
• Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO) — was Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)

If you are in one of these, you do not need to re-enroll because of the name change alone. But do still read your ANOC — the name is not the only thing that can shift.

What to do if your plan is leaving

You have two windows to act:

1. Annual Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. Anyone with Medicare can pick a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for a Jan. 1 start date. 2. Special Enrollment Period for non-renewals, Dec. 8 – Feb. 28. Because your plan is being discontinued, CMS gives you extra time to enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan. If you switch back to Original Medicare, you may also want to look at a Medigap policy — ask about New Jersey's rules for guaranteed-issue rights in that situation.

If you do nothing, in most cases you will be moved back to Original Medicare on Jan. 1, without drug coverage. That is why acting is important — a gap in Part D coverage can bring a late-enrollment penalty later.

What to do if your plan is continuing

Even if your plan's name is on next year's list, read the Annual Notice of Change your carrier mails in September. Ten continuing plans in the county have a change on file for 2027 — that could be premium, deductible, plan type or name. The ANOC is the one document that tells you exactly what.

A few program-level facts to keep in mind for 2026 that carry into 2027:

• Part D has an out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 for 2026 and $2,400 for 2027.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap has been replaced by three phases (as of 2025).
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments — enrollment is optional and free.
• IRMAA income surcharges for higher earners begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

How to compare plans without getting overwhelmed

• Start with your doctors and your prescriptions. Any comparison that skips those is not really a comparison.
• Use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to enter your drugs and see costs across plans.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24/7, for help.
• Contact New Jersey SHIP (the State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for free one-on-one counseling: 1-800-792-8820.