Medicare Advantage
Medicare's $2,400 Drug Cap in 2027: What Wasilla Should Know
WASILLA, Alaska — For 2027, Medicare's cost structure is shifting again, and one number every household on Part D should have on the fridge is $2,400. That's the new annual cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered prescription drugs. Paired with the other program-level costs Medicare sets each year, it gives Wasilla residents a clearer picture of the ceiling on drug spending — and how the pieces of Medicare fit together financially.
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Key takeaways
- Part D's out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and no covered drug spending pushes you past that ceiling.
- The maximum Part D deductible a plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027, though many plans set it lower.
- The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") is gone as of 2025, leaving three simpler payment phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments at no extra charge.
Wasilla is in Matanuska-Susitna County, where the number of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options available is set at the county level by CMS. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. The cost rules below apply across Original Medicare and Part D no matter which plan a person is enrolled in.
The 2027 cost pieces, from top to bottom
Medicare's costs come in layers. Understanding each layer separately is the easiest way to see what you might actually pay in a year.
Premiums. Part A is premium-free for most people who worked and paid Medicare taxes. Part B has a standard monthly premium set nationally each year. Part D and Medicare Advantage plans set their own premiums, which vary.
Deductibles. Part A and Part B each have their own deductibles set by CMS. For Part D, the maximum deductible a plan is allowed to charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Some plans charge less; none can charge more.
Cost-sharing. After deductibles, you typically pay coinsurance or copays until you hit an out-of-pocket limit (for drugs) or, in Original Medicare, indefinitely unless you have supplemental coverage.
The Part D cap, explained
Starting in 2025, Medicare put a hard annual cap on what enrollees pay out of pocket for covered Part D drugs. The cap is $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered prescriptions reaches that number in a calendar year, you pay $0 for the rest of the year on those drugs.
This is a real change from the old system, which had no ceiling at all. It matters most for people who take specialty medications or several brand-name drugs — the folks who used to blow past the old coverage gap and keep paying.
The donut hole is gone
The old "coverage gap," known as the donut hole, was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has just three phases:
1. Deductible phase — you pay full negotiated price until you meet your plan's deductible (up to $615 in 2026 and up to $700 in 2027). 2. Initial coverage phase — you pay copays or coinsurance while your plan pays the rest. 3. Catastrophic phase — once you hit the annual out-of-pocket cap ($2,100 in 2026, $2,400 in 2027), you pay nothing more for covered drugs that year.
No more mid-year surprise when a familiar prescription suddenly cost triple.
Smoothing costs with the Prescription Payment Plan
If a big drug bill early in the year would strain your budget, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your out-of-pocket Part D costs across monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. It doesn't lower what you owe — the total is the same — but it evens out the timing. Enrollment is optional and free, and any Part D or Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage must offer it.
IRMAA: the higher-income add-on
Higher earners pay an income-related surcharge on top of standard Part B and Part D premiums, called IRMAA. For 2026, the surcharge begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer (higher thresholds apply for joint filers). Social Security uses your tax return from two years back to decide whether IRMAA applies. If your income has dropped since then — retirement, loss of a spouse, reduced work hours — you can ask for a reconsideration.
Dates worth writing down
- October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. Change Part D or Medicare Advantage coverage for the following year.
- January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch once or return to Original Medicare.
Matanuska-Susitna County residents can compare their available options in either window using Medicare's Plan Finder.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
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When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does the $2,100 cap include my monthly premium?
What if my plan's deductible is lower than $615?
How do I know how many Medicare plans are offered where I live?
Where can I get unbiased help sorting this out?
- CMS — MA/Part D Landscape & Plan Finder data
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Wasilla
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This page was last updated: September 29, 2026.