Medicare Advantage
Horizon BCBSNJ's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Newark: a new specialty plan joins the lineup
NEWARK, N.J. — Fall 2026. If you have a Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Medicare Advantage plan in Newark, or you are weighing one for next year, the carrier's local lineup for 2027 is set. In Essex County, which is where Newark sits for Medicare plan purposes, Horizon is offering two Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 — both HMOs with drug coverage, and both Special Needs Plans. One of them is new for next year. You have from October 15 through December 7, 2026 to make a change that takes effect January 1, 2027.
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Key takeaways
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is offering 2 Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County for 2027, both HMO Special Needs Plans with drug coverage.
- One of the two Horizon plans — Horizon Specialty Care (HMO C-SNP) — is new for 2027; none of its 2026 plans are leaving.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.
- MyMedicarePlans.org is independent and is not Horizon; 8 other carriers also sell Medicare Advantage in Essex County for 2027.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Essex County (2026) | 48 | CMS |
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Essex County (2027) | 48 | CMS |
| Plans not returning for 2027 / new for 2027 | 10 / 10 | CMS |
| Organizations offering Medicare Advantage in Essex County (2026) | 10 | CMS |
| Share of eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, Essex County | 50% | CMS |
| Residents age 65 and older, Essex County | 122,640 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Part B standard monthly premium (2026) | $202.90 | Medicare.gov |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2026) | $2,100 | CMS |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2027) | $2,400 | CMS |
| Annual Enrollment Period (for 2027 coverage) | October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare.gov |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31 | Medicare.gov |
Area counts are for the county as a whole and are not a recommendation of any plan. Program figures are set nationally.
Which Horizon Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Newark for 2027?
For 2027, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is offering two Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County, the county that includes Newark. Both are HMOs, both include Part D drug coverage, and both are Special Needs Plans built for people who meet specific eligibility rules.
The two plans are:
- Horizon NJ TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Horizon Specialty Care (HMO C-SNP)
The table below lists every plan with its type and whether it includes drug coverage. We cannot publish premiums, copays, drug lists or provider networks here — those details are personal to each plan and live on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and in the plan's own documents.
What is a D-SNP and a C-SNP, and who are they for?
A Special Needs Plan (SNP) is a Medicare Advantage plan that is only open to people who fit a specific category. Horizon's two Newark-area plans are both SNPs, so eligibility matters before anything else.
- A D-SNP (Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan), like Horizon NJ TotalCare, is for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
- A C-SNP (Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan), like Horizon Specialty Care, is for people living with a qualifying chronic condition that the plan is designed around.
If you do not meet the eligibility rules for a SNP, you cannot enroll in it, even during the Annual Enrollment Period. If you are unsure whether you qualify, call 1-800-MEDICARE or check with the plan directly before you apply.
What is new or not returning in Horizon's Newark lineup for 2027?
For 2027 in Essex County, Horizon is adding one new plan — Horizon Specialty Care (HMO C-SNP) — and is not pulling any of its 2026 plans from the market. If you are already enrolled in a Horizon plan that is returning, you do not have to do anything to stay in it; it renews automatically on January 1, 2027.
That said, "returning" does not mean "unchanged." Every Medicare Advantage plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall that spells out what is different for the coming year — premium, drug tiers, copays, extra benefits, and which doctors and hospitals are in network. Read your ANOC before December 7.
How do I check a Horizon plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?
Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare. It is the official tool, it is free, and it lets you type in your prescriptions and your preferred pharmacy and see how each plan handles them. For doctors and hospitals, check the plan's provider directory on Horizon's own website or call the plan directly — networks change year to year, so last year's answer may not be this year's.
A short checklist before you decide:
1. Read your current plan's ANOC for 2027 changes. 2. On medicare.gov, enter your ZIP code, your drugs and your pharmacy. 3. Confirm each doctor and hospital you use is in the plan's 2027 network. 4. If a plan is a SNP, confirm you meet the eligibility rules. 5. Make your choice by December 7, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.
If you miss December 7 and you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you still have the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31, 2027, when you can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare once.
What else should I know about Part D costs for 2027?
Two Part D figures are confirmed for 2027 and apply to any plan with drug coverage, including Horizon's:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). Once you hit that amount in covered drug costs, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- The Part D maximum deductible is $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). Plans can set a lower deductible, but not a higher one.
The 2027 Part B standard premium, Part B deductible and IRMAA income brackets have not been published yet; CMS typically announces them later in the fall. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly bills, remains available in 2027.
Is Horizon the only Medicare Advantage carrier in Essex County?
No. Horizon is one of 9 carriers offering Medicare Advantage in Essex County for 2027, and together those carriers offer 48 plans. MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent consumer site; we are not Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and we do not sell insurance. If you want to compare Horizon's plans against other carriers' plans in Newark, the Medicare Plan Finder shows them side by side.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Essex County
(MA penetration in Essex County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
2027 plan lineup
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County for 2027
CMS lists 2 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 8 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey 2 plans | |||
| Horizon NJ TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Horizon Specialty Care (HMO C-SNP) | HMO C-SNP | Yes | New |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
The 2027 choices, by type
How Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County break down for 2027
HMO plans use a network and usually a primary-care doctor and referrals; HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network coverage; PPO plans also cover out-of-network care, at a higher share; PFFS plans pay any provider that accepts the plan’s terms. Special Needs Plans serve people with Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNP), certain chronic conditions (C-SNP) or living in an institution (I-SNP).
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to switch plans if my Horizon plan is returning in 2027?
Can I join a Horizon Special Needs Plan if I only have Medicare?
What is the deadline to change plans for 2027 coverage?
Where can I see premiums, copays and provider networks for Horizon's plans?
- CMS — MA Landscape Source File (plan-level availability by county)
- CMS — MA Landscape Source Files, current and coming plan year (year-over-year comparison)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Also for Newark
Sources and methodology
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Source Files
- CMS, Medicare Advantage state/county penetration and enrollment files
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table B01001, age 65 and older)
- Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (Part B premium)
- CMS, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) program rules
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan-year announcements
- Medicare.gov, enrollment periods and plan rules
Figures cited in this article
- CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027: carrier, plan names, plan types, SNP designations, drug coverage and year-over-year changes for Essex County.
- Medicare.gov: Annual Enrollment Period dates, Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period dates, and the Plan Finder tool.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap ($2,400), 2027 Part D maximum deductible ($700), and 2026 program figures.
How we put this together: area counts come from the CMS files listed above for the county that contains this city, program figures come from CMS, Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration, and no plan is ranked or recommended.
By The Medicare Desk · Published . For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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This page was last updated: October 2026.