Best Medicare Part C Plans New Jersey 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, a Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker in all 50 states — Updated October 8, 2026

New Jersey’s Medicare Advantage (Part C) market changes sharply for 2027: Braven Health is leaving all 21 counties, Horizon BCBS New Jersey will offer only Special Needs Plans, and Devoted Health is entering.

If you have a Braven or standard Horizon Medicare Advantage plan, expect a non-renewal notice and choose new coverage before December 31, 2026.

A non-renewing plan generally gives you a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans.

✔ Licensed agents in all 50 states
✔ Built on CMS 2027 data
✔ Compare plans for free

Key Highlights

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Braven Health leaves all 21 NJ counties.

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Horizon BCBS NJ: SNPs only.

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Devoted Health enters NJ.

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For 2027, the national average Medicare Advantage premium is $12 a month, lower than $14.37 (CMS).

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Annual Enrollment: October 15 through December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

New Jersey Changes for 2027

Insurer 2027 Change
Braven Health Leaving Medicare Advantage in all 21 counties
Horizon BCBS New Jersey Special Needs Plans only
Devoted Health Entering New Jersey
National insurers Trimming PPOs and counties

Guaranteed issue: when your Medicare Advantage plan exits your area, you can generally purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions, up to 63 days after your coverage stops.

Benefits New Jersey Plans May Offer

New Jersey Plans May Include

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Covers hospital and medical care just as Original Medicare Part A and B do

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Part D prescription drug coverage on most plans

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Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits

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Fitness programs and over-the-counter allowances

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Telehealth visits and care coordination programs

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum on every plan

Benefits differ by plan and county, not every plan offers every benefit, and they may change for 2027. Review the Evidence of Coverage for any plan before enrolling.

Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans in New Jersey

New Jersey Changes for 2027

Many New Jersey members must choose a new plan for 2027.

Insurer Key 2027 Changes
UnitedHealthcare Now 852 plans (846 before); about 140 counties lose standard plans; exiting Wyoming; 34 PPOs dropped
Humana Down to 861 plans from 887; exiting Minnesota and 57 counties; 37 PPOs eliminated; plans ending for about 600,000 members
Aetna (CVS Health) Plan count rises to 654 from 642; standard plans withdrawn from 123 counties; exits from Maryland and New Hampshire; 20 PPOs dropped; 29 C-SNPs added
HCSC (including HealthSpring) Cut from 948 counties to about 478; exiting CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and D.C.; 48 PPOs eliminated
Centene (Wellcare) Exiting Hawaii, Oklahoma and Tennessee; standard plans removed from 344 counties
Elevance (Anthem) Exited South Carolina; standard plans withdrawn from 56 counties
Devoted Health Expanding into 342 counties; new in CT, MI, NH, NJ and NY

Source: CMS 2027 landscape data reported by Becker’s on October 1, 2026, plus company announcements. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Wellmark are exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027 as well.

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Medicare Advantage in New Jersey

Medicare Advantage, or Part C, lets you receive your Medicare benefits from a Medicare-approved private insurer. These plans cover all that Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, apart from hospice care, which remains with Original Medicare. Part D drug coverage is included in most plans, and many may also offer extras like routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

The trade-off is that Medicare Advantage plans generally rely on doctor and hospital networks and may call for referrals or prior authorization for certain services. Unlike Original Medicare, every Medicare Advantage plan caps your yearly out-of-pocket costs for covered medical care. Your Part B premium still applies, along with the plan’s own premium if there is one.

Feature HMO PPO
Out-of-network care Not covered except emergencies and urgent care Covered at a higher cost
Referrals for specialists Usually required Usually not required
Premiums Usually lower Usually higher
Out-of-pocket maximum In-network limit In-network limit plus a higher combined limit
Best for Lower costs, local care Flexibility, travel, keeping specific doctors

Advantages

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Often a low or $0 premium

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum

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Drug coverage usually included

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Dental, vision and hearing benefits may be included in many plans

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One card and one plan

Tradeoffs

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Network-based; HMOs require in-network care other than emergencies

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Prior authorization and referrals are common

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Copays add up if you use a lot of care

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Plans and networks can change every year

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Moving to Medigap later on could involve health questions

Medicare Supplement Plans in New Jersey

For people who want Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan covers some or all of the costs Medicare doesn’t, and you can use any provider in the U.S. that takes Medicare. Since benefits are standardized by plan letter, compare what different insurers charge for the same letter.

