Find a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for 2027
Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
Medicare Part D Plan Finder 2027: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 2, 2026
The Medicare Part D Plan Finder for 2027 is the free comparison tool on Medicare.gov that prices 2027 drug plans in your ZIP code against your own prescriptions and pharmacies. You enter your drugs and up to five pharmacies, it ranks plans by estimated yearly drug and premium cost, and you can compare up to three plans side by side before enrolling by December 7, 2026.
2027 by the Numbers
9
standalone drug plans available to the average person for 2027 (KFF)
5
pharmacies you can add to a Plan Finder search (Medicare.gov)
3
plans Plan Finder places side by side at once (Medicare.gov)
Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder is the one place where the government lists Medicare drug and health plans with their prices for your exact address. It does not sell anything, and the estimates it produces come from plan data submitted to CMS. For a year like 2027, when many standalone plans changed price and some left whole regions, it is the quickest way to see where your current plan now ranks.
The walkthrough below covers each screen in order, from the first ZIP code box to the side-by-side comparison, plus what to expect in your state. For the wider list of 2027 rules, see our Medicare Part D plans 2027 hub.
Key Takeaways
- Plan Finder sorts results by lowest drug + premium cost by default, which is the yearly figure that matters most.
- Logging in saves your drug list; searching as a guest works but the list is lost when you leave.
- You can add up to five pharmacies, including one mail-order option, to see price differences.
- For 2027, CMS added clearer alerts about changes to your current plan and direct links to formularies and benefit summaries.
- Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings shows 8 to 11 standalone plans in each of the six large states checked below.
Gather These Before You Start
The tool is only as accurate as the drug list you type in. A few minutes of preparation prevents the most common errors, such as picking the wrong strength or forgetting a drug you take only part of the year.
| What to have ready | Why Plan Finder needs it |
|---|---|
| Each drug’s name, strength and form | Price differs between a 10 mg tablet and a 20 mg tablet, or a pen and a vial |
| How much you take and how often | Quantity drives the 30- or 90-day price the plan charges |
| Your usual pharmacy names | Preferred pharmacies can lower copays in many plans |
| Your Medicare card | Needed only if you log in or enroll |
| Your plan’s 2027 Annual Notice of Change | Lets you check the tool against your current plan’s new figures |
The prescription bottle label or a pharmacy printout lists strength and quantity.
Step by Step: Searching 2027 Drug Plans
1
Open Plan Finder on Medicare.gov. Choose to log in, create an account, or continue without logging in. A guest search does not save your drugs.
2
Enter your ZIP code. Plans are priced by county, so a ZIP that spans two counties may ask you to pick one.
3
Choose Drug plan (Part D). Pick this for a standalone plan to pair with Original Medicare; choose Medicare Advantage to see health plans with drug coverage.
4
Answer the help-with-costs question. Say whether you get Extra Help, Medicaid or another program, since that changes the prices shown.
5
Add each drug. Type the name, accept or decline a generic if offered, then set the dose, quantity and how often you fill it.
6
Select pharmacies. Pick up to five, such as a mail-order option and up to four nearby stores.
7
View the plan list. Results open sorted by lowest drug plus premium cost for the rest of the year.
Timing tip: guest sessions can time out if left idle, which clears the drug list. Logging in avoids having to start over.
Reading the 2027 Results Screen
Each plan card shows the monthly premium, the deductible, the star rating and an estimated total for drugs and premiums. That total is the number to compare, because a plan with a tiny premium can carry a larger yearly cost once your drugs are priced.
Yearly total
estimated drug plus premium cost for the rest of 2027
Drug list check
flags any of your drugs a plan does not cover
Star rating
CMS quality score from 1 to 5
Filters
narrow by insurer, star rating or drug coverage
Open View drugs and their costs on any plan to see your price per drug, the tier, and any prior authorization or quantity limit. Then tick Add to compare on up to three plans to line them up side by side.
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How Many Standalone Plans You Should Expect
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings shows 323 individual standalone bids nationwide from 15 sponsors. In a single state, the list on Plan Finder is much shorter. Medicare.gov may show a slightly different number than ours because of how plans are grouped and displayed.
| State | 2027 standalone plans | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 11 | 6 |
| Illinois | 10 | 5 |
| California | 10 | 5 |
| New York | 9 | 5 |
| Ohio | 9 | 5 |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 4 |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings (individual plans, not employer group plans). Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are listed separately on Plan Finder.
North Carolina has the extra choices because a regional Blue plan files there alongside the national sponsors. The full list is on our Medicare Part D plans North Carolina 2027 page.
What CMS Changed in Plan Finder for 2027
Features CMS highlighted for the 2027 season
✔
Clear, prominent messages about changes that affect your current plan in 2027
✔
Direct links from Medicare.gov to plan formularies and Summaries of Benefits
✔
More detail on preventive services offered by health plans
✔
Searching for and saving your doctors to compare plan networks
✔
Sign-in through Login.gov, ID.me or CLEAR
Why the change alerts matter this year: KFF counted about 1.2 million standalone plan members whose plans end after 2026, most in SilverScript Choice and HealthSpring Extra Rx. A logged-in search shows an alert when your current plan is affected.
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Common Plan Finder Mistakes
Errors that skew the estimate
✔
Entering a brand name when you actually fill the generic, or the reverse
✔
Choosing a 30-day quantity when you fill 90 days by mail
✔
Leaving out a seasonal or as-needed drug
✔
Comparing on premium alone instead of the yearly total
✔
Assuming a plan’s 2026 drug list carries into 2027 unchanged
The estimates also assume you stay in the plan for the rest of the year and fill each drug as entered. Plan-level costs may change if your prescriptions change, and not all plans cover every drug on your list.
After the Search: Enrolling or Getting Help
Enroll yourself
✔
Click Enroll on the plan’s card in Plan Finder
✔
Or apply on the insurer’s own website
✔
Coverage chosen by December 7, 2026 starts January 1, 2027
Get free or licensed help
✔
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free counseling
✔
A licensed agent can compare the plans they represent
✔
Either can review your Plan Finder results with you
Our how to enroll in Medicare Part D 2027 guide covers the application itself, and premium trends are on the Medicare Part D premium 2027 page.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Plan Finder is the most direct way to price 2027 drug plans against your own prescriptions. Enter exact doses, add your pharmacies, compare the yearly totals of your top three, and finish 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
➤ What is the Medicare Part D Plan Finder?
It is the free plan comparison tool on Medicare.gov. It lists Medicare drug and health plans in your area and estimates what each would cost with your drugs and pharmacies.
➤ Is the 2027 Plan Finder data available now?
Yes. CMS posts 2027 plan information on Medicare.gov ahead of open enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.
➤ Do I need an account to use Plan Finder?
No. You can search as a guest, but your drug list is not saved. Logging in keeps the list and can pull in drugs from your claim history.
➤ How many pharmacies can I add?
Up to five. Many people add one mail-order pharmacy and their usual local stores to compare prices.
➤ How does Plan Finder sort plans?
By default it sorts by lowest drug plus premium cost. You can switch the sort or filter by insurer, star rating and drug coverage.
➤ Why does Plan Finder show a different plan count than other sites?
Counts depend on how plans are grouped and whether Medicare Advantage plans are included. Our count of CMS 2027 filings may differ slightly from Medicare.gov.
➤ Is the Plan Finder estimate my exact cost?
It is an estimate based on the drugs, doses and pharmacies you enter. Actual costs may differ if prescriptions, prices or pharmacies change during 2027.
➤ Can I enroll directly through Plan Finder?
Yes. Each plan has an Enroll button. You can also enroll through the insurer or with a licensed agent.
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