Clinical Report: Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Plan Premiums Could Rise 50% in 2027

Overview

The supplied KFF analysis projects that average monthly premiums for stand-alone Medicare Part D plans (PDPs) will increase from $34 in 2026 to $51 in 2027, while the average premium for Medicare Advantage drug plans (MA-PDs) is projected at $9. The analysis also projects higher deductibles for most enrollees and reports that no zero-premium PDPs will be available in 2027, making plan changes relevant for many current PDP enrollees.

Background

Medicare Part D provides outpatient prescription drug coverage through stand-alone PDPs and MA-PDs. Premiums and cost sharing vary across plans, and the supplied analysis projects substantial differences among the eight national PDPs in 2027. The related KFF material describes plan premiums, availability, and cost sharing as issues for beneficiaries reviewing coverage during the annual enrollment period. The supplied context states that open enrollment continues through December 7.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• The supplied KFF analysis projects a 50% increase in average monthly PDP premiums, from $34 in 2026 to $51 in 2027; the projected average MA-PD drug premium is $9.
• More than 4 million people currently enrolled in zero-premium PDPs are among those who may face higher premiums if they remain in their plans; the analysis states that no zero-premium PDPs will be available in 2027.
• Projected average monthly premiums among the eight national PDPs range from about $6 to $204 in 2027. Wellcare Value Script Rx is projected at $6.50, while AARP Medicare Rx Preferred is projected at $204.50.
• Based on enrollees remaining in their current plans, 99.8% of PDP enrollees and 85% of MA-PD enrollees are projected to face a deductible of several hundred dollars in 2027, compared with 96% and 80%, respectively, in 2026.
• The maximum Part D deductible is projected to rise from $615 in 2026 to $700 in 2027. Average deductibles are projected to increase from $540 to $643 for PDP enrollees and from $360 to $489 for MA-PD enrollees.
• The analysis reports that coinsurance, rather than copayments, will apply to most enrollees for preferred-brand and non-preferred drugs, potentially making out-of-pocket costs less predictable.

Clinical Implications

The supplied analysis indicates that clinicians and beneficiaries reviewing prescription coverage should account for plan-specific premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance, since projected costs vary substantially across plans. It reports that current PDP enrollees who do not receive low-income subsidies may face higher premiums unless they move to a lower-premium plan; open enrollment continues through December 7.

Conclusion

The supplied KFF analysis projects higher average PDP premiums and deductibles in 2027, alongside wide variation among national plans and the disappearance of zero-premium PDPs. Its projections are based on enrollees remaining in their current plans.

Related Resources & Content

1. Kaiser Family Foundation, Source article, Year not stated -- Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Plan Premiums Could Rise 50% to $51 Monthly in 2027 Without a Switch to Lower-Cost Coverage
2. Kaiser Family Foundation, KFF, 2026 -- Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2026
3. Kaiser Family Foundation, KFF, 2026 -- Modest Premium Increases Expected for Many Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Drug Plan Enrollees in 2027, While Others May Face Higher Costs Without Switching Plans
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, 2026 -- Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027
5. Associated Press Health — Options for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans Are Decreasing: Key Information for Beneficiaries
6. Kaiser Family Foundation — Medicare Beneficiaries Can Choose from 28 Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans in 2027
7. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027
8. Modest Premium Increases Expected for Many Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Drug Plan Enrollees in 2027, While Others May Face Higher Costs Without Switching Plans
9. Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2026
10. Options for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans Are Decreasing: Key Information for Beneficiaries
11. 10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026 | Diabetes Care | American Diabetes Association
12. Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence After the Inflation Reduction Act | Health Care Economics, Insurance, Payment | JAMA Internal Medicine | JAMA Network