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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
Is Medicare Part D Ending in 2027? What Really Ended and What Did Not
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 2, 2026
No, Medicare Part D is not ending in 2027. What ended after 2026 was a temporary premium subsidy for standalone drug plans, and a few plans, mainly SilverScript Choice and HealthSpring Extra Rx, are leaving certain regions. Part D itself continues, with 2027 plans on sale through December 7, 2026.
2027 by the Numbers
323
standalone Part D bids filed for 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
15
companies offering at least one 2027 standalone plan (our count of CMS filings)
1.2M
standalone plan members whose plan ends after 2026 (KFF)
The worry is understandable. Over the summer and fall of 2026, local TV stations and news sites ran headlines saying a Medicare Part D program would end in 2027, and millions of people received letters saying their drug plan would not continue. Read quickly, both sound like Part D is going away. Neither one means that.
This page separates the three things that actually happened from the rumor, using CMS figures, KFF counts and our own review of the 2027 plan filings. Everything else that changed for the new year is collected on the Medicare Part D plans 2027 hub.
Key Takeaways
- Part D is permanent federal law and runs in 2027 with a $2,400 out-of-pocket limit and a $700 maximum deductible.
- The Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration, a temporary subsidy for standalone plans, ended after 2026.
- KFF found about 1.2 million standalone plan members in plans ending after 2026, about 950,000 of them in SilverScript Choice.
- People whose plan ends can pick a new one by December 7, 2026, or use a special enrollment period that runs through the end of February 2027.
- Our count of CMS filings shows 15 companies still offering standalone plans for 2027.
Where the Rumor Started
Search interest in this question rose after a wave of news stories in 2026 carried titles along the lines of a Part D subsidy program ending in 2027. The web addresses and short headlines often dropped the word subsidy, leaving phrases that read like Part D itself would stop. Plan termination letters mailed in early October added to the confusion.
What people heard
✔
Medicare Part D ends in 2027
✔
My drug plan is canceled, so I lose drug coverage
✔
Drug coverage will cost much more for everyone
What actually happened
✔
A temporary premium subsidy ended; Part D continues
✔
Some plans left some regions; other plans remain
✔
Costs vary: KFF found 24% of standalone members face a lower premium if they stay put
The Subsidy That Ended After 2026
The Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration was a voluntary CMS test that began in 2025 to cushion standalone plans through the redesign of the drug benefit. CMS announced in July 2026 that it would not continue into 2027. Its two protections went with it.
$10
monthly premium reduction per member, gone for 2027
$50
limit on yearly premium increases, gone for 2027
~$36
CMS projected 2027 average standalone premium
Scope check: the demonstration applied only to standalone drug plans. Drug coverage inside Medicare Advantage plans was not part of it, and CMS projects the drug portion of those premiums at $7.00 a month for 2027.
The Plans That Are Ending in Some Regions
A plan leaving a region is a business decision by an insurer, not the end of the program. KFF’s October 27, 2026 analysis counted about 1.2 million standalone plan members, or 6% of the total, in plans that end after 2026. That share is double the 3% affected a year earlier.
| Plan ending | Where | Members affected (KFF) |
|---|---|---|
| SilverScript Choice (CVS Health) | 13 Part D regions | About 950,000 |
| HealthSpring Extra Rx | 16 Part D regions | About 190,000 |
| BlueCross Rx Value | South Carolina | About 14,000 |
| Blue Rx PDP Complete | Pennsylvania and West Virginia | About 7,000 |
| Blue Rx PDP Plus | Pennsylvania and West Virginia | About 7,000 |
Source: KFF analysis of CMS 2027 plan data and June 2026 enrollment. Members affected were required to receive a non-renewal notice.
SilverScript Choice is still offered in 20 regions in our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, so whether it continues for you depends on where you live.
