The 2027 standard Part D deductible is $700, up from $615 in 2026. That’s one reason to take a fresh look at your prescription coverage instead of letting your current plan renew without comparing it with next year’s options.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. This is your opportunity to review coverage for 2027. It is different from the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which runs January 1 through March 31; that is a separate period for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage to review their options under that period’s rules.
Three 2027 numbers to know
These figures describe the standard Part D benefit and premium benchmark. They are not a quote for any specific plan.
| Part D figure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deductible | $615 | $700 |
| Annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Base beneficiary premium | $38.99 | $41.33 |
The deductible is the amount you may pay for covered drugs before your plan begins paying under its benefit. The standard amount is a maximum; a specific plan may set a different deductible. Some plans may not have one, so check the details of the plan you are considering.
The $2,400 out-of-pocket cap is a key protection for covered Part D drugs. It limits the amount you spend out of pocket on covered drugs during the year. It does not mean every prescription is covered, or that every plan works the same way before you reach the cap. Verify how your own prescriptions are covered and what you pay at each stage.
The $41.33 base beneficiary premium is not necessarily your monthly premium. It is a statutory benchmark used to calculate plan-specific premiums. Your actual premium depends on the plan you select, so don’t use the benchmark to estimate what you will pay.
An average premium is not your premium
CMS projects the average monthly premium for stand-alone Part D plans to increase by less than $1, from $35.09 in 2026 to $36 in 2027. For Part D coverage within Medicare Advantage plans, CMS projects the average premium to decrease from $11.32 to $7, a 38% decrease.
CMS also projects that 88% of non-low-income beneficiaries will have access to a basic Part D plan at $10.30 or less per month, and 93% will have access to an enhanced Part D plan for under $6. These are averages and access figures, not a promise about your premium, the drugs a plan covers, or your total costs.
Other market-level projections don’t tell you whether your particular plan is still the right fit, either. CMS projects that roughly 8 in 10 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries can stay in their current plan at the same or a lower premium; more than 99% of beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan, and 97% will have access to 10 or more. Those figures describe availability and premiums across the market, not whether your prescriptions and pharmacy work well with a specific plan.
CMS says the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration will end at the close of 2026, with the 2027 market returning to traditional conditions. That provides context for the market averages, but an average still cannot tell you what your current plan has filed for next year.
KFF’s analysis finds a mixed picture: some people who keep their stand-alone drug plan may see only a modest premium change, while others could face a much larger increase. If you stay without comparing, you inherit the plan’s filed 2027 terms, not the average. Check your own plan and prescriptions before deciding.
Five checks to make before December 7
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Confirm that each of your drugs is still on the plan’s formulary. A formulary is the plan’s list of covered prescription drugs. Look up every medication you take, including the exact name and dosage, in the plan’s current 2027 information.
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Check the tier for each covered drug. A tier is the plan’s category for a medication and can affect what you pay. Confirm whether any of your drugs have moved to a different tier for next year.
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Make sure your pharmacy is still in the plan’s network. A network pharmacy is one that has an arrangement with the plan. Check the specific pharmacy you use, rather than assuming it remains in network because it was covered this year.
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Review the deductible and out-of-pocket cap for the specific plan. Compare the plan’s deductible with your expected prescription use, and make sure you understand how its coverage works toward the cap for covered Part D drugs. A plan’s premium alone does not show what your overall drug costs may look like.
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Check whether the plan’s star rating changed. Use the plan information available through Medicare.gov to review its current rating along with the coverage details. Consider the rating as one part of your comparison, alongside your drugs, pharmacy, deductible, and costs.
You can compare plan information through Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Give yourself time to review the details before December 7 instead of relying on a quick glance at the monthly premium.
Check for help with costs, too
If you have limited income, you may qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program. These programs may help with premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other Medicare costs, depending on the program and your circumstances.
It is worth checking rather than assuming your income is too high. You can learn more about Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs at Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance. You do not need to work out eligibility on your own before asking for information.
Compare your options with help
At Total Benefit Solutions, we provide free advocacy and can sit down with you to compare plan options. We’ll help you review the details that matter to your prescriptions and pharmacy, so you can make a decision with clearer information. There is no cost to you for our help.
Call (215) 355-2121 or visit www.totalbenefits.net to take the next step before December 7.
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