Medicare 2027 vs 2026: What Actually Changed
Four numbers move, two stay put, and two are not announced yet. Here is the whole picture in one table.
By Timothy Jones, licensed independent Medicare agent · · 7 min read
The short answer
Two Medicare-wide numbers rise in 2027: the Part D standard deductible from $615 to $700, and the annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs from $2,100 to $2,400. Enrollment dates are unchanged. The 2027 Part B premium and deductible had not been announced as of August 30, 2026 — CMS publishes those each November.
Side by side
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part D standard deductible | $615 | $700 | +$85 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 | +$300 |
| Part B standard premium | $202.90/mo | Announced November 2026 | Not yet final |
| Part B annual deductible | $283 | Announced November 2026 | Not yet final |
| Annual Enrollment window | Oct 15 – Dec 7 | Oct 15 – Dec 7 | No change |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | No change |
Source: CMS Contract Year 2027 Rate Announcement (April 6, 2026) and the finalized CY2027 Part D parameters. Last verified August 30, 2026.
Who each change actually reaches
A number moving is not the same as it costing you anything. This is the part the headlines skip.
Part D standard deductible
Anyone whose plan charges a deductible. More of your drug spending happens before the plan starts sharing.
Part D out-of-pocket cap
Only people who reach it — mostly those on brand-name or specialty drugs. Your ceiling rose by $300.
Part B standard premium
Everyone on Part B. CMS publishes the figure each November; we will update this page the day it lands.
Part B annual deductible
Everyone on Part B.
Be careful with any 2027 Part B number you see before November
Projections circulate every autumn and some of them are confidently wrong. CMS announces the actual figure in November. Until then, the honest answer is that it is not known, and anyone stating it as fact is guessing. We will update this page and the 2027 changes page the day it is published.
What is not on this table, and matters more
Everything above is set by Medicare, so it is identical no matter which plan you pick. None of it is a reason to choose one plan over another. What actually decides your year is which of your prescriptions your plan covers and on what tier, and whether your doctors are in network — and both of those reset annually. Your Annual Notice of Change is where you find out. How to read it.
See what it means for you
Bring your prescriptions and your doctors. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026. No cost, no obligation.
📅 Book in 30 secondsOr call (360) 472-4261
Questions
What is the biggest Medicare change for 2027?+
For most people it is the Part D standard deductible rising from $615 to $700, because it front-loads more prescription spending into early in the year. The out-of-pocket cap also rises from $2,100 to $2,400, which matters only to people who actually reach it. Both figures come from the CMS Contract Year 2027 Rate Announcement released April 6, 2026.
Is the Part B premium going up in 2027?+
CMS had not announced the 2027 Part B premium as of August 2026. It is typically published in November for the year ahead. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 annual deductible. Treat any 2027 Part B figure circulating before the CMS announcement as an estimate rather than a fact.
Did the enrollment dates change for 2027?+
No. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 as it does every year, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31. Those dates are fixed in the program and do not shift year to year.
Does a higher out-of-pocket cap mean I pay more?+
Only if you reach it. The cap is a ceiling on what you can be charged for covered drugs, not a target. If your annual prescription spending is nowhere near $2,100 today, the cap moving to $2,400 changes nothing about your year. If you routinely hit the ceiling, your maximum exposure rose by $300.
What is not changing that people assume is?+
The cap and the deductible ceiling are set by Medicare, so they are identical across every plan — those are not points of difference to shop on. What varies plan to plan, and what actually decides your costs, is which of your medications are covered and on what tier.
Keep reading
- The $700 Part D deductible, explained
- The $2,400 cap: what it actually saves you
- Medicare in 2027: what changes for Clark County
- Medicare 2026 baseline
Disclaimer: American Senior Choices is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 11 organizations which offer 70 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.