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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
Medicare Part D Open Enrollment 2027: Dates, Deadlines and What to Check
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 29, 2026
Medicare Part D open enrollment for 2027 runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any plan you choose starts January 1, 2027. During those eight weeks you can join, switch or drop a Part D plan, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, without needing a special reason.
2027 by the Numbers
Oct 15 – Dec 7
2026 Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage (CMS)
Jan 1, 2027
start date for any change you make (CMS)
$2,400
2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap (CMS)
7 to 12
standalone Part D plans per state for 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
Part D open enrollment, which Medicare officially calls the Annual Enrollment Period, is the one time each year when anyone with Medicare can change drug coverage for the following year. For 2027 it matters more than usual: the program that held standalone premiums down in 2025 and 2026 has ended, the deductible and out-of-pocket cap both rose, and 15 more drugs get negotiated prices.
Below are the 2027 dates, what you can and cannot do in each window, and a short checklist for comparing plans. For the full list of 2027 rule changes, see our Medicare Part D plans 2027 guide.
Key Takeaways
- Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
- December 7, 2026 falls on a Monday; a plan change must be submitted by that day.
- If you do nothing, your current plan renews automatically at its 2027 premium and drug list.
- Medicare Advantage members get a second window from January 1 to March 31, 2027.
- Some people qualify for Special Enrollment Periods outside these dates.
Key Dates for 2027 Part D Enrollment
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| By September 30, 2026 | Plans mail the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) showing 2027 premiums, deductibles and drug list changes |
| October 1, 2026 | Plan-level 2027 details appear on Medicare Plan Finder |
| October 15, 2026 | Annual Enrollment opens |
| December 7, 2026 (Monday) | Last day to choose a plan for January 1 |
| January 1, 2027 | New coverage starts; deductible and $2,400 cap reset |
| January 1 – March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment for people already in an MA plan |
Source: CMS enrollment calendar for the 2027 plan year.
Do not wait for the last day: plan websites and phone lines are busiest in the final week. Making your choice a few days early leaves time to fix a typo or a pharmacy question before the deadline.
What You Can Do During Open Enrollment
Allowed from October 15 to December 7, 2026
✔
Join a Part D plan if you have Original Medicare and no drug coverage
✔
Switch from one standalone Part D plan to another
✔
Drop Part D coverage
✔
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage, or the reverse
✔
Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
You do not have to cancel your old plan. Joining a new Part D plan automatically ends your old one when the new coverage begins. The exception is moving from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare: you also need a standalone Part D plan if you want drug coverage.
Why 2027 Is a Year to Compare
| Part D item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum deductible | $615 | $700 |
| Out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Base beneficiary premium | $38.99 | $41.33 |
| Premium stabilization subsidy | $10 a month | Ended |
| Cap on a plan’s premium increase | $50 | Ended |
Source: CMS 2027 Part D parameters and premium announcement.
With the stabilization program gone, a plan can raise its 2027 premium by more than $50, and it will renew you at the new price unless you choose something else. CMS says most standalone enrollees will see increases under $10 a month, but individual plans can move further. Check the dollar figure in your ANOC, not the average. Details: Part D deductible 2027, Part D out-of-pocket maximum 2027 and Part D premium 2027.
On the other side, 15 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Trelegy Ellipta get Medicare-negotiated prices on January 1, 2027, which may lower costs if your plan covers them.
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What Happens If You Do Nothing
1
Your plan renews automatically. If your plan continues in 2027, you stay in it with its new premium, deductible and formulary.
2
Your Medicare Prescription Payment Plan carries over. If you used the payment plan in 2026 and keep the same plan, you are re-enrolled for 2027. Switching plans means signing up again with the new plan.
3
If your plan is ending, you get a letter. Non-renewal notices went out in early October. If you do not pick a new plan you can end up without drug coverage on January 1.
Non-renewal protection: people whose plan is leaving get a Special Enrollment Period that runs past December 7, through the end of February 2027. Choosing before December 7 still avoids a gap in January.
Enrollment Windows Outside October 15 to December 7
Jan 1 – Mar 31
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: switch MA plans once or return to Original Medicare and add Part D
Your birthday window
Initial Enrollment: 7 months around your 65th birthday or Medicare start
Special periods
Moving, losing employer coverage, Extra Help changes, a 5-star plan in your area
If you never sign up for Part D when you are first eligible and go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage, a late enrollment penalty applies. For 2027 it equals 1% of the $41.33 base premium for each uncovered month, about 41 cents per month, added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. Read more on our Part D late enrollment penalty page.
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Our Open Enrollment Checklist for 2027
1
Find your ANOC. Circle the 2027 premium, deductible and any of your drugs that changed tier or were dropped.
2
List every prescription and dose. Include drugs you take only part of the year.
3
Compare plans in your ZIP code. Our count shows 7 to 12 standalone plans per state for 2027, plus the Medicare Advantage plans in your county.
4
Total the year. Premiums for 12 months plus estimated drug costs; a low premium can hide a high deductible.
5
Check pharmacies. Make sure your pharmacy is in network, ideally a preferred one.
6
Enroll by Monday, December 7, 2026. Keep the confirmation number.
Use our Part D plans by state 2027 table and the 2027 formulary guide as you go.
Standalone Part D or Medicare Advantage Drug Coverage?
Standalone Part D plan
✔
Works with Original Medicare and Medigap
✔
Any doctor who takes Medicare
✔
Average 2027 premium around $36 a month (CMS)
Medicare Advantage with drugs
✔
Medical and drug coverage in one plan
✔
Provider networks; rules vary by plan
✔
Drug portion of MA premiums averages $7 in 2027 (CMS)
Keep in mind: benefits, networks and drug lists vary by plan and area, and not every plan is available everywhere. Open enrollment is the time to make sure the coverage you have still fits the drugs you take.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Medicare Part D open enrollment for 2027 runs from October 15 to Monday, December 7, 2026, with coverage starting January 1. With higher deductibles, a higher cap and the premium subsidy gone, check your ANOC and compare your full-year cost before the deadline.
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
➤ When is Medicare Part D open enrollment for 2027?
It runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
➤ What day of the week is the December 7, 2026 deadline?
December 7, 2026 is a Monday. Your enrollment must be submitted by the end of that day.
➤ Do I have to re-enroll in Part D every year?
No. If your plan continues, it renews automatically. You only need to act if you want to change plans or your plan is ending.
➤ Can I switch Part D plans after December 7?
Usually only with a Special Enrollment Period, such as moving or losing other coverage. Medicare Advantage members can also change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.
➤ What happens if my Part D plan is not renewing for 2027?
You get a non-renewal notice and a Special Enrollment Period through the end of February 2027. Pick a new plan by December 7 to avoid a coverage gap in January.
➤ Is there a penalty for joining Part D late?
Yes, if you went 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage after first becoming eligible. The 2027 penalty is 1% of $41.33 for each uncovered month, added to your premium.
➤ Can I change from Medicare Advantage to a standalone Part D plan?
Yes. During open enrollment you can return to Original Medicare and join a standalone Part D plan, with the new coverage starting January 1, 2027.
➤ Will my Medicare Prescription Payment Plan continue in 2027?
If you stay in the same plan, you are re-enrolled automatically. If you switch plans, you need to sign up again with the new plan.
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