Medicare 2026

Bismarck Medicare in 2027: the Part D numbers that are set, and what's still to come

Bismarck, N.D. — As the Annual Enrollment Period opens Oct. 15, 2026, Bismarck residents on Medicare are weighing changes for 2027 coverage. Some of the biggest numbers are already locked in by the federal government. Others — including the 2027 Part B premium — will not land until later this fall.

Here is what is confirmed, what is not, and how to use the weeks between now and Dec. 7, 2026.

What CMS has confirmed for 2027

Three Part D numbers are already set for next year, and they apply nationwide — including in Bismarck:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). Once your covered drug spending hits that ceiling, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the calendar year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). Plans can choose a lower deductible, but none can charge more than this.
• Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027. This is a formula input CMS uses in the background — it is not the premium any specific plan charges.

The coverage gap — the old "donut hole" — was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases (deductible, initial coverage, catastrophic). That structure carries into 2027. The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which spreads your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments, also continues.

What CMS has not yet announced

Two big pieces are still pending as of fall 2026:

• The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible. CMS typically publishes these in November.
• The 2027 IRMAA income brackets and surcharge amounts. These higher premiums for higher-income enrollees are usually released with the Part B figures.

Until CMS posts official numbers, we won't publish estimates, and we'd steer you away from anyone quoting a projection as a fact. If your income is close to an IRMAA threshold, wait for the confirmed brackets before making assumptions about next year.

For reference, IRMAA in 2026 begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer.

The Annual Notice of Change: your most important piece of mail

If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, your insurer mailed (or will mail) an Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, by the end of September 2026. It spells out exactly what will change on your plan Jan. 1, 2027:

• Premium
• Deductible and copays
• Drug formulary (which medications are covered, and on which tier)
• Provider and pharmacy network
• Extra benefits

If you do nothing, your plan renews for 2027 with those changes baked in — assuming it is still offered next year. There is no penalty for staying put, but reading the ANOC is the only way to know what "staying put" actually means for your budget and your prescriptions.

Compare it against the plan's Evidence of Coverage and against your current list of medications and doctors.

How plan availability looks around Bismarck

Medicare Advantage availability is set at the county level. Bismarck sits in Burleigh County, where CMS lists 20 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, offered by 5 carriers. There are no stand-alone Part D plans listed in the area, which matters if you have Original Medicare and want drug coverage — your options for adding drug coverage locally will be different from a market that has stand-alone Part D plans.

A note on Star Ratings: CMS rates Medicare contracts on a 1-to-5 scale for quality and member experience. In the Bismarck area, no contracts hold 4 stars or higher for the current rating cycle. Ratings can shift year to year and are one data point among many; they are not on their own a reason to switch or stay.

What to do between now and Dec. 7, 2026

• Read your ANOC. Circle anything different for 2027 — especially formulary changes if you take brand-name drugs.
• Check your drug list on Medicare's Plan Finder. At medicare.gov, you can enter your prescriptions and pharmacy and see how plans in Burleigh County compare on 2027 total cost.
• Confirm your doctors and preferred pharmacy are in-network for whichever plan you're considering.
• Wait for the Part B and IRMAA numbers if those figures will drive your decision — they typically arrive in November, still inside the enrollment window.
• Get free, unbiased help. In North Dakota, the State Health Insurance Counseling program (SHIC), the state's SHIP, offers one-on-one counseling at no cost. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.