Medicare Advantage
Wellcare's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Newark: three plans continue, three bow out
Newark, N.J. — Fall 2026. As the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, Wellcare's Medicare Advantage lineup in Essex County is shrinking. The carrier plans to offer three Medicare Advantage plans in the county for 2027, down from six in 2026, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File. Three Wellcare plans sold here this year are not returning, and the carrier is not adding any new plans for 2027.
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Key takeaways
- Wellcare will offer 3 Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County for 2027 — 1 HMO and 2 HMO-POS — including 1 D-SNP; all 3 include drug coverage.
- 3 Wellcare plans sold in the county in 2026 are not returning for 2027, and no new Wellcare plans are being added.
- Nothing happens automatically to you if your plan continues; if your plan is leaving, you have until December 7, 2026, to pick a new one for January 1, 2027.
- MyMedicarePlans.org is independent and is not Wellcare; 8 other carriers also offer Medicare Advantage plans 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.
If you are enrolled in a Wellcare plan now, this is the window to read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and compare what you have against what will exist on January 1.
What Medicare Advantage plans will Wellcare offer in Newark for 2027?
Wellcare — which CMS groups under Centene (WellCare) — will offer 3 Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County, the county that includes Newark, for the 2027 plan year. By type, that is 1 HMO and 2 HMO-POS plans. One of the three is a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. All three include Part D prescription drug coverage.
The three Wellcare plans listed in the CMS Landscape file for Essex County in 2027 are:
- Wellcare Assist (HMO-POS) — HMO-POS, with drug coverage
- Wellcare Fidelis Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) — HMO D-SNP, with drug coverage
- Wellcare Low Premium (HMO-POS) — HMO-POS, with drug coverage
The table on this page lists each plan alongside its type and drug coverage. We cannot publish premiums, copays, deductibles, networks, drug lists or star ratings here; those details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, from 1-800-MEDICARE, or from each plan's Evidence of Coverage and provider and pharmacy directories.
What is new or not returning from Wellcare in Essex County for 2027?
Three Wellcare plans sold in Essex County in 2026 are not being offered in 2027, no plans are new, and no plans have been renamed. The three plans not continuing into 2027 are the ones listed in the 2026 Landscape file that do not appear in the 2027 file — Wellcare Giveback (HMO-POS), Wellcare Patriot Simple (HMO-POS) and Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS).
If you are enrolled in a plan that is not returning, your carrier is required to send you a notice. You will not be left without Medicare — you keep Original Medicare — but if you want Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage for 2027, you need to actively choose another plan during the Annual Enrollment Period or during the Special Enrollment Period that applies when a plan leaves your area.
What happens if I do nothing before December 7, 2026?
If your Wellcare plan is on the 2027 list, it renews automatically on January 1, 2027, with whatever changes are described in your plan's Annual Notice of Change. You do not need to re-enroll. If your plan is not on the 2027 list, you need to pick a different plan to keep Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage in place.
Either way, the ANOC is the single most important piece of mail to open this fall. It spells out what is changing — premiums, deductibles, copays, the drug formulary, the provider network, and extra benefits — for your specific plan.
How do I check a Wellcare plan against my doctors and prescriptions?
Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code, add your prescriptions and your preferred pharmacy, and the tool will show how each plan handles your drugs, including which tier they land on and what you would pay through the year. To confirm a doctor or hospital is in network, check the plan's own provider directory on the carrier's site or call the number on the plan's materials — networks can change between plan years, so a last-minute call is worth the few minutes.
A few things to look at specifically:
- Whether every prescription you take is on the 2027 formulary, and at what tier.
- Whether your primary care doctor, your specialists and your preferred hospital are in network for 2027.
- For HMO-POS plans, how out-of-network care is handled and when a referral is required.
- For the D-SNP, whether you still meet the dual-eligibility rules in New Jersey.
What is changing in Part D in 2027 that affects any plan I pick?
Two Part D numbers are set for 2027. The annual out-of-pocket cap for covered Part D drugs rises to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. The maximum Part D deductible a plan can charge rises to $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026. The Part D national base beneficiary premium is $41.33 for 2027; that is a formula input CMS uses, not a price any single plan charges.
The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") remains eliminated — Part D has three phases now. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread your drug costs across the year in level monthly bills, continues to be available on request from your Part D plan.
The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets have not been announced yet; CMS typically publishes them later in the fall.
Is Wellcare my only option in Newark?
No. Wellcare is one of 9 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County for 2027, and all carriers together offer 48 Medicare Advantage plans in the county. MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent consumer site; we are not Wellcare and not affiliated with any carrier. If you want to compare across carriers, the Medicare Plan Finder is the neutral tool.
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
Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County for 2027
CMS lists 3 Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 8 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centene (WellCare) 3 plans | |||
| Wellcare Assist (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Wellcare Fidelis Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | Returning |
| Wellcare Low Premium (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
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 Wellcare 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
Does Wellcare automatically move me to another one of its plans if mine is leaving?
I live in Newark. Why do you keep saying Essex County?
What is a D-SNP, and how do I know if I qualify?
Where can I get help comparing plans without a sales pitch?
- 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: Wellcare's plan counts, plan names and plan types in Essex County, and the year-over-year comparison of what is returning, new or leaving.
- CMS — 2027 Part D parameters: the $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, $700 maximum deductible, and $41.33 national base beneficiary premium.
- Medicare.gov — Medicare enrollment periods: the October 15 – December 7, 2026, Annual Enrollment Period and the January 1 – March 31 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
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.
Content Integrity Standards
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This page was last updated: October 2026.