Medicare Advantage
Newark Medicare review for 2027: the ANOC checklist to run before Dec. 7
Essex County has 48 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.
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Key takeaways
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs **October 15 – December 7, 2026**, and the choice you make takes effect January 1, 2027.
- Essex County, where Newark sits, has **48 Medicare Advantage plans from 10 carriers** on the 2026 landscape; the full list is in the table below.
- Compare your ANOC against next year's drug list, pharmacy network, and provider directory before you renew by default.
- For 2027, Part D will have a **$2,400** out-of-pocket cap and a **$700** maximum deductible (both set by CMS).
| 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.
NEWARK, N.J. — October 2026. The envelope that lands in Newark mailboxes every September does more work than most people realize. The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) tells you how your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan will look in 2027 — the premium, the drug list, the pharmacy network, the doctors it will pay for. If you want anything different for January 1, you have until December 7, 2026 to make the switch during the Annual Enrollment Period.
Nothing happens if you do nothing. Your plan renews with the changes the ANOC describes. That is exactly why the ANOC is worth an hour of your time this fall.
What is the Annual Notice of Change and when did it arrive in Newark?
The ANOC is the letter your Medicare Advantage or stand-alone Part D plan sends every fall explaining what will be different next year. Plans are required to deliver it by September 30, so Newark residents should already have theirs for 2027. If yours never showed up, call the number on your member ID card and ask for a copy — or look for it in the plan's member portal.
Read it next to this year's Evidence of Coverage. The ANOC is written as a side-by-side: 2026 column, 2027 column. The lines to slow down on are the monthly premium, the medical deductible, primary care and specialist copays, the Part D deductible and tier structure, and any mention of a provider or hospital system leaving the network.
What should a Newark resident check line by line before Dec. 7?
Work through five things, in this order:
1. Your doctors and hospitals. Pull up the 2027 provider directory on the plan's website (not this year's) and search each doctor you see regularly, plus the hospital you would use in an emergency. Networks in northern New Jersey shift every year; a provider who is in-network in 2026 may not be in 2027. 2. Your prescriptions. Open the 2027 formulary and look up every drug you take. Note the tier, any new prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limit, and whether your preferred pharmacy is still "preferred" (that affects what you pay). 3. Your pharmacy. A plan can change which pharmacies count as preferred. If yours drops off, your copays can move. 4. Supplemental benefits. Dental, vision, hearing, over-the-counter and transportation allowances change year to year. The ANOC lists what is going up, down or away. 5. The out-of-pocket maximum for medical care, and the Part D deductible.
If any of those five lines no longer fits, that is your cue to shop.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Essex County for 2027?
Newark is in Essex County, where the 2026 CMS landscape lists 48 Medicare Advantage plans from 10 carriers: HMO 12, HMO-POS 12, and PPO 24. Forty of those plans include drug coverage, and 11 are Special Needs Plans (SNPs) for people who qualify by income, chronic condition, or institutional status. The 2027 landscape will be published by CMS before the enrollment window opens; the carriers active in Essex County for 2026 are:
- Aetna (CVS Health) — 8 plans
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC) — 1 plan
- Braven Health — 4 plans
- Centene (WellCare) — 6 plans
- Clover Health — 6 plans
- Elevance Health (Anthem) — 3 plans
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey — 1 plan
- Humana — 6 plans
- Longevity Health Plan — 2 plans
- UnitedHealthcare — 11 plans
The table on this page lists every plan by name and type. Counts and names come from the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File and are not a recommendation of any plan.
What Part D changes should Newark enrollees know about for 2027?
Two numbers are already confirmed by CMS for 2027. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 (up from $615 in 2026). The national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33, but that is a formula input used by CMS — it is not what any particular plan charges. Your plan's premium is in your ANOC.
The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") is gone as of 2025, so Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic. Once your out-of-pocket drug spending hits the cap, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the plan year. If paying for drugs in January and February is a strain, ask your plan about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which spreads your Part D cost-sharing across the calendar year in monthly installments.
The 2027 Part B standard premium, Part B deductible and IRMAA income brackets have not been announced yet. CMS normally publishes them in November; MyMedicarePlans.org will update coverage when they do.
Where should Newark residents go to compare and enroll?
Start at medicare.gov, where the official Medicare Plan Finder lets you enter your ZIP code, your drugs, and your preferred pharmacy, and compare every plan available to you in Essex County side by side with real cost estimates. You can enroll there directly.
If you would rather talk to a person, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also call the plan carriers directly using the member services number on your card or on their website.
Three dates to keep straight:
- October 15 – December 7, 2026 — Annual Enrollment Period. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
- January 1, 2027 — new coverage begins.
- January 1 – March 31, 2027 — Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, a one-time switch for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1.
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.
The choices, by type
How the Medicare Advantage choices in Newark break down for 2026
Carriers offering plans in Essex County, alphabetically, with the number of plans each offers:
- Aetna (CVS Health) 8 plans
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC) 1 plan
- Braven Health 4 plans
- Centene (WellCare) 6 plans
- Clover Health 6 plans
- Elevance Health (Anthem) 3 plans
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey 1 plan
- Humana 6 plans
- Longevity Health Plan 2 plans
- UnitedHealthcare 11 plans
HMO plans use a network and usually a primary-care doctor; HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network coverage; PPO plans 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 who are dual-eligible (D-SNP), have certain conditions (C-SNP) or live in an institution (I-SNP). Source: CMS Landscape Source File. No plan is ranked or recommended here.
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
What happens if I do nothing by December 7, 2026?
I lost my ANOC. How do I get another one?
Can I change plans again after December 7?
Does the $2,400 Part D cap apply if I'm on a Medicare Advantage plan?
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
- CMS — MA Landscape Source File (plan-level availability by county)
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 File (plan year 2026): plan and carrier counts for Essex County.
- Medicare.gov: Annual Enrollment Period dates, ANOC rules, Plan Finder, and 1-800-MEDICARE.
- CMS: confirmed 2027 Part D parameters (out-of-pocket cap, maximum deductible, national base beneficiary premium).
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.