Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: Check Your Drug Plan Before December 7

Stand-alone drug plan premiums could average $51 a month if nobody switches, and 4.3 million people will lose their plan. Here is how to compare your real 2027 drug costs.

The Short Answer

Medicare open enrollment ends December 7, 2026. If you have a stand-alone Part D drug plan, do not let it renew without a check this year. KFF, a health policy research group, projects that the average stand-alone premium will rise from $34 to $51 a month if enrollees keep their current plans. KFF expects the real average to land lower, because some people will switch.

The cost of inaction is the main story for 2027. KFF found that about 10.4 million stand-alone plan enrollees without low-income help will pay a higher premium if they stay put. About 2.4 million of them face an increase of more than $50 a month. One Virginia enrollee told KFF Health News that his plan would rise from $39.60 to $121.90 a month. He found a similar plan for $19.30.

Five Numbers Change on January 1

This table compares 2026 and 2027 for Medicare drug coverage. The figures come from federal rules and from KFF's October 30 analysis.

You may see a different premium figure in the news. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projects a stand-alone average of $36 for 2027, up from $35. KFF says CMS did not explain its method. The two numbers answer different questions, so your own plan notice matters more than either average.

Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage look different. KFF estimates an average drug premium of about $9 a month for 2027. However, those plans also raised their average drug deductible from $360 to $489.

No Stand-Alone Plan Is Free in 2027

KFF reports that no $0 premium stand-alone drug plans exist for 2027 for people without Extra Help. About 4 million people paid no premium in 2026, and all of them will pay something next year. Some increases are small. Others are not.

KFF's list of national plans shows the spread. Wellcare Value Script averages $6.50 a month, and Wellcare Classic averages $10.90. AARP Medicare Rx Preferred averages $204.50, up from $126.00. These are national averages, and your state's price will differ.

A low premium does not always mean a low total cost. A plan with a $6.50 premium can still cost you more if it does not cover your medicine or places it on a high tier. Always compare the total yearly cost for your own drug list.

4.3 Million People Will Lose Their Plan

KFF counted about 4.3 million people whose plans end after 2026. That group includes 3.1 million people in Medicare Advantage drug plans and 1.2 million people in stand-alone plans. KFF's count includes plans that leave a county but continue elsewhere.

Two stand-alone plans account for most of the exits. SilverScript Choice leaves 13 regions and affects about 950,000 people. HealthSpring Extra Rx leaves 16 regions and affects about 190,000 people.

What Happens if Your Plan Ends

• You have extra time. Medicare gives you a special window from December 8 through the last day of February.
• A gap can still happen. Pick a plan by December 7 so that new coverage starts January 1.
• A stand-alone plan may not replace itself. If your plan ends and you do nothing, you may have no drug coverage on January 1.
• A Medicare Advantage plan moves you to Original Medicare. You then need a separate drug plan to keep drug coverage.

Read the letter from your plan closely. Some people move automatically to a replacement plan from the same insurer. KFF counted about 1.4 million Medicare Advantage enrollees in that group. A replacement plan may cover different drugs at a different price.

Medicare Negotiated Prices Start for 15 More Drugs

Negotiated prices for 15 more drugs start on January 1, 2027. CMS expects this change to cut enrollee costs by about $685 million that year. This table shows some of the most common drugs on the list, using CMS figures for a 30-day supply.

The negotiated price is not your copay. It is the price that your plan pays. Your share still depends on your deductible and your plan's tier for that drug. A lower price helps most when you pay a percentage of the cost, which is common for brand-name drugs. KFF lists a median of 25% for preferred brands in stand-alone plans.

Check Your 2027 Costs in Six Steps

1. Make your list. Write down every medicine, with the strength and how often you take it.
2. Read your Annual Notice of Change. Find your new premium, your deductible, and any drug that moved to a new tier.
3. Open Medicare Plan Finder. Go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare. Enter your ZIP code and your drug list.
4. Sort by total drug and premium cost. Do not sort by premium alone.
5. Check your pharmacy. Preferred pharmacies often charge lower copays. Enter the pharmacies that you actually use.
6. Enroll before the deadline. Use Plan Finder or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Save your confirmation number.

You can get free help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Find your local office at shiphelp.org. SHIP counselors do not sell insurance.

Three Ways to Lower the Cost Further

Apply for Extra Help

Extra Help is a federal program that lowers premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income. Apply through the Social Security Administration. If you qualify, you also keep access to plans with $0 premiums.

Spread Your Costs Across the Year

The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you pay your drug costs in monthly bills. It does not lower your total cost. It helps when a high deductible hits in January. Ask your plan about it before your first fill of the year.

Compare Cash Prices for Low-Cost Generics

The deductible rises in 2027, so a January fill may cost you more than it did in December. Search your generics on RxGator and compare the price with your plan's price. A discount card price can be lower for a cheap generic. However, a cash purchase usually does not count toward your Part D deductible or yearly cap. Use your plan for expensive drugs so that those costs count.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the $2,400 cap include premiums?

No. The cap covers what you pay for covered drugs at the pharmacy. Your premiums do not count toward it. Once you reach the cap, you pay nothing more for covered drugs that year.

Can I change my plan after December 7?

Most people cannot. Exceptions include people whose plan ends, people who move, and people who qualify for Extra Help. People in Medicare Advantage also have a separate window from January 1 through March 31 to make one change.

My plan did not change its name. Is it the same plan?

Not always. A plan can keep its name and still change its premium, drug list, tiers, and preferred pharmacies. Your Annual Notice of Change shows the differences.

Does the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge affect my choice of plan?

The Bridge offers certain weight-loss GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month through 2027 to people who meet medical criteria. You need Part D coverage to use it, but it works outside your plan's drug list. See Medicare.gov/glp1bridge for the rules.

The Bottom Line

For many people, staying in the current drug plan is the expensive choice for 2027. Take 30 minutes before December 7 to run your drug list through Medicare Plan Finder. Then search your generics on RxGator to see if a lower price exists outside your plan.