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Medicare Part D
Prescription Drug Coverage 2027
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D Plans 2027: Rx Preferred and Rx Saver
Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 31, 2026
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D plans for 2027 are two standalone drug plans: Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC and Medicare Rx Saver from UHC. Both are filed in all 34 Medicare regions, and Rx Preferred is also filed in five U.S. territories, but KFF reports large 2027 premium increases for many people who keep these plans.
2027 by the Numbers
73
UnitedHealthcare standalone plan filings for 2027 (our count of CMS 2027 plan filings)
39
areas where Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC is filed: 34 regions plus 5 territories (our count)
$50+
monthly 2027 increase for Rx Preferred members who stay, in all 50 states and DC (KFF)
$2,400
2027 cap on covered Part D drug costs (CMS)
UnitedHealthcare is the second-largest filer of standalone drug plans for 2027 in our count, with two plans that together enrolled more than 2 million people without Extra Help in 2026, according to KFF. For 2027 the bigger story is price. Many current members will get a renewal notice with a much higher premium than last year.
This page covers the two UnitedHealthcare standalone plans by name, where each one is filed, what the reported increases could mean over twelve months, and when it may make sense to shop. For the national 2027 rules, see our Medicare Part D plans 2027 hub.
Key Takeaways
- UnitedHealthcare filed 73 standalone drug plans for 2027 in our count: Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC and Medicare Rx Saver from UHC.
- Rx Preferred is filed in 34 regions plus American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- KFF reports Rx Preferred members who stay face increases of $50 or more a month everywhere in the 50 states and DC.
- A $75 monthly increase adds $900 over 2027, which is more than a third of the $2,400 drug cost cap.
- If your plan’s 2027 premium jumps, open enrollment through December 7, 2026, is the time to compare.
The Two UnitedHealthcare Standalone Plans for 2027
UnitedHealthcare files its standalone Part D coverage under two contracts in the CMS plan files. Contract S5921 holds both plans in each of the 34 regions on the mainland, Alaska and Hawaii. A second contract, S5820, adds Rx Preferred in the five U.S. territories. Medicare Plan Finder counts can differ slightly from ours.
| 2027 plan name | Where filed (our count) | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC (PDP) | All 34 regions plus 5 U.S. territories | 39 |
| Medicare Rx Saver from UHC (PDP) | All 34 regions | 34 |
| Total UnitedHealthcare | Two plans | 73 |
Our count of CMS 2027 plan filings. Benefits, premiums and pharmacy pricing vary by region; check each plan’s 2027 Evidence of Coverage.
Territory note: In our count, Rx Preferred is the only UnitedHealthcare standalone plan filed in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands for 2027.
How Rx Preferred and Rx Saver Differ
The names hint at the design. A plan sold as the richer option tends to charge a higher premium for lower copays or a smaller deductible, while a plan sold on price tends to keep the premium down and shift more cost to the pharmacy counter. The exact 2027 terms are set region by region, so treat the points below as what to verify, not as promises.
Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC
✔
Usually the higher-premium plan of the two
✔
May have a lower deductible or lower brand copays
✔
Filed in 39 areas, including the territories
✔
Largest premium increases in KFF’s 2027 review
Medicare Rx Saver from UHC
✔
Usually the lower-premium plan of the two
✔
May use a deductible up to $700 on more tiers
✔
Filed in all 34 regions
✔
Increases of $50 or more in 33 states, per KFF
Both plans have to follow the same 2027 federal limits: a deductible no higher than $700, a $2,400 cap on covered drug costs, $35 a month for covered insulin and $0 for recommended adult vaccines.
What KFF Found About 2027 Premiums
KFF looked at what current members would pay in 2027 if they made no change. Its findings for the two UnitedHealthcare plans are some of the largest increases in the standalone market this year.
Reported 2027 changes for members who stay (KFF)
✔
Rx Preferred: increases of $50 or more a month in all 50 states and DC
✔
Rx Preferred: increases above $75 a month in 37 states
✔
Rx Preferred: increases above $100 a month in 4 states
✔
Rx Saver: increases of $50 or more a month in 33 states
✔
Rx Saver: members who paid $0 in 3 states face a $10.30 monthly premium
One driver is the end of the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration after 2026. That program had lowered standalone premiums by $10 a month and limited yearly increases, and it does not apply in 2027. Our Medicare Part D premium 2027 page explains the national numbers.
