Find a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for 2027
Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
Medicare Part D Cost Calculator 2027: Worksheet and Results
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 3, 2026
A Medicare Part D cost calculator for 2027 needs only four inputs: your drugs’ monthly price, the plan’s deductible (up to $700), the 25% share after it, and the $2,400 yearly cap. Multiply the monthly price by 12, pay the first $700 in full, add 25% of the rest, stop at $2,400, then add 12 months of premium.
2027 by the Numbers
$700
highest deductible a 2027 plan may charge (CMS)
25%
standard share of drug costs after the deductible (CMS)
$2,400
2027 ceiling on covered drug spending (CMS)
$10.30
basic plan premium or less for 88% of people without Extra Help (CMS)
Online tools ask for a ZIP code and a drug list, then hand back a number with no explanation. The worksheet on this page does the same job by hand, so the logic is visible and any plan’s figures can be dropped in. The arithmetic takes about five minutes with a phone calculator.
The results below come from the CMS parameters for the 2027 standard benefit. Real plans may swap the 25% for flat copays or charge a lower deductible, so treat each result as a ceiling under the standard design. For the bigger picture, start at the Medicare Part D plans 2027 hub, and for monthly premium trends see the Part D premium 2027 guide.
Key Takeaways
- The yearly formula: full price up to the deductible, then 25%, capped at $2,400, plus 12 premiums.
- Our math: a $90-a-month drug list costs about $795 at the pharmacy for 2027; an $850 list hits the cap in September.
- Cutting the deductible from $700 to $0 saves up to $525 a year, which justifies up to $43.75 a month in extra premium.
- Once the cap is in reach, the deductible stops mattering and the premium decides the winner.
- Each spouse runs a separate calculation; Part D deductibles and caps are never shared.
Inputs the Worksheet Needs
| Input | 2027 value | Where to find yours |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly drug price | Varies by drug and plan | Medicare Plan Finder drug cost view, or the plan’s pharmacy price lookup |
| Deductible | $0 to $700 | Plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits |
| Share after deductible | 25% standard; copays in many plans | Plan’s drug tier chart |
| Yearly cap | $2,400 for covered drugs | Same for every Part D plan |
| Monthly premium | Set by plan; CMS projects about $36 on average | Plan’s 2027 Annual Notice of Change or Plan Finder |
Parameters from CMS for plan year 2027. Use the plan’s own price for each drug, not the cash or coupon price.
Only the first four inputs feed the drug-spending part of the math. The premium is added at the end because it never counts toward the cap.
Do It Yourself: Six Steps With a Pencil
1
Add up one month. Write the plan price for each drug you fill in a typical month, then total them. Call this M.
2
Find the yearly drug cost. Multiply M by 12. Call this Y.
3
Take the deductible slice. If Y is at or below the plan’s deductible, you pay all of Y and can skip to step 5.
4
Take 25% of what is left. Subtract the deductible from Y, multiply by 0.25, then add the deductible back.
5
Apply the ceiling. If the result from step 3 or 4 is above $2,400, write $2,400 instead.
6
Add the premium. Multiply the monthly premium by 12 and add it. That sum is your estimated year.
Formula in one line: yearly drug cost = the smaller of $2,400 and (deductible + 0.25 x the amount of 12 x M above the deductible), when 12 x M is above the deductible. Premiums go on top.
Calculator Results for Five Monthly Drug Budgets
| Plan price per month (M) | Deductible used up | Cap reached | Pharmacy cost for 2027 | Year at $10.30 premium | Year at $36 premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90 | August | No | $795 | $918.60 | $1,227 |
| $240 | March | No | $1,245 | $1,368.60 | $1,677 |
| $380 | February | No | $1,665 | $1,788.60 | $2,097 |
| $850 | January | September | $2,400 | $2,523.60 | $2,832 |
| $1,600 | January | May | $2,400 | $2,523.60 | $2,832 |
Our math from CMS 2027 parameters: $700 deductible on all drugs, 25% after it, $2,400 ceiling. $10.30 is the CMS basic-plan figure available to 88% of non-subsidy enrollees; $36 is the CMS projected average standalone premium.
The two premium columns show why the cheapest premium can matter more than people expect. For the $850 and $1,600 budgets, the pharmacy side is identical at $2,400, so the only difference between plans is about $308 in premiums over the year, assuming both plans cover the drugs.
