Medicare Advantage

What that non-renewal letter in your mailbox means

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.

NEWARK, N.J. — This fall, a group of Medicare Advantage members in Newark will open an envelope they weren't expecting: a notice that their plan will not be offered in 2027. Ten plans sold in Essex County this year are not on the 2027 list that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published for the county. If you are in one of them, you have time and options, but it helps to know what the letter means and what happens if you do nothing.

Which Medicare Advantage plans are not returning in Newark for 2027?

Ten Medicare Advantage plans sold in Essex County — the county Newark is in — in 2026 do not appear in CMS's 2027 Landscape file for the county. Based on CMS's year-over-year comparison, those plans are, in alphabetical order by carrier:

• Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• 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)
• HealthSpring True Choice (PPO) — HealthSpring

For 2027, Essex County will have 48 Medicare Advantage plans from 9 carriers. The table on this page lists every plan available in the county for the new year.

How do I know if my Medicare Advantage plan is leaving Newark?

Check your mail. If your plan will not be offered in 2027, your insurer is required to send you a non-renewal letter — often titled "Plan Non-Renewal Notice" — before the Annual Enrollment Period begins. The letter tells you the exact date your current plan ends (December 31, 2026) and explains your enrollment options.

That letter is different from the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which plans that are continuing send each fall to describe what will be different next year. If you receive an ANOC rather than a non-renewal letter, your plan is still being offered — just read it carefully for the 2027 changes.

If you are unsure which letter you received, you can confirm your plan's status at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What happens if I do nothing and my plan is on the list?

On January 1, 2027, you will be moved automatically to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You will still have Medicare — you will not be uninsured — but you will not have a Medicare Advantage plan, and you will not have Part D prescription drug coverage unless you sign up for a stand-alone Part D plan.

That matters for two reasons. First, Original Medicare does not have an annual out-of-pocket maximum the way Medicare Advantage plans do. Second, going without Part D coverage can trigger a late enrollment penalty later if you ever add it. So even if you are happy to return to Original Medicare, you likely want to pair it with a Part D drug plan and consider a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy.

What are my choices and when is the Special Enrollment Period?

You have three main paths if your plan is not returning:

1. Pick a different Medicare Advantage plan for 2027. Essex County has 48 plans from 9 carriers for the new year. You can compare them on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. 2. Stay with Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan. You can also look at a Medigap policy to help with Part A and Part B cost sharing. 3. Do nothing and let the automatic move to Original Medicare happen — then decide later, within the special window described below.

Because your plan is non-renewing, Medicare gives you a Special Enrollment Period that runs from December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027 to join another Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D plan. That is on top of the regular Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026), when any Medicare beneficiary can make a change for a January 1, 2027 start date.

You also have a federal guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap policies when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your service area. That means, during a limited window, insurers must sell you specified Medigap plans regardless of your health history. New Jersey has its own Medigap rules on top of the federal protections, so for state-specific guidance contact the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.

What is changing for Part D in 2027?

Two Part D figures are already set for 2027. The annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs will be $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the maximum Part D deductible a plan can charge will be $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33 — that is a formula CMS uses, not the premium any particular plan charges.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, had not been announced at the time of writing. CMS typically publishes those figures in the fall, usually in November.

Where can I get help in Newark?

For personalized answers, start at medicare.gov, where the Plan Finder can show every plan available in your ZIP code and compare drug lists, pharmacies and total estimated costs. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For New Jersey Medigap questions, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance can explain state rules.

Keep your non-renewal letter. It is proof that you qualify for the Special Enrollment Period and the Medigap guaranteed-issue right.