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Our Math: What an Increase Costs Over 2027
A monthly change looks small on a notice. Over twelve months it can rival what you spend on drugs. The table multiplies the increase levels KFF reported by 12 and compares each one to the 2027 out-of-pocket cap of $2,400.
| Monthly premium increase | Added cost in 2027 | Share of the $2,400 cap |
|---|---|---|
| $10.30 | $123.60 | About 5% |
| $50 | $600 | 25% |
| $75 | $900 | 37.5% |
| $100 | $1,200 | 50% |
Our math from the increase levels in KFF’s 2027 analysis. Premiums do not count toward the $2,400 cap.
Why this matters: Premiums sit outside the $2,400 cap. Someone whose premium rises $100 a month could pay $1,200 more in 2027 even if their drug costs stay exactly the same.
When Staying With UnitedHealthcare Can Still Make Sense
A higher premium does not always mean a worse deal. If a UnitedHealthcare plan covers a costly drug on a low tier, or your pharmacy gets its best price, the total for the year may still beat a cheaper premium elsewhere. The test is total yearly cost, not the premium alone.
Stay
if your yearly total, premium plus drugs, is still lowest
Switch plans
within UnitedHealthcare if Rx Saver prices your drugs well
Shop
other companies if the increase outweighs drug savings
You can move from Rx Preferred to Rx Saver, or the other way, during open enrollment. Other companies’ 2027 filings are listed on our best Medicare Part D plans 2027 page.
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Pharmacy Pricing and Mail Order
Like most standalone plans, UnitedHealthcare’s plans may price the same drug differently at preferred and standard pharmacies, and may offer lower copays for 90-day or mail-order fills. The plan’s 2027 pharmacy directory shows which category your store falls into.
Before you decide
✔
Confirm your pharmacy is in the plan’s 2027 network
✔
Compare the 30-day and 90-day price for each daily drug
✔
Check for prior authorization or quantity limits on the 2027 formulary
✔
Look for drugs that moved tiers in your Annual Notice of Change
Our Medicare Part D formulary 2027 guide covers tiers and how to ask for an exception.
Steps for Current UnitedHealthcare Members
1
Find your 2027 premium Look at page one of your Annual Notice of Change and note the new monthly amount.
2
Do the yearly math Multiply the increase by 12 to see what staying adds over 2027.
3
Price your drug list Run your drugs through Medicare Plan Finder for both UnitedHealthcare plans and at least two other companies.
4
Check Extra Help If your income is limited, Extra Help may lower your premium and copays.
5
Act by December 7, 2026 A new standalone plan chosen by then starts January 1, 2027, and ends the old one.
If you do nothing: You usually stay in the same UnitedHealthcare plan for 2027 at its new premium, as long as the plan is still offered in your area.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
UnitedHealthcare offers two standalone drug plans for 2027, Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC and Medicare Rx Saver from UHC, in every region. Reported increases are steep for many members, so multiply your new premium by 12, add your drug costs and compare 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 UnitedHealthcare Part D plans are offered in 2027?
UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC and Medicare Rx Saver from UHC as standalone drug plans for 2027. In our count of CMS 2027 plan filings, there are 73 filings across the two plans.
➤ Is Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC available in Puerto Rico for 2027?
Our count shows Rx Preferred filed in Puerto Rico and the other four U.S. territories for 2027 under a separate contract. Check Medicare Plan Finder for your exact area.
➤ How much is Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC going up in 2027?
KFF reports that members who keep Rx Preferred face increases of $50 or more a month in all 50 states and DC, and above $75 in 37 states. Your exact amount is in your Annual Notice of Change.
➤ Is Medicare Rx Saver from UHC still a low-premium plan in 2027?
It may still cost less than Rx Preferred, but KFF found increases of $50 or more a month in 33 states. Compare its 2027 premium in your area with other plans.
➤ Why are UnitedHealthcare drug plan premiums rising so much?
Part of the reason is that Medicare’s premium stabilization program ended after 2026, which removed a $10 monthly subsidy and a limit on increases. Each plan’s own costs also play a role.
➤ Can I switch from Rx Preferred to Rx Saver for 2027?
Yes. During open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, you can move between the two plans or to another company, with the change starting January 1, 2027.
➤ Does a premium increase count toward my $2,400 cap?
No. Premiums do not count toward the 2027 $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, so a higher premium adds to your yearly cost on top of what you pay for drugs.
➤ Will UnitedHealthcare drop me if I do nothing for 2027?
No. If your plan is still offered in your area, you usually stay in it for 2027 at the new premium. Your Annual Notice of Change will say if the plan is ending.
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