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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
Medicare Part C and D 2027: How Advantage and Drug Plans Fit Together
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 3, 2026
For 2027, Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (drug coverage) usually come together in one MA-PD plan, or you can pair Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan. CMS projects the drug portion of MA-PD premiums at $7.00 a month on average, while standalone drug plans average about $36.
2027 by the Numbers
$7.00
average 2027 Part D portion of MA-PD premiums, down from $11.32 (CMS)
~$36
average 2027 standalone Part D plan premium, up from $35.09 (CMS)
$12.00
average 2027 Medicare Advantage premium across all plans, down from $14.37 (CMS)
Part C is the official name for Medicare Advantage, private plans that replace Original Medicare for hospital and doctor care. Part D is the outpatient prescription benefit. They are separate parts of Medicare law, but most Advantage plans fold Part D into the same card, and those combined plans are called MA-PD plans.
Choosing between the two setups changes your drug premium, your doctor network and your options for switching later. This page lays out the 2027 numbers side by side. Background on how the drug benefit works is on our what is Medicare Part D 2027 page, and premium detail is on the Medicare Part D premium 2027 page.
Key Takeaways
- The drug benefit inside an MA-PD follows the same 2027 rules as a standalone plan: a deductible no higher than $700 and a $2,400 cap.
- MA-PD drug premiums are lower on average because Advantage plans can use federal rebate dollars to buy them down.
- Most people in an Advantage HMO or PPO with drug coverage cannot add a separate standalone drug plan.
- CMS expects about 34 million people, roughly 47.4% of Medicare enrollees, in Medicare Advantage for 2027.
- Our count of CMS filings shows 323 standalone drug plan bids for 2027, compared with about 5,532 Advantage plans nationally.
Two Ways to Get Part D in 2027
Medicare Advantage with drugs (MA-PD)
✔
One private plan covers hospital, doctor and drug costs
✔
Usually a provider network, such as an HMO or PPO
✔
Yearly limit on medical costs plus the $2,400 drug cap
✔
Requires Part A and Part B
Original Medicare plus a standalone plan (PDP)
✔
Any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare
✔
Drug plan bought separately
✔
Can be paired with a Medigap policy for medical costs
✔
Requires Part A or Part B
Either path gives you creditable drug coverage for 2027, so neither one triggers the late enrollment penalty. The trade-off sits in premiums, networks and how much medical cost sharing you take on.
2027 Premium Figures From CMS
| CMS average monthly figure | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage premium, all plans | $14.37 | $12.00 | Down 16.5% |
| Part D portion of MA-PD premiums | $11.32 | $7.00 | Down 38% |
| Standalone Part D plan premium | $35.09 | About $36 | Up less than $1 |
| Base beneficiary premium (used for penalties) | $38.99 | $41.33 | Up 6% |
Figures from the CMS September 28, 2026 landscape release and 2027 Part D bid information. Averages are weighted by enrollment; your plan’s premium depends on the plan and area.
The gap exists because Advantage plans get rebate money when they bid below federal benchmarks, and many spend part of it lowering the drug premium. A standalone plan has no medical side, so it has no rebate to apply.
Our Math: What the Premium Gap Means for a Year
$84
12 months at the $7.00 MA-PD drug average
$432
12 months at the ~$36 standalone average
$348
yearly difference at the averages
The $348 difference does not tell the whole story. A person with Original Medicare and a standalone plan often adds a Medigap policy, while an MA-PD member pays copays and coinsurance for medical care up to the plan’s yearly limit. Low-cost standalone options also exist: CMS says 88% of people without Extra Help can find a basic standalone plan at $10.30 a month or less, which works out to $123.60 a year or less.
Same drug rules either way: In both setups, the 2027 deductible cannot exceed $700, covered insulin is capped at $35 a month, and you pay $0 for covered drugs after $2,400 in out-of-pocket costs.
