Part D Drug Plans for 2027: What Changed, in Data
We compared every stand-alone Part D plan in the CMS 2026 and 2027 landscape files, the 2027 plan crosswalk and October 2026 enrollment. The $0-premium drug plan is gone, premiums are up, and about 1.2 million people are in a plan that ends.
Key findings
- No stand-alone Part D plan has a $0 premium for 2027. In 2026, 81 state listings did, in 33 states. Plans that are $0 for people with full Extra Help fell from 145 to 89 listings.
- The median premium rose from $56.30 to $79.05 a month across state listings, and went up in 42 of 52 states.
- 32 plans end because their contracts aren’t renewed. They are regional versions of HealthSpring Extra Rx (PDP), SilverScript Choice (PDP), Blue Rx PDP Plus (PDP), Blue Rx PDP Complete (PDP), and BlueCross Rx Value (PDP); some of those plan names continue in other regions. They had at least 1,170,208 members in October 2026, who need to choose a new plan.
- 26 plans merge into another plan from the same company, moving at least 349,067 people automatically.
- For plans that continue, the median premium change is +$17.20 a month per plan, and +$5.50 for the median member. 77 continuing plans, with at least 2.5 million members, go up by $50 a month or more.
- Fewer plans and companies. State listings fell from 545 to 472, and parent companies from 17 to 15; Highmark Health and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BCBSSC) have no stand-alone plans for 2027.
2026 vs 2027 at a glance
| Stand-alone Part D plans | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| State plan listings | 545 | 472 |
| Distinct plans | 363 | 319 |
| Parent companies | 17 | 15 |
| Median monthly premium (state listings) | $56.30 | $79.05 |
| $0 premium | 81 | 0 |
| Premium under $10 | 154 | 115 |
| $0 with full Extra Help (benchmark plans) | 145 | 89 |
| Deductible at the maximum ($615 / $700) | 378 | 307 |
| $0 deductible | 60 | 6 |
| Enhanced benefit plans | 264 | 223 |
| Rated 4 stars or more (Part D summary) | 8 | 158 |
| Out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs | $2,100 | $2,400 |
Counts are state listings (one plan in one state) unless noted; a plan sold in a multi-state region counts once per state. 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. No plan was listed as under sanction in either year.
Plans that end
CMS’s 2027 plan crosswalk lists 32 plans from 2026 whose contracts aren’t renewed. Members aren’t moved to another plan; they have to pick one.
| Company | Plans ending | Members, October 2026 (at least) | State listings 2026 → 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Health Corporation | 13 | 950,742 | 50 → 23 |
| Health Care Service Corporation | 16 | 191,767 | 98 → 57 |
| Highmark Health | 2 | 13,977 | 4 → 0 |
| BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BCBSSC) | 1 | 13,722 | 1 → 0 |
Members = sum of the plan’s county counts in the CMS October 2026 enrollment file. CMS hides counts of 10 or fewer, so totals are floors. The plan-by-plan list is in the download below.
Companies with fewer listings but still selling: Health Care Service Corporation (98 to 57) and CVS Health Corporation (50 to 23).
Premium changes for plans that continue
| Monthly premium change | Plans | Members (at least) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | 56 | 4,031,076 |
| Up less than $10 | 85 | 7,398,371 |
| Up $10 to $25 | 79 | 2,933,244 |
| Up $25 to $50 | 34 | 860,837 |
| Up $50 or more | 77 | 2,547,757 |
331 plans from 2026 that renew or merge into a 2027 plan, comparing the 2026 plan’s premium with the premium of the plan its members move to. Some plans charge different premiums by region; each plan ID covers one region.
By state
| State | Plans 2026 → 2027 | Median premium | Lowest premium | $0 with Extra Help |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 12 → 11 | $76.85 → $110.40 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| Alaska | 9 → 9 | $19.70 → $83.80 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 3 |
| Arizona | 10 → 9 | $20.60 → $22.30 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 3 |
| Arkansas | 12 → 11 | $53.50 → $98.30 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 0 |
| California | 12 → 10 | $107 → $150.55 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 0 |
| Colorado | 10 → 8 | $66.20 → $114.40 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| Connecticut | 11 → 10 | $38.70 → $114.75 | $8.40 → $13.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Delaware | 10 → 9 | $35.20 → $36.60 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| District of Columbia | 10 → 9 | $35.20 → $36.60 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| Florida | 10 → 11 | $98.45 → $126 | $0 → $5.30 | 1 → 0 |
| Georgia | 10 → 9 | $84.60 → $145.70 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 0 |
| Hawaii | 8 → 8 | $21.65 → $32.20 | $0 → $10.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Idaho | 10 → 8 | $42 → $63.70 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 2 |
| Illinois | 12 → 10 | $78.15 → $84.60 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| Indiana | 10 → 8 | $53.95 → $74.35 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 2 |
| Iowa | 11 → 9 | $29.70 → $33.30 | $4.70 → $5.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Kansas | 12 → 12 | $35.55 → $59.30 | $0 → $5.30 | 4 → 4 |
| Kentucky | 10 → 8 | $53.95 → $74.35 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 2 |
| Louisiana | 10 → 8 | $40.85 → $26.70 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 3 |
| Maine | 9 → 8 | $54.40 → $37.70 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 2 |