Plan What You Pay Best For
Plan G The Part B deductible, after which Medicare-approved costs are paid Most complete coverage for new enrollees
Plan N The Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, and copays of up to $20 for certain office visits and up to $50 for certain ER visits Lower premium, accepts small copays
High-Deductible Plan G A yearly deductible, then coverage like Plan G Healthy people who want the lowest premium

Each Medigap plan letter has standardized benefits. Price depends on the insurer, your age, ZIP code and tobacco use.

Watch for: unless you are in your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period or have a guaranteed issue right, most states allow insurers to ask health questions and then turn you down or charge you more.

Unique Features of Clover Health Plans

Part D Drug Plans in New Jersey

$700

Maximum 2027 Part D deductible, up from $615.

$2,400

2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap, up from $2,100.

About $36

Average standalone Part D premium for 2027, rising by under $1 (CMS).

$7

Expected average drug portion of a 2027 Medicare Advantage premium, lower than $11.32.

If you keep Original Medicare in New Jersey, add a standalone Part D plan. Compare plans with your exact drugs and pharmacies using the 2027 Part D plan finder.

If Your Plan Is Ending

A non-renewal notice should have reached you in early October if your plan will not be available in your county for 2027. You are not cut off immediately: coverage runs through December 31, 2026, giving you time to make a choice.

If Your Plan Is Ending

1

Review your non-renewal letter. The letter confirms that your plan is ending and lays out your choices.

2

Write down your doctors and drugs. Comparing replacement plans requires this list.

3

Review your 2027 plan options. Look beyond the premium to the network, drug coverage and out-of-pocket maximum.

4

Decide by December 31 to avoid a gap. If you enroll during Annual Enrollment by December 7, your coverage begins January 1, 2027.

5

Rely on a Special Enrollment Period when needed. If your plan is ending, you can generally still choose new coverage until the end of February 2027.

If you do nothing: on January 1, 2027, you go back to Original Medicare, and you will have no drug coverage unless you pick a Part D plan. Being without drug coverage may result in a late enrollment penalty.

Medigap rights: if your Medicare Advantage plan stops serving your area, you generally get a guaranteed issue right, lasting up to 63 days after your coverage ends, to purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions.

How to Compare New Jersey Plans for 2027

How to Compare

1

Go through your Annual Notice of Change. It shows each 2027 change to the plan you have now.

2

Review your doctors and hospitals. Make sure every provider is in the 2027 network, not only the 2026 one.

3

Review your prescriptions. Verify each drug, its tier and any step therapy or prior authorization rules.

4

Weigh the full cost for the year. Total the premium, usual copays and drug costs, then check the out-of-pocket maximum.

5

Look at star ratings. Medicare scores plans on quality and service using a 1 to 5 star scale.

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Sign up by December 7. Coverage under your new plan begins January 1, 2027.

2027 Enrollment Dates

Enrollment Period Dates What You Can Do
Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7, 2026 Enroll in, change or leave a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan effective January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment January 1 to March 31, 2027 Medicare Advantage members can make one switch to another plan or back to Original Medicare
Initial Enrollment Period 7 months around your 65th birthday month Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan
Special Enrollment Periods Varies Switch plans when something happens, such as a move, a loss of other coverage or your plan exiting your area

Annual Enrollment is when most people make their changes. If your current plan suits you, no action is needed, since it renews on its own. Even so, review your Annual Notice of Change, as networks, drug lists, copays and premiums may all change on January 1.

Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for particular groups. Their benefits, networks and drug lists are shaped around their members, and many provide care coordinators. Even as large insurers cut PPOs for 2027, Special Needs Plans are among the few places they are adding plans.

Type Who Qualifies What Is Different
Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) People with both Medicare and Medicaid Covers both programs together; costs are often very low, with extra benefits
Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) People who have qualifying conditions like chronic lung disease, heart failure or diabetes Doctors, drugs and programs designed for the condition
Institutional SNP (I-SNP) Nursing home residents, or people needing that level of care at home Care delivered where the member lives

Turning 65 in 2027

Turning 65 in 2027? Your Initial Enrollment Period runs for seven months: the three months leading up to your birthday month, the birthday month itself and the three months that follow. Enrolling in the first three months starts your coverage on the first day of your birthday month.

Turning 65 Checklist

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Enroll in Part A and Part B, unless you choose to delay Part B because you have qualifying employer coverage

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Choose between Original Medicare with Medigap and Medicare Advantage

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Avoid a Part D late penalty by enrolling in a drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage

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Going with Medigap? Buy it during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

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