Braven Health Medicare Advantage Plan Exiting the Market
Braven Health, a Medicare Advantage plan launched six years ago by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey alongside Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health, has notified its 42,000 members that it is exiting the market. The plan will no longer offer Medicare Advantage coverage after December 31, 2026.
Created as a partnership between New Jersey’s largest insurer and its two biggest health systems, Braven Health originally debuted to provide lower-cost and higher-quality care. However, rising healthcare costs, an aging population returning to doctors’ offices post-pandemic, and shifting economic conditions have made the plan unsustainable.
What This Means for Braven Health Members
With Braven Health winding down its Medicare Advantage operations, members will need to select a new healthcare path before coverage ends. The decision arrives right on the eve of Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7.
Affected policyholders have two primary options moving forward:
- Return to Original Medicare: Members can switch back to original Medicare and pair it with a supplemental plan (Medigap).
- Enroll in Another Medicare Advantage Plan: Members can search for and enroll in another privately administered Medicare Advantage plan that includes their preferred doctors and medical providers in its network.
Insurance brokers note that New Jersey residents who involuntarily lose their coverage receive "guarantee issue" rights in the state. This provision allows individuals to return to Medicare or secure supplemental coverage regardless of their current health status.
Your Options During Open Enrollment
Seniors who lost coverage through Braven Health still have broad choices across New Jersey counties. For instance, Monmouth County seniors can choose from approximately 35 Medicare Advantage plans offered by six different carriers, while Ocean County seniors have around 29 plans from seven carriers to evaluate during the enrollment window.
Braven Health will continue processing claims for services rendered through the end of 2026, but it will not cover any medical services scheduled for 2027.
