2026 Medicare Advantage Plans in Essex County, NJ
Last update: . Enrollment data updated: June 13, 2026
For 2026, Essex County, NJ includes 37 Medicare Advantage plans. Enrollment across these plans totals approximately 36,661, with 22 $0 premium options and 38% rated 4 stars or higher.
This page and its statistics exclude Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Special Needs Plans in Essex County, NJ are summarized separately. Visit Medicare Options in Essex County, NJ to see more options.
Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans allow members to choose care from both in-network and out-of-network providers. Out-of-network care usually costs more, but PPOs offer greater flexibility in how members access care.
- Total PPO Plans
- 21
- Average Monthly Premium
- $25.86/mo
- Total PPO Enrollment
- 27,506
- $0 Premium PPO Plans
- 13
- Average MOOP
- $8,398
- Top PPO by Enrollment
- Clover Health Choice (PPO) — 5,997 enrollees
- PPO Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 5
- What is the average monthly premium for PPO plans in Essex?
- PPO plans in Essex cost $25.86 per month on average.
- Which PPO plan has the highest enrollment in Essex?
- The most popular PPO plan in Essex is Clover Health Choice (PPO), with 5,997 enrollees.
- How many PPO plans in Essex do not include prescription drug coverage?
- 5 PPO plans in Essex do not include prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans are built around a defined network of doctors and hospitals. Care is generally covered only within the network, except in emergencies, but this structure often results in lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
| Plan Name | CMS Stars* | Premium/Mo | MOOP | Rx Ded. | CMS ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Eagle Giveback | $0 | $9,250 | N/A | H3152-045-0 | |
| Aetna Medicare Elite | $15 | $9,250 | $615 | H3152-098-0 | |
| Aetna Medicare Signature | $108 | $9,250 | $615 | H3152-048-0 | |
| Clover Health Classic | $0 | $6,000 | $0 | H8010-002-0 | |
| Clover Health Value | $31 | $4,500 | $200 | H8010-003-0 | |
| Humana Gold Plus H6622-100 | $0 | $8,500 | $225 | H6622-100-2 |
What is the total number of HMO plans offered in Essex?
There are 6 HMO plans in 2026, covering 2,034 enrollees.
How much do HMO plans cost in Essex?
The average HMO premium in Essex is $25.67 per month, with 3 plans offering $0 premiums.
What is the top HMO by enrollment in Essex?
Humana Gold Plus H6622-100 (HMO) is the top HMO in Essex, with 815 enrollees.
What is the number of HMO plans without Part D coverage in Essex?
1 HMO plans in Essex do not include prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Plans
HMO-POS plans are structured like HMOs, requiring in-network care for the lowest costs, while allowing limited out-of-network access at higher cost. This provides added flexibility compared with standard HMO plans.
- Total HMO-POS Plans
- 10
- Average Monthly Premium
- $23.62/mo
- Total HMO-POS Enrollment
- 7,121
- $0 Premium HMO-POS Plans
- 6
- Average MOOP
- $7,785
- Top HMO-POS by Enrollment
- AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC NJ-1 (HMO-POS) — 3,914 enrollees
- HMO-POS Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 2
| Plan Name | CMS Stars* | Premium/Mo | MOOP | Rx Ded. | CMS ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC NJ-1 | $0 | $6,700 | $520 | H0755-038-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC NJ-7 | $0 | $6,700 | $600 | H0755-046-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NJ-0002 | $62 | $6,700 | $420 | H0755-044-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NJ-0003 | $95 | $6,500 | $420 | H0755-045-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx NJ-MA01 | $0 | $6,700 | N/A | H0755-037-0 | |
| Wellcare Assist | $45 | $9,250 | $615 | H0913-015-0 | |
| Wellcare Giveback | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H0913-021-0 | |
| Wellcare Low Premium | $34 | $9,250 | $615 | H0913-002-0 | |
| Wellcare Patriot Simple | $0 | $7,550 | N/A | H0913-020-0 | |
| Wellcare Simple | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H0913-022-0 |
What is the average monthly premium for HMO-POS plans?
HMO-POS plans in Essex cost $23.62 per month on average.
Which HMO-POS plan is most popular in Essex?
The most popular HMO-POS plan in Essex is AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC NJ-1 (HMO-POS), with 3,914 enrollees.
How many HMO-POS plans in Essex do not include drug coverage?
There are 2 HMO-POS plans in Essex without prescription drug coverage.
CMS quality ratings for Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County, NJ (2026) are summarized below.
| Rating Category | Number of Plans | Percent of Plans |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Stars | No 5-star plans available. | 0% |
| 4 Stars (includes 5 Stars) | 14 | 38% |
| 3 Stars | 23 | 62% |
| Below 3 Stars | 0 | 0% |
| Not Rated | 0 | 0% |
| Average Rating | 3.73 | |
* CMS assigns Medicare Advantage star ratings annually based on plan quality and performance measures.
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files — Last accessed June 13, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance Data — Last accessed June 13, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage & Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed June 13, 2026
All plan counts, enrollment totals, averages, and percentage distributions are calculated at the county level using CMS data and include standard Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans only, based on a consistent aggregation methodology.
Data sources and methodology documentation .
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- Medicare.gov, "Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- NCOA.org, "5 Steps to Choosing the Right Medicare Plan for You" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
MedicarePlans.com is an independent informational resource and has no affiliation with, or endorsement from, the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.
Data provenance is documented in accordance with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard .
Page content independently curated and maintained by David W. Bynon, Editorial Steward, using a standardized, data-driven methodology for accurate, non-commercial Medicare plan interpretation and resolution.