Medicare in New Jersey: compare your plan options with a licensed agent
Whether you live in Newark, Jersey City, Toms River or a small town in between, a licensed agent can explain the Medicare plans we offer in your New Jersey ZIP code in plain English. There's no cost for our help.
When you call, you'll speak with a licensed insurance sales agent. Amerance Health is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Your guide to Medicare in New Jersey
Medicare is a federal program, so Parts A and B work the same way in New Jersey as in every other state. What changes from state to state is which private plans you can choose from, the state rules that apply to Medicare Supplement insurance, and the local programs that can help you pay for coverage. This page covers what's specific to New Jersey.
Your Medicare options in New Jersey
People with Medicare in New Jersey choose between two main paths:
Original Medicare, with a Medicare Supplement and Part D
Original Medicare (Part A for hospital care and Part B for medical care) lets you see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. That's useful if you see specialists across New Jersey or spend part of the year out of state. Because Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket limit, many people add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to cover deductibles and coinsurance, plus a stand-alone Part D plan for prescriptions.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They bundle hospital, medical and usually drug coverage into one plan, often with dental, vision and hearing benefits and a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Plans are approved county by county, so what's available in Newark may differ from what's available in Jersey City or rural New Jersey. Most use provider networks (HMO or PPO), so it's important to confirm your doctors and hospitals before you enroll.
Not sure which path fits you? Read our Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement comparison.
New Jersey Medicare Supplement (Medigap) rules
New Jersey doesn't have a birthday rule, but it has special Medigap programs for people under 65.
- No birthday rule: outside open enrollment and guaranteed issue situations, insurers can ask health questions when you switch Medigap plans.
- Ages 50 to 64: insurers that sell Medigap to people 65 and older must offer at least Plan D (Plan C for people eligible before 2020) to people 50 to 64 on Medicare due to a disability.
- Under 50: New Jersey runs a Medicare Supplement Under 50 Program for younger people on Medicare due to a disability.
Everywhere in the U.S., your strongest protection is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the 6 months starting when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers in New Jersey must sell you any Medigap plan they offer, at the same price as someone in good health. Plan G and Plan N are common choices for people new to Medicare. Compare what each Medigap plan covers.
Talk with a licensed agent in New Jersey
We'll compare the plans we offer in your ZIP code against your doctors, prescriptions and budget.
Call (954) 668-4095 Request a callbackTurning 65 in New Jersey
Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before your birthday month, the month itself and the 3 months after. Sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month so your coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. If you already receive Social Security, you'll be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. Otherwise, apply through Social Security online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office in New Jersey.
If you're still working, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. Our Turning 65 Medicare guide walks through every deadline, or you can take our 2-minute quiz to get a personal game plan.
Help paying for Medicare in New Jersey
- Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare): New Jersey residents with limited income and resources may qualify for Medicaid in addition to Medicare. Learn more from NJ FamilyCare.
- Medicare Savings Programs: run through New Jersey's Medicaid agency, these can pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), and in some cases your deductibles and coinsurance.
- Extra Help: a federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. Apply through Social Security.
- Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs): Medicare Advantage plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, which coordinate both sets of benefits.
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in New Jersey
New Jersey SHIP is New Jersey's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Trained counselors give free, unbiased help with Medicare questions and don't sell insurance. Call 1-800-792-8820 or visit their website.
Insurance in New Jersey is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, which licenses agents and handles consumer complaints.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or New Jersey SHIP.
2026 Medicare costs in New Jersey
Original Medicare costs are set nationally by CMS and are the same in New Jersey as everywhere else. Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D premiums vary by plan and location.
| Cost | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium | $202.90 |
| Part B yearly deductible | $283 |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Part A premium | $0 for most people with 40 quarters of work |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 |
| Medicare Advantage in-network out-of-pocket limit | Up to $9,250 (many plans are lower) |
Key Medicare dates for New Jersey residents
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, 2027, if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- General Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31 each year, if you missed signing up for Part A or Part B.
- Moving within or out of New Jersey: if you move out of your plan's service area, you get a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan.
New Jersey Medicare FAQs
Does New Jersey have a Medigap birthday rule?
No. New Jersey doesn't have a Medigap birthday rule. Outside your Medigap open enrollment period or a federal guaranteed issue situation, insurers can ask health questions when you apply to change plans.
Can I get a Medicare Supplement plan under 65 in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey requires insurers to offer at least Plan D (or Plan C if you were eligible before 2020) to people ages 50 to 64 on Medicare due to a disability, and runs a separate Medicare Supplement Under 50 Program for younger people. Timing matters, so contact New Jersey SHIP or a licensed agent soon after your Part B starts.
Where can I get free Medicare counseling in New Jersey?
New Jersey SHIP is New Jersey's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). It offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling at 1-800-792-8820. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov for information on all plans.
Can I get help paying for Medicare in New Jersey?
Yes, if your income and savings are limited. New Jersey's Medicaid program (NJ FamilyCare) runs the Medicare Savings Programs, which can pay your Part B premium, and Social Security runs Extra Help, which lowers prescription drug costs. People with both Medicare and Medicaid may also qualify for a Dual Special Needs Plan.
Are Medicare Advantage plans the same everywhere in New Jersey?
No. Medicare Advantage plans are approved county by county, so the plans, premiums, networks and extra benefits available in Newark can differ from those in other parts of New Jersey. A licensed agent can show you the plans we offer for your ZIP code.
When can I sign up for Medicare in New Jersey?
Enrollment dates are the same in every state. Most people first sign up during their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday. If you already have Medicare, you can change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, with coverage starting January 1.
Medicare help in nearby states
We also help people with Medicare in Pennsylvania. See all the states we serve.