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Which Advantage Plans Allow a Separate Drug Plan
| Your current coverage | Can you also join a standalone Part D plan? |
|---|---|
| Original Medicare | Yes |
| Advantage HMO or PPO with drug coverage | No |
| Advantage HMO or PPO without drug coverage | No |
| Private fee-for-service plan with drug coverage | No |
| Private fee-for-service plan without drug coverage | Yes |
| Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plan | Yes |
| Medicare cost plan | Yes |
From the CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollment guidance. Some employer group plans have CMS-approved exceptions.
Disenrollment trap: Joining a standalone drug plan while in an Advantage HMO or PPO generally ends the Advantage enrollment and returns you to Original Medicare. Check the plan type before adding drug coverage.
Plan Supply for 2027
CMS counts about 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans nationally for 2027, down slightly from 5,553 in 2026. Standalone plans are far fewer. Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings shows 323 individual standalone drug plan bids across the 34 drug plan regions, from 15 sponsors; Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly.
| Sponsor | 2027 standalone plan bids |
|---|---|
| Humana | 102 |
| UnitedHealthcare (Medicare Rx Preferred and Saver from UHC) | 73 |
| Wellcare | 68 |
| HealthSpring | 40 |
| Aetna SilverScript | 20 |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings for individual standalone plans; employer plans excluded.
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Switching Between Part C and Part D Setups
1
October 15 to December 7, 2026. Move between an MA-PD and Original Medicare with a standalone plan, or switch drug plans, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
2
January 1 to March 31, 2027. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may make one change: another Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a standalone drug plan.
3
Any time with a qualifying event. Moving, losing other coverage or gaining Extra Help can open a Special Enrollment Period.
Leaving Advantage for Original Medicare can make it harder to buy a Medigap policy later, because in many states insurers may use medical underwriting outside protected windows. Timing rules are covered in when you can change Medicare Part D plans in 2027.
Who Each Setup Tends to Suit
Questions to weigh before choosing
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Are your doctors and hospitals in the Advantage plan’s network for 2027?
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Do you travel or split the year between states, where a national network or Original Medicare may work better?
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Would a Medigap premium plus a drug plan cost more than MA-PD copays for your expected care?
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Are all of your prescriptions on the 2027 formulary, at a tier you can afford?
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Do you need extras such as dental or vision that some Advantage plans include?
Answers differ from person to person, and plan benefits vary by plan and area. The Medicare Part D plans 2027 hub gathers the other 2027 drug coverage guides on this site.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Medicare Part C and D work together in 2027 either as one MA-PD plan or as Original Medicare with a separate drug plan. CMS averages put the MA-PD drug portion at $7.00 a month against about $36 for a standalone plan, but networks, Medigap costs and your formulary matter as much as the premium. Compare both setups with your own drugs and doctors 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 Part C the same thing as Part D?
No. Part C is Medicare Advantage, which covers hospital and doctor care through a private plan. Part D covers outpatient prescriptions, and many Part C plans include it.
➤ Can I have Medicare Advantage without Part D?
Yes, some Advantage plans have no drug coverage. If it is an HMO or PPO, you generally cannot add a standalone drug plan to it.
➤ Why is the MA-PD drug premium so much lower?
Advantage plans can use federal rebate dollars to reduce premiums. Standalone drug plans do not receive those rebates.
➤ Does the $2,400 cap apply inside Medicare Advantage?
Yes. The 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap applies to the drug benefit in MA-PD plans the same way it applies to standalone plans.
➤ Can veterans use VA drug coverage with a Part C plan?
Yes. VA drug coverage counts as creditable, so some veterans choose an Advantage plan without drugs and keep using VA pharmacies.
➤ Which has more 2027 choices, Part C or standalone Part D?
Advantage has far more plans nationally, about 5,532 per CMS. Our count of CMS filings shows 323 standalone drug plan bids, with 7 to 12 per state.
➤ Can I switch from MA-PD to a standalone plan mid-year?
Between January 1 and March 31, 2027, an Advantage member can move to Original Medicare and join a standalone drug plan. Outside that, you usually need a qualifying event.
➤ Do I pay the Part B premium with an MA-PD plan?
Yes. You keep paying the Part B premium in both setups, plus any plan premium.
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