Find a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for 2027
Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
How to Enroll in Medicare Part D 2027: Steps, Papers and Start Dates
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 30, 2026
To enroll in Medicare Part D for 2027, choose a drug plan offered in your ZIP code and join it online, by phone or on a paper form during an enrollment window, using your Medicare number and your Part A or Part B start date. If you sign up by December 7, 2026, your 2027 coverage starts January 1, 2027.
2027 by the Numbers
323
standalone drug plans filed for 2027 nationwide (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
7-12
standalone plans per state for 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
Dec 7, 2026
last day to enroll for a January 1, 2027 start (Medicare.gov)
7 months
length of your first Part D sign-up window around age 65 (Medicare.gov)
Signing up for a drug plan is quick once you have the right papers in front of you. The harder part is getting the timing right, because the date you enroll decides the date your coverage begins, and a gap can lead to a late fee.
This page covers the mechanics: who can enroll, what to gather, the questions on the form, and when coverage starts. For what changes in 2027 plans themselves, see our Medicare Part D plans 2027 guide and our Medicare Part D premium 2027 page.
Key Takeaways
- You need Medicare Part A or Part B and must live in the plan’s service area to join a Part D plan.
- Have your Medicare card, a list of your drugs with doses, and your pharmacy name ready before you start.
- Enrolling by December 7, 2026 gives you coverage on January 1, 2027.
- Joining a new drug plan ends your old one automatically; you do not need to cancel it.
- Our count of CMS filings shows 7 to 12 standalone plans per state for 2027.
Who Can Enroll in a 2027 Part D Plan
Part D is open to anyone who has Medicare, but a few basic conditions apply. You do not have to pass a health check, and a plan cannot turn you down because of the drugs you take.
You can join a 2027 Part D plan if you
✔
Have Medicare Part A, Part B, or both
✔
Live in the plan’s service area (a plan sells by region, often one state)
✔
Are a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S.
✔
Are in an open enrollment window: your first sign-up window, the fall Open Enrollment Period, or a special enrollment period
Note: You cannot join a Part D plan while you live outside the U.S. or are in prison. You can join after you return or are released, during a window that applies to you.
Pick Your Enrollment Path
There are three ways people get Part D drug coverage. Which one you use decides which form you fill out.
Standalone drug plan
✔
Added to Original Medicare
✔
Often paired with a Medigap plan
✔
Join the drug plan directly
Medicare Advantage with drugs
✔
Drug coverage is built into the plan
✔
One enrollment covers medical and drugs
✔
No separate Part D form
Employer or union plan
✔
Coverage through a job or retiree plan
✔
Enroll through the employer
✔
Get a letter showing it is creditable
This page focuses on the first path, a standalone Part D plan. Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings shows 323 individual standalone plans nationwide from 15 sponsors, with the most filings from Humana (102), UnitedHealthcare (73), Wellcare (68), HealthSpring (40) and Aetna SilverScript (20). Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly.
What to Have Ready Before You Enroll
Gathering everything first keeps you from stopping halfway. Plans ask for the same basic facts whether you enroll online, by phone or on paper.
| Item | Where to find it | Why it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare number | Your red, white and blue Medicare card | Links the plan to your Medicare record |
| Part A or Part B start date | Same card | Proves you are eligible for Part D |
| Home address | Where you actually live, not a P.O. box | Plans are sold by service area |
| Drug list with doses | Pill bottles or your pharmacy printout | To check each plan’s 2027 drug list and costs |
| Pharmacy name | Your current pharmacy | Costs can be lower at preferred pharmacies |
| Other drug coverage | Employer, VA, TRICARE or union letters | The form asks about other coverage |
| Payment choice | Bank account or Social Security check | Premiums can be billed or deducted |
Keep any creditable coverage letters; they can protect you from a late enrollment penalty.
Check your drugs against the plan’s 2027 drug list before you enroll. Our Medicare Part D formulary 2027 page explains tiers, prior authorization and step therapy.
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Step by Step: Filling Out the Enrollment
Whether you enroll on Medicare.gov, on the plan’s website, by phone or on a paper form, the steps are the same.
1
Enter your ZIP code Only plans sold in your area can be chosen, and options may differ by region.
2
Pick the plan Choose using your drug list, total yearly cost and pharmacy, not just the premium.
3
Give your Medicare details Enter your Medicare number and Part A or Part B start dates exactly as printed on your card.
