Medicare · New Jersey
Shop 2026 Medicare plans in New Jersey.
Understand your options, then compare Advantage, Medigap and Part D by what you'll actually pay all year — with a patient, licensed local advisor whenever you want one.
Shop plans nowPrefer to talk? Call (201) 633-7713 — a friendly NJ advisor, no pressure.
Two steps to your Medicare coverage.
After you enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A & B), you have two ways to round out your coverage. They’re mutually exclusive — you pick one path.
Enroll in Original Medicare.
Provided by the federal government
Hospital insurance
Helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient care.
Medical insurance
Helps pay for doctor visits and outpatient care.
Decide if you need additional coverage.
You have two ways to get it — pick one.
Option 1
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
All-in-one — Parts A, B and usually D on a single card.
Best for you if…
You want a low or $0 premium plus extras like dental, vision and hearing, and you mostly get care close to home.
Pros
- Often a $0 monthly premium
- Bundles drug coverage + extras (dental, vision, hearing, fitness)
- One plan, one card, with a yearly out-of-pocket cap
Keep in mind
- Care stays inside the plan's network (HMO/PPO)
- May need referrals or prior approval
- Best if you don't travel much for care
Option 2
Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D
Keep Original Medicare and add a Medigap plan plus a stand-alone drug plan.
Best for you if…
You want to see any doctor nationwide with very predictable bills, and you're okay paying a bit more each month for that freedom.
Pros
- See any doctor that takes Medicare — no networks
- Very predictable costs; Medigap covers most gaps
- Great if you travel or split time between states
Keep in mind
- Higher monthly premium
- Part D drug plan is bought separately
- No built-in dental, vision or hearing
Not sure which path fits? A Yumi advisor looks at your doctors, prescriptions, budget and travel before recommending one over the other.
Talk to a Yumi advisorAdvantage, Medigap, or Original Medicare?
The three main ways to get coverage, at a glance. Your Yumi advisor pulls the exact numbers for your ZIP before any enrollment.
| Benefits & features | Medicare Advantage | Medigap | Original Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helps pay for hospital stays | |||
| Helps pay for doctor visits | |||
| Helps pay for preventive services | |||
| Helps pay for prescription drugs | — | — | |
| Routine vision coverage | — | — | |
| Routine hearing exam & aids | — | — | |
| Routine dental coverage | — | — | |
| Annual out-of-pocket cost limit | No protection |
Benefits vary by plan. Source: Medicare.gov coverage categories. Yumi advisors compare specific plan benefits in your NJ ZIP before any enrollment.
Your annual enrollment windows.
Three windows govern when you can sign up or change coverage. Miss them and you may face a late-enrollment penalty — or wait until next fall.
◼ Annual Enrollment Period · Oct 15 – Dec 7
Oct 15 – Dec 7
Annual Enrollment (AEP)
Add, drop or switch any Medicare coverage for the next plan year.
Jan 1 – Mar 31
Medicare Advantage OEP
Already in an Advantage plan? Switch to a different one or back to Original Medicare — once.
Anytime — if you qualify
Special Enrollment (SEP)
Triggered by life events: retirement, moving, losing coverage or a qualifying disability.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): your personal 7-month window when you first become eligible — the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. See the turning-65 timeline →
The parts of Medicare.
Medicare is split into parts, each covering a different piece of your care. Here’s what each one does.
Hospital Insurance
Covers hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health care. Most people pay no premium if they worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10+ years.
Learn moreMedical Insurance
Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and medical equipment. You pay a monthly premium based on your income.
Learn moreMedicare Advantage
Private plans that combine Parts A, B and usually D into one card. Many include dental, vision and hearing — often with a $0 premium.
Learn morePrescription Drug Coverage
Helps pay for your prescriptions — standalone or included in Advantage. Each plan covers different drugs, so check yours.
Learn moreMedicare Supplement
Extra coverage that helps pay what Original Medicare doesn't — copays, coinsurance and deductibles. Standardized plan letters A through N.
Learn moreSpecial Needs Plan
An Advantage plan built for people with specific chronic conditions, dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility, or who live in certain care facilities.
Learn moreQuality indicator
CMS Star Ratings.
Medicare rates every Advantage and Part D plan 1–5 stars each year on quality of care, service, member experience and chronic-condition management.
1
Poor
2
Below avg
3
Average
4
Good
5
Excellent
We steer you toward 4-star plans and above — they tend to have fewer member complaints and better outcomes. Verify any plan’s rating at medicare.gov/plan-compare.
Am I eligible?
Most people qualify at 65 — but there are other paths, too.
Age 65 or older
U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents who've lived here 5+ continuous years are eligible at 65.
Under 65 with a disability
If you've received Social Security Disability (SSDI) for 24 months, you automatically qualify for Parts A and B.
End-Stage Renal Disease
Permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant may qualify you regardless of age.
ALS (Lou Gehrig's)
If you're diagnosed with ALS, you're automatically enrolled in Parts A and B the first month you receive disability benefits.
A “$0” plan isn’t always the cheapest.
Once copays and your prescriptions add up, a $0-premium plan can cost more over a year. Our TrueCost engine shows the full-year number, so you compare what really matters.
- Full-year cost, not just the premium
- Priced on your real doctors & drugs
- A friendly NJ advisor at every step
Same person · same year · illustrative
A basic $0 plan
$0 / mo premium
$3,120
real cost / yr
Yumi's pick
$34 / mo premium
$1,180
real cost / yr
Medicare, minus the confusion.
Advantage or Medigap — which is better?+
It depends on your doctors, budget and how you like to get care. Advantage bundles everything with a low premium and a network; Medigap costs more monthly but lets you see any Medicare doctor with very predictable bills. We'll walk you through both — no pressure.
Will my prescriptions be covered?+
We check your exact drug list against each plan's formulary and pharmacy prices, so you land on the plan that's actually cheapest for you over the year.
Does your help cost anything?+
No. Carriers pay us, so our guidance costs you nothing and never changes your premium.
How do I enroll in NJ Medicare?+
To enroll in NJ Medicare you sign up with Social Security at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local SSA office. Your Initial Enrollment Period opens 3 months before your 65th birthday and closes 3 months after. A licensed NJ Medicare advisor can walk you through the choice between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, run a Part D drug-list comparison, and submit enrollment for you at no cost.
What NJ Medicare plans are available in 2026?+
NJ Medicare options for 2026 include Original Medicare (Parts A + B), Medicare Advantage (Part C) from carriers like UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Humana, Wellcare, Braven Health, Clover Health, Cigna HealthSpring, and AmeriHealth NJ, Medigap supplement plans (Plan G, N, F), and Part D prescription drug plans. Plan availability varies by NJ county.
When can I switch my NJ Medicare plan?+
You can switch NJ Medicare plans during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7), the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31, one switch per year), or a Special Enrollment Period triggered by a qualifying life event like moving, losing employer coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help.
Who is eligible for NJ Medicare?+
Most New Jersey residents become eligible for NJ Medicare at age 65. You may qualify earlier if you have a disability (after 24 months of Social Security Disability), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS. Permanent NJ residency and U.S. citizenship or 5+ years of legal residency are required.
Ready to compare your Medicare plans?
See your options in minutes, or call and let a friendly NJ advisor do it with you.