Medicare Drug Plans for 2027: Compare Costs With Your Own Medicine List
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. If you have a Medicare drug plan (Part D), or Original Medicare and no drug plan, this is your yearly chance to look again. Plans can change their prices and the drugs they cover every January. A plan that fit you this year may not fit next year.
This guide focuses on one simple step: checking the plans against your own medicine list. Figures below are as of November 2026, from Medicare.gov.
What Changes for Drug Plans in 2027
Medicare says no drug plan can have a deductible higher than $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026. Some plans have no deductible at all. After the deductible, you generally pay 25% of the cost of each drug until your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,400 in 2027 (it is $2,100 in 2026). After that, catastrophic coverage begins.
Monthly premiums and the list of covered drugs vary from plan to plan, and premiums can be higher for people with higher incomes. That is why a side-by-side check is worth the time.
How to Compare Plans With Your Drug List
- Gather your Medicare card. You will need your Medicare Number and the start dates of your Part A and/or Part B coverage.
- Make a list of every medicine you take regularly, including the dose. A pill bottle or pharmacy printout works well.
- Go to Medicare Plan Finder and enter your location. Add each of your drugs. Medicare says adding all of them gives the most accurate monthly and yearly cost estimate for each plan.
- Compare the estimated total cost for each plan, not just the monthly premium. Also check that your pharmacy is in the plan’s network.
- If you want to switch, you can enroll in Plan Finder, contact the plan directly, or ask for a paper form. Your request must reach the plan by December 7, and the new plan starts January 1.
If you are happy with your current plan, you do not have to do anything. Still, it is wise to read the plan’s yearly notice first, since it shows what is changing.
Where to Get Free Help
You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). You can also get free one-on-one counseling from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at shiphelp.org. SHIP counselors are not connected to any insurance company.
A safety reminder: Medicare will not ask you to pay to enroll or ask for your Medicare Number from an unexpected caller. If someone pressures you to sign up on the spot, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.
This is general information. Plans and costs depend on where you live and your own situation, so check with Medicare or a SHIP counselor.
More on Seniors Tips
- Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing Your Coverage
- Extra Help With Medicare Drug Costs: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: Spreading Out Drug Costs Month by Month
