Roughly 42,000 New Jersey seniors must find new health insurance by Dec. 31 after Braven Health confirmed it will stop offering Medicare Advantage plans on Jan. 1, 2027.

The exit, first reported by Patch, hits all 21 counties, including Union County, where Summit-based SAGE Eldercare offers free counseling to help affected residents compare plans.

Braven Health, founded in 2020, is run by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJ Barnabas Health. The plan offered in-network rates across its provider network. Spokesman Thomas Wilson told Patch the company "faced market conditions that compromised our ability to continue providing members with the high quality coverage and service they deserve."

The deadline is real. Braven is one of at least eight plans nationwide dropping Medicare Advantage coverage for 2027, according to Becker's Hospital Review. UnitedHealthcare and Humana are also canceling plans affecting nearly 1 million people combined, the New York Post reported, citing rising medical costs and lower profits.

Insurance agent Miguel Bello of Absolute Insurance Management said he met two Braven members in mid-October who had not yet received termination letters. "Maybe some customers don't even know," Bello told Patch. He said some may not have opened the mail, mistaking it for junk.

Members who do not enroll in a new plan by Dec. 31 will default to Original Medicare without prescription drug coverage on Jan. 1, 2027, according to Braven's transition page. The company urged members to review their prescriptions, check whether their doctors are in a new plan's network and submit any prior authorization requests before the switch.

Any rewards or incentive funds in Braven's Healthy Journey program will expire on Dec. 31 and will not carry over to a new plan.

Wilson told Patch that other Medicare Advantage plans remain available, along with the option to return to Original Medicare. Braven's transition page notes that members choosing Original Medicare can also add a supplement plan or a standalone prescription drug plan.

How to get help

Medicare's annual Open Enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. During that window, seniors can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D prescription drug plan for 2027. Braven members whose plan is ending have until Dec. 31 to enroll in new coverage.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP, provides free, unbiased counseling to Medicare beneficiaries. In Union County, SAGE Eldercare at 290 Broad St. in Summit is the designated SHIP counseling agency. Residents can call 908-273-6999 to schedule an appointment. The statewide SHIP information line is 1-800-792-8820.

Braven Health members can also call the company's member services line at 1-833-272-8360 or Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield at 1-877-234-1240 for help reviewing 2027 options. Both lines are staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Upcoming community dates

  • Dec. 7 — Medicare Open Enrollment closes for most seniors
  • Dec. 31 — Braven Health coverage ends; last day for affected members to enroll in a new plan