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Our Count: Who Still Sells Standalone Plans for 2027
A shrinking market is not a closed one. Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings shows 323 individual standalone bids across all 34 Part D regions, and 15 companies with at least one plan somewhere. Medicare Plan Finder may count plans a little differently.
| Sponsor | 2027 standalone bids | Reach in our count |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | 102 | Three plans in all 34 regions |
| UnitedHealthcare | 73 | Medicare Rx Preferred and Saver from UHC |
| Wellcare | 68 | Two plans in all 34 regions |
| HealthSpring | 40 | Assurance Rx widely; Extra Rx in fewer regions |
| Aetna (SilverScript) | 20 | SilverScript Choice in 20 regions |
| Regional Blue plans | 20 | From 10 Blue companies |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, individual plans only. KFF puts the average person’s 2027 choice at 9 standalone plans, down from 11.
If Your Plan Is One of the Ones Ending
1
Keep the non-renewal letter. It confirms your right to a special enrollment period.
2
Choose a new plan by December 7, 2026. Coverage then starts January 1, 2027, with no gap.
3
Use the special enrollment window if needed. When a plan does not renew, Medicare allows a switch from December 8 through the last day of February.
4
Check the start date. A plan chosen after December 31 starts the first of the following month, which can leave a short gap.
5
Extra Help members get a backstop. People with Extra Help who do not choose are generally assigned to a plan by Medicare.
Penalty risk: going 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage can trigger a lifetime late penalty of 1% of $41.33 per uncovered month. Details are on our late enrollment penalty 2027 page.
The full rules for that window are on our Part D special enrollment period 2027 page.
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Why Part D Has No End Date
Part D was created by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and began paying claims in 2006. It is a permanent part of Medicare law, and changing that would take an act of Congress, not a CMS announcement or a plan decision.
Signs the program is continuing in 2027
✔
CMS set the 2027 base beneficiary premium at $41.33 and the national average bid at $296.05
✔
The out-of-pocket limit rises to $2,400 and the maximum deductible to $700
✔
Negotiated prices for 15 more drugs, including Ozempic and Xtandi, start January 1, 2027
✔
Covered insulin stays capped at $35 a month and recommended adult vaccines stay at $0
✔
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan continues, with automatic re-enrollment for those who stay in the same plan
What to Do Before Open Enrollment Closes
1
Read your Annual Notice of Change. It shows whether your plan renews and its 2027 premium, deductible and drug list.
2
Price your drugs in two or three plans. Premiums moved sharply for some members, so last year’s choice may not be the cheapest one now.
3
Do not drop coverage to save money. A break of 63 days or more can lead to a lifetime penalty.
Low-premium options are compared on our cheapest Medicare Part D plan 2027 page, and premium trends are on the Medicare Part D premium 2027 page.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Part D is not ending in 2027. A temporary subsidy ended, premiums moved, and some plans left certain regions, so the people most affected are those holding a non-renewal letter. Choose a new plan by December 7, 2026, to start 2027 without a gap.
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
➤ Is Medicare Part D being discontinued in 2027?
No. Part D continues in 2027 under federal law. The program that ended was a temporary premium subsidy for standalone drug plans.
➤ What is the Part D subsidy that is ending?
The Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration lowered standalone plan premiums by $10 a month in 2026 and capped yearly increases at $50. Both ended after 2026.
➤ Why did I get a letter saying my drug plan is ending?
Your insurer chose not to offer that plan in your region for 2027. You need to choose another standalone plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage.
➤ Is SilverScript going away?
SilverScript Choice is leaving 13 Part D regions for 2027, according to KFF. Our count of CMS filings shows it still offered in 20 regions, depending on where you live.
➤ What happens if I do nothing after my plan ends?
You would have no Part D coverage on January 1, 2027, unless you have Extra Help, in which case Medicare generally assigns a plan. A long gap can also lead to a late penalty.
➤ How long do I have to replace a plan that is ending?
You can choose during open enrollment through December 7, 2026, or use a special enrollment period from December 8 through the end of February 2027.
➤ Are fewer companies selling Part D plans?
Choices are smaller. KFF puts the average person’s 2027 standalone choice at 9 plans, down from 11. Our count of CMS filings still shows 15 companies offering at least one plan.
➤ Will Medicare Advantage drug coverage end too?
No. Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage continue in 2027, though some individual plans also ended, so check your Annual Notice of Change.
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