4
Answer the enrollment-period question If it is not the fall Open Enrollment Period or your first window, you must say which life event lets you join now.
5
Report other coverage List any other drug coverage, such as an employer plan, and whether you have Extra Help.
6
Choose how to pay Pick a monthly bill, an automatic bank draft, or a deduction from your Social Security check.
7
Save your confirmation Write down the confirmation number and date you enrolled.
Tip: If you are new to Medicare and have creditable coverage elsewhere, say so on the form. It helps the plan record your history correctly so you are not charged a late penalty by mistake.
When Your Coverage Starts
The start date depends on which window you use and when the plan gets your request. We put the main cases in one table using 2026 and 2027 dates.
| When you enroll | Example | Coverage starts |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Open Enrollment, Oct 15 – Dec 7, 2026 | Enroll on November 20, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
| First window, before your 65th birthday month | Turn 65 in June 2027, enroll in April 2027 | June 1, 2027 |
| First window, in or after your birthday month | Turn 65 in June 2027, enroll on June 10, 2027 | July 1, 2027 |
| Special enrollment period | Employer coverage ends May 31, 2027; enroll in May | Often June 1, 2027 |
| Extra Help or Medicaid monthly change | Enroll on March 14, 2027 | April 1, 2027 |
Rules from Medicare.gov; dates are our worked examples. Under the age-65 rule, joining before your birthday month starts coverage in your birthday month.
If you get Medicare because of a disability, your first window starts 21 months after your disability benefits begin and runs through the 28th month. The same start-date rules apply.
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Common Enrollment Mistakes
Most problems come from timing or from a mix-up between Part D and Medicare Advantage. These are worth checking before you click submit.
Avoid these
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Joining a standalone drug plan while in a Medicare Advantage plan with drugs; it may move you out of that plan and back to Original Medicare
✔
Canceling your old drug plan before the new one starts, which can leave a gap
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Choosing by premium alone when a drug you take costs more on that plan
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Waiting past your first window with no creditable coverage, which can trigger a lifelong late fee
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Using a P.O. box instead of the address where you live
If you missed your first window, the late fee rules are on our Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty 2027 page.
After You Enroll
Your new plan takes over from here. Expect mail within a few weeks, and keep it together in one place.
Confirmation letter
Shows your plan name and start date
Member ID card
Use it at the pharmacy on or after the start date
Plan documents
Evidence of Coverage and the 2027 drug list
First bill
Unless you chose a Social Security deduction
If your income is limited, you can apply for Extra Help at any time, even after you enroll. It lowers premiums and copays; see our Extra Help Medicare Part D 2027 page. Want to change your mind later? The windows are listed on our when can you change Medicare Part D plans 2027 page.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Enrolling in a 2027 Part D plan comes down to three things: having your Medicare card and drug list ready, choosing a plan sold in your ZIP code that covers your drugs, and enrolling in the right window. Sign up by December 7, 2026 for a January 1 start, and keep your confirmation and creditable coverage letters.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
➤ What do I need to enroll in a Part D plan for 2027?
You need your Medicare number, your Part A or Part B start date, your home address, and a list of the drugs you take with doses. It also helps to know your pharmacy and any other drug coverage you have.
➤ Can I enroll in Medicare Part D online?
Yes. You can enroll on Medicare.gov or on a plan’s website. You can also enroll by phone or by mailing a paper form to the plan.
➤ How long does Part D enrollment take?
The form itself is short if your papers are ready. Comparing plans first takes longer, especially if you take several drugs, so leave time for that step.
➤ When will my 2027 Part D coverage start?
If you enroll by December 7, 2026, it starts January 1, 2027. At other times it usually starts on the first day of the month after the plan gets your request.
➤ Do I need Part A and Part B to join a Part D plan?
You need Part A or Part B, not necessarily both. A standalone drug plan works with Original Medicare, with or without a Medigap plan.
➤ Can a Part D plan turn me down because of my health?
No. Part D plans cannot deny you because of health conditions or the drugs you take, as long as you are eligible and enroll during a valid window.
➤ Will I get a new card after I enroll?
Yes. Your plan sends a member ID card and a confirmation letter. Keep your red, white and blue Medicare card too, since you still use it for Part A and Part B.
➤ Can I enroll in Part D if I am still working?
Yes, if you have Medicare. Many people with creditable drug coverage at work wait, then join when that coverage ends using a special enrollment period, with no penalty.
ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.
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