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Is a Lower Deductible Worth a Higher Premium?
Plans often trade a smaller deductible for a bigger monthly charge. The worksheet can settle that trade. Below, the $380-a-month budget from the results table is run through three deductibles.
| Plan deductible | Pharmacy cost for 2027 | Savings vs. $700 deductible | Extra premium that breaks even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $700 | $1,665.00 | None | None |
| $350 | $1,402.50 | $262.50 | $21.88 a month |
| $0 | $1,140.00 | $525.00 | $43.75 a month |
Our math: every $100 of deductible removed saves $75, because you pay 25% instead of 100% on that $100. The rule holds when yearly drug costs exceed the deductible and the cap is not reached.
Where the rule flips: for the $1,600 budget, the pharmacy total is $2,400 under all three deductibles, so the deductible is worth $0 and the lower-premium plan wins. The cap only arrives a month later with the $0 deductible, in June instead of May.
Two Spouses, Two Separate Calculations
Part D is individual coverage. Each spouse has a separate plan, deductible and $2,400 cap, even when both join the same plan. A household estimate is two worksheets added together, never one combined drug list.
$885
spouse with $120 a month in drugs: $700 deductible plus 25% of $740
$2,400
spouse with $950 a month: cap reached in August
$3,285
household pharmacy cost for 2027, before two sets of premiums
Couple check: the best plan for one spouse may be a poor fit for the other. Running separate worksheets often points to two different plans, each matched to its own drug list.
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Adjusting the Math for Copay Plans and Insulin
Plan uses 25% coinsurance
✔
Use step 4 exactly as written
✔
Your share moves up or down with the drug’s price
✔
Common on brand and specialty tiers
Plan uses flat tier copays
✔
Replace step 4 with copay x fills after the deductible
✔
Some plans skip the deductible on low tiers, depending on the plan and area
✔
Still stop at $2,400
Covered insulin needs its own line. It is capped at $35 for a month’s supply and skips the deductible, so a year of one insulin is at most $420. Enter it separately from step 3, but count those dollars toward the $2,400 ceiling, because insulin spending moves you toward the cap like any other covered drug.
What the Worksheet Leaves Out
Add these by hand if they apply
✔
A late enrollment penalty, which the separate Part D penalty calculator figures month by month
✔
Higher-income surcharges (Part D IRMAA), billed by Medicare and never capped
✔
Drugs not on the plan’s formulary, paid at full price and not counted toward $2,400
✔
Fills at pharmacies outside the plan’s network, which may cost more or not count
If the worksheet shows a large bill early in the year, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan can spread it into monthly installments. For how the cap itself works, see the 2027 out-of-pocket maximum page.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Any 2027 Part D plan can be priced with four inputs and six steps: pay the deductible, pay 25% after it, stop at $2,400, and add twelve premiums. A lower deductible is worth up to $75 for every $100 removed, unless your drugs already reach the cap. Run the worksheet for each plan you are considering, and for each spouse separately, before December 7, 2026.
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 there an official Medicare Part D cost calculator for 2027?
Medicare Plan Finder estimates yearly drug costs for 2027 plans once you enter your drugs, dose and pharmacy. The worksheet here uses the same CMS rules and shows each step.
➤ What monthly drug cost reaches the 2027 cap?
Under the standard design, a plan price of about $625 a month or more reaches $2,400 before year end. In the results table, $850 a month reaches it in September.
➤ How much is a $0 deductible worth in 2027?
Up to $525 a year compared with a $700 deductible, which is worth paying up to $43.75 more in monthly premium. If your drugs reach the cap anyway, it is worth nothing.
➤ Do my spouse’s drug costs count toward my $2,400?
No. Each person has a separate deductible and cap, so run one worksheet per person.
➤ Should I use the drug’s list price in the calculator?
Use the price your plan pays, which Plan Finder and plan websites show. List prices and coupon prices can be very different.
➤ Does the calculator work for Medicare Advantage drug coverage?
Yes. The $2,400 cap and 25% standard share apply to Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage too, though their deductibles and copays vary by plan and area.
➤ Where does insulin go in the worksheet?
On its own line at up to $35 a month, outside the deductible step. Those dollars still count toward the $2,400 ceiling.
➤ Why might my real cost be lower than the worksheet?
Many plans charge flat copays on generic tiers or a deductible below $700. The worksheet shows the ceiling under the standard design.
ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.
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