“Toni: Recently, the Trump Administration announced that the end to Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare program that is effective on January 1, 2027. I have searched online at www. medicare.gov to find out what 2027 Medicare Part D plan will be the right option for me but can only find 2026 Medicare Part D plans.
I have Medicare Supplement Plan G with separate Part D plan, and my sister is on a Medicare Advantage HMO. I need your advice to know how to choose to correct Part D plan for both of us. Looking forward to what you have to say about this complicate issue.”
Jennifer from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hi Jennifer: In early August, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the end to the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration which is a temporary federal program from the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. This program provided extra funding to private standalone Medicare prescription drug plans to keep monthly premiums lower and limit sharp price increases. This Part D discount program affects stand-alone Part D plans and is what you have, Jennifer and not Medicare Advantage plans which is what your sister is enrolled in. So this will change your Part D premium, and the discount program will end this year on December 31 for those that have a standalone Part D plan.
The changes to 2027 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans will involve monthly premiums rising and CMS is estimating that the average stand-alone Part D premium increase to be around $10. The 2027 stand-alone Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans and premiums will be released on Thursday, October 1 at midnight (12:00AM). Your 2027 Medicare & You handbook should be in the mail in late September, or you can download the handbook online around October 1.
Jennifer, no one can make a change to their standalone Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 until Medicare’s Open Enrollment begins on Thursday, October 15 at midnight (12:00AM) and ends Monday, December 7 at 11:59PM. You and your sister will have to wait until October 15 to research if you need to keep or make a change your current plan that will begin January 1, 2027.
What CMS is asking America to do is: Watch your mail in September for your current stand-alone Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). CMS is advising those on Medicare to read it carefully to see the exact 2027 premium, deductible, and list of covered prescriptions drugs. Do not throw it away!
Avoid blind auto-renewal because you will want to check if a different plan offers a better price and that your prescriptions are covered under your current plan for 2027.
Compare plans during Medicare’s Open Enrollment to change to a different stand-alone Part D plan or change to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Below are the changes that those with Medicare can make during Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (aka) Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): Enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.
*Don’t forget there is a penalty for not enrolling in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan when first eligible.
Enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, which can automatically disenroll you from a Medicare Advantage plan (if you need to disenroll from a Medicare Advantage Part C plan and return to Original Medicare.
Change from one Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan to a new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.
Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Part C Plan with prescription drugs benefits.
Change from one Medicare Advantage Part C Plan (with or without Prescription Drug plan) to a new Medicare Advantage Part C Plan.
Enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan to return to Original Medicare and purchase a Medicare Supplement.
Enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan and return to Original Medicare only.
Medicare’s OEP/AEP is the time to make sure your stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan still meets your needs, especially if you had any changes to your health.
Remember, with Medicare, what you don’t know WILL hurt you!
Email your Medicare questions to info@tonisays. com or call 832-519-8664. Sign up for the Toni Says newsletter at www.tonisays. com to download Toni’s new Medicare 2026 First Steps guide.
—– Toni King is an author and columnist on Medicare, Social Security, and longterm care issues. She has spent nearly 30 years as a top sales leader in the field. If you have a Medicare question, email info@tonisays.com or call 832519-8664.