| Maryland | 10 → 9 | $35.20 → $36.60 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| Massachusetts | 11 → 10 | $38.70 → $114.75 | $8.40 → $13.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Michigan | 12 → 11 | $32.25 → $49.80 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 0 |
| Minnesota | 11 → 9 | $29.70 → $33.30 | $4.70 → $5.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Mississippi | 10 → 9 | $68.40 → $109.20 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 0 |
| Missouri | 10 → 9 | $71.30 → $85.10 | $9.60 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| Montana | 11 → 9 | $29.70 → $33.30 | $4.70 → $5.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Nebraska | 11 → 9 | $29.70 → $33.30 | $4.70 → $5.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Nevada | 10 → 9 | $64.65 → $86.60 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 0 |
| New Hampshire | 9 → 8 | $54.40 → $37.70 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 2 |
| New Jersey | 12 → 11 | $74.85 → $120.50 | $4.40 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| New Mexico | 11 → 10 | $69.60 → $29.80 | $0 → $5.30 | 4 → 0 |
| New York | 10 → 9 | $110.90 → $169.30 | $35.70 → $37.30 | 2 → 1 |
| North Carolina | 12 → 11 | $80.95 → $130.20 | $3.60 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| North Dakota | 11 → 9 | $29.70 → $33.30 | $4.70 → $5.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Ohio | 10 → 9 | $69.70 → $42 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 3 |
| Oklahoma | 11 → 9 | $65.40 → $40 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 2 |
| Oregon | 10 → 8 | $30.25 → $23.35 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 12 → 8 | $53.05 → $65.05 | $6.60 → $5.30 | 3 → 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 3 → 3 | $65.70 → $12.90 | $50 → $9.30 | 0 → 0 |
| Rhode Island | 11 → 10 | $38.70 → $114.75 | $8.40 → $13.30 | 4 → 3 |
| South Carolina | 11 → 8 | $98.40 → $50.20 | $4.80 → $5.30 | 2 → 0 |
| South Dakota | 11 → 9 | $29.70 → $33.30 | $4.70 → $5.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Tennessee | 12 → 11 | $76.85 → $110.40 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 2 |
| Texas | 12 → 10 | $92 → $104.70 | $0 → $5.30 | 1 → 0 |
| Utah | 10 → 8 | $42 → $63.70 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 2 |
| Vermont | 11 → 10 | $38.70 → $114.75 | $8.40 → $13.30 | 4 → 3 |
| Virginia | 9 → 9 | $39.60 → $100.80 | $0 → $5.30 | 2 → 0 |
| Washington | 10 → 8 | $30.25 → $23.35 | $0 → $5.30 | 3 → 0 |
| West Virginia | 12 → 8 | $53.05 → $65.05 | $6.60 → $5.30 | 3 → 1 |
| Wisconsin | 10 → 8 | $0 → $10.85 | $0 → $5.30 | 4 → 0 |
| Wyoming | 11 → 9 | $29.70 → $33.30 | $4.70 → $5.30 | 4 → 3 |
What to do now
- Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists your plan’s 2027 premium, deductible and drug list, or tells you the plan is ending.
- Compare plans with your drugs in the Medicare Plan Finder before December 7, 2026. Our Part D rankings by state sort every plan by premiums plus deductible.
- Check Extra Help. If your income and savings are limited, Extra Help can bring your premium to $0 on a benchmark plan and cut your copays.
- Spread big drug bills. The Prescription Payment Plan calculator shows how the $2,400 cap and monthly billing work.
Download the data
- pdp-2027-state-summary.csv: one row per state.
- pdp-2027-plans.csv: each 2026 plan, its 2027 outcome and premium, and October 2026 members.
- pdp-2027-study.json: every number on this page.
Free to reuse with credit to Your Best Health Plans (CC BY 4.0).
Method
Plans: every stand-alone prescription drug plan in the CMS landscape files (CY2026_Landscape_202609.csv, CY2027_Landscape_202609.csv) for the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Employer plans aren’t in these files. Outcomes come from the CMS 2027 plan crosswalk (PlanCrosswalk2027_10012026.txt): renewal, consolidated renewal (merged into another plan) or a contract that isn’t renewed. Members come from the CMS monthly enrollment file (CPSC_Enrollment_Info_2026_10.csv). The deductible maximum and out-of-pocket cap come from the CMS rate announcements. Medicare Advantage drug coverage is covered in our Medicare Advantage study.
Questions
Are there $0 premium Part D plans for 2027?
Not for everyone. No stand-alone Part D plan has a $0 premium for 2027 in the CMS landscape file, down from 81 state listings in 2026. People with full Extra Help can still get a $0 premium in 89 state listings that qualify as benchmark plans.
What happens if my Part D plan ends in 2027?
Your plan must send you a notice. Pick a new plan during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7, 2026) so your drug coverage continues on January 1 without a gap.
How much is the Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?
$2,400 for covered drugs, up from $2,100 in 2026. The highest deductible a plan can charge rises from $615 to $700.
Did my plan's premium go up?
Most did: 275 of the 331 plans that continue into 2027 (renewed or merged into another plan) charge more, and 56 charge less. Your Annual Notice of Change shows your plan's new premium, deductible and drug list.
Sources
- CMS, CY 2026 and CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Landscape files — cms.gov.
- CMS, 2027 Plan Crosswalk and Monthly Enrollment by Contract/Plan/State/County, October 2026 — cms.gov.
- CMS, CY 2027 Rate Announcement (Part D deductible and out-of-pocket threshold, 2026 and 2027) — cms.gov PDF.
Educational information, not a recommendation to join any plan. We are not an insurance agent or broker, and we are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. · Advertiser disclosure