Medicare Part D Cost Calculator
Your 2027 drug costs, the $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
Enter what your prescriptions cost in total each month (the plan's full price, not your copay). The calculator applies the 2027 standard Part D benefit: you pay the deductible (up to $700), then 25% until your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,400, then $0 for the rest of the year.
Total for all your drugs except insulin; find prices on Medicare Plan Finder
Covered insulin costs no more than $35 a month each
Leave blank for the standard $700; some plans charge less or $0
From your plan; premiums do not count toward the cap
| Month | Full drug cost | You pay at pharmacy |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $400 | $400.00 |
| Feb | $400 | $325.00 |
| Mar | $400 | $100.00 |
| Apr | $400 | $100.00 |
| May | $400 | $100.00 |
| Jun | $400 | $100.00 |
| Jul | $400 | $100.00 |
| Aug | $400 | $100.00 |
| Sep | $400 | $100.00 |
| Oct | $400 | $100.00 |
| Nov | $400 | $100.00 |
| Dec | $400 | $100.00 |
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute tax, legal, financial, or medical advice. Results depend on individual circumstances and may not reflect your actual costs. Always consult a qualified professional (CPA, licensed insurance agent, or financial advisor) for decisions about your specific situation. Data reflects approximate 2026 figures from IRS, CMS, and HHS sources.
Medicare Part D 2027: What Changes
CMS set the 2027 standard Part D benefit in its April 2026 Rate Announcement. Both key amounts rise 13.65% (rounded): the deductible to $700 and the out-of-pocket cap to $2,400. CMS is also ending the Part D premium stabilization demonstration after 2026, which held down premiums for many stand-alone drug plans, so check your plan's 2027 premium in its Annual Notice of Change.
| Standard Part D benefit | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum deductible | $615 | $700 |
| Coinsurance after the deductible | 25% | 25% |
| Out-of-pocket cap (then $0) | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Covered insulin, per month | $35 max | $35 max |
| Recommended adult vaccines | $0 | $0 |
| Base beneficiary premium | $38.99 | $41.33 |
| Extra Help max copay (generic / brand) | $5.10 / $12.65 | $5.80 / $14.40 |
Many plans use copays by drug tier instead of a flat 25%, and some have a lower deductible. Their costs are designed to be worth the same on average, so this calculator is a good estimate, but your plan's exact prices are on Medicare Plan Finder.
How Part D Costs Add Up
- Deductible: you pay the full price of your drugs until you have paid the deductible ($700 in 2027, or your plan's lower amount).
- Initial coverage: you pay 25% of the price (or your plan's copays) until your total out-of-pocket spending for the year reaches $2,400. The deductible counts toward this.
- Catastrophic coverage: you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.
Insulin is separate: each covered insulin costs no more than $35 for a month's supply, with no deductible, and those payments count toward the cap.
Worked Examples (2027 Standard Plan)
1. A $400-a-month brand drug. January: the full $400 goes to the deductible. February: the last $300 of the deductible plus 25% of the remaining $100 = $325. March to December: 25% x $400 = $100 a month, so $1,000. Total: $400 + $325 + $1,000 = $1,725, below the cap.
2. A $1,500-a-month drug, with the payment plan from January. January: $700 deductible + 25% x $800 = $900. February to April: $375 a month. May: $375 brings the total to $2,400, the cap, and drugs cost $0 from June. Paying at the pharmacy, January alone costs $900. With the payment plan the first bill is $2,400 / 12 = $200.00; the unbilled $700 plus February's $375 is spread over 11 months ($97.73), and bills rise to $223.77 a month by May and stay there. The year still totals $2,400.
3. A $3,000-a-month drug starting in July, joining the payment plan in July. July: $700 + 25% x $2,300 = $1,275. August: $750. September: $375 reaches the cap. With the payment plan, July's bill is $2,400 / 6 months = $400.00, August is ($875 unbilled + $750) / 5 = $325.00, and September to December are $418.75 each. Joining in Jul still works, but the same $2,400 is squeezed into six bills.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
Every Part D and Medicare Advantage drug plan must offer it, at no cost. You still owe the same amount; you just pay your plan in monthly installments instead of paying the pharmacy at the counter. To join, contact your plan (by phone, online, or on your enrollment form). If you miss a payment, your plan can remove you from the payment plan after a grace period, but you keep your drug coverage. If you have Extra Help, your costs are already low and the payment plan usually adds little.
Ways to Pay Less for Part D
- Compare plans every fall. Premiums, deductibles and covered drugs change each year; open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7.
- Apply for Extra Help if your income is up to 150% of the poverty level: $0 deductible, $0 premium on many plans, and copays of at most $5.80 / $14.40 in 2027. Check your income with the federal poverty level calculator.
- Check cash prices for cheap generics with the prescription cost calculator; note that cash purchases outside your plan usually do not count toward the cap.
- Watch your income if it is high: Part D IRMAA adds up to $91 a month. See the Medicare IRMAA calculator.
Related
Read Medicare Part B Premium 2027 and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program guide.
Sources: CMS, Announcement of CY 2027 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (April 6, 2026), Tables V-2 and V-6; CMS fact sheet, Medicare Part D 2027 National Average Monthly Bid Amount Information (July 28, 2026); 42 CFR 423.137 (Medicare Prescription Payment Plan); Medicare.gov, What Medicare Part D drug plans cover. Estimates for planning only; your plan's prices and rules apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicare Part D deductible for 2027?
The maximum Part D deductible is $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026. Plans can set a lower deductible or none at all, and covered insulin and recommended adult vaccines are never subject to the deductible.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket maximum for 2027?
$2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once what you have paid for covered drugs this year (deductible, copays and coinsurance) reaches $2,400, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year. Monthly premiums do not count toward it.
How does the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan work?
You pay $0 at the pharmacy and your plan sends you a monthly bill instead, spreading your costs over the rest of the year. In the month you join, the bill is at most (the $2,400 cap minus what you already paid this year) divided by the months left. It is free and does not lower your total costs; it only changes when you pay them.
Who should join the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan?
People with high drug costs early in the year, especially anyone expected to reach the cap. Someone with a $1,500-a-month drug in 2027 pays $900 at the pharmacy in January without the plan, but a first bill of $200 with it. If your costs are low and steady, it helps little and can push more of your payments toward the end of the year: with a $400-a-month drug, bills start at $200 in January, drop to about $48, then climb to about $341 by December. You can join through your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan at any time during the year, but joining earlier spreads costs over more months.
How much does Medicare Part D cost in 2027?
Two parts: your plan premium and your drug costs. The 2027 base beneficiary premium, used to calculate penalties and subsidies, is $41.33 a month ($38.99 in 2026), but each plan sets its own premium, and higher earners also pay Part D IRMAA. Drug costs are capped at $2,400 for the year. Compare actual plan premiums on Medicare Plan Finder during open enrollment (October 15 to December 7).
Is there still a donut hole in Part D?
No. The coverage gap ("donut hole") ended in 2025. Since then the standard benefit has three phases: the deductible, initial coverage at 25% until you reach the out-of-pocket threshold ($2,400 in 2027), and catastrophic coverage at $0.