Medicare Part D
$2,400 Out-of-Pocket Limit: Part D in Mesa, AZ 2027
If you take regular medications, 2027 brings another shift to Medicare Part D. The hard yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs is going up, and the old "donut hole" stays gone. That means fewer surprises at the pharmacy counter — but only if you understand how the pieces fit together.
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Key takeaways
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once you reach it, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of that year.
- Part D now has three phases (deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic) instead of four, since the old coverage gap ("donut hole") was eliminated starting in 2025.
- The maximum deductible a Part D plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027, though some plans set it lower or waive it for certain drug tiers.
- Higher-income enrollees may pay an extra IRMAA surcharge on top of their Part D premium if their income is above $109,000 for a single filer, with higher thresholds for joint filers.
Mesa, Arizona — Part D coverage heading into 2027
Here in Mesa, thousands of neighbors rely on Part D through either a stand-alone drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Let's walk through how the program works for 2027, in plain English.
The three phases of Part D in 2027
Part D used to have four phases, including the confusing coverage gap. Starting in 2025, that gap was eliminated, and 2027 keeps the same cleaner structure. There are now three phases:
1. The deductible phase. You pay the full negotiated price for your drugs until you meet your plan's deductible. The maximum deductible a Part D plan can charge is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Some plans set a lower deductible, and some waive it for certain drug tiers.
2. The initial coverage phase. Once you've met the deductible, you pay a copay or coinsurance for each prescription, and your plan pays the rest. You stay in this phase until your out-of-pocket spending hits the annual cap.
3. The catastrophic phase. After you reach the yearly out-of-pocket limit on covered drugs — $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027 — you pay $0 for the rest of the year on covered Part D prescriptions. This hard cap is the biggest change most people have felt.
What counts toward the yearly cap
Only certain spending counts toward the yearly out-of-pocket limit. Your deductible and your copays or coinsurance for covered drugs count. Your monthly plan premium does not count. Drugs that aren't on your plan's formulary generally don't count either — which is one reason it's worth checking that your medications are covered before you enroll.
If a friend or a drug maker's assistance program pays part of your cost, the rules on what counts can get tricky. When in doubt, call your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
Introduced in 2025 and continuing into 2027 is an option called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. Instead of paying a large amount at the pharmacy in a single month, you can spread your out-of-pocket drug costs across the calendar year in monthly bills from your plan.
It doesn't lower your total cost — you still owe the same amount over the year — but it can help if you'd otherwise face a big bill early in the year. You have to opt in; it isn't automatic. Ask your plan how to sign up.
Higher-income enrollees: IRMAA still applies
If your income is above certain levels, you'll pay an extra amount on top of your Part D premium, called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). For 2026, IRMAA surcharges kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer (higher thresholds apply for joint filers). Social Security notifies you if it applies, based on your tax return from two years back.
What this means for Mesa residents
Mesa is in Maricopa County, where Medicare beneficiaries can choose from a wide range of stand-alone Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage. For 2027, CMS Landscape files list 79 Medicare Advantage plans in the county from 16 carriers. The program rules above — the maximum deductible, the yearly cap, the three phases — apply the same way no matter which plan you pick. What varies plan to plan is the formulary (the list of covered drugs), the pharmacy network, the premium, and the specific copays.
That's why a common mistake is auto-renewing without checking whether your drugs are still covered at the same tier. Formularies change every year.
Key dates to remember
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when you can join, switch, or drop a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan for 2027.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change during this window.
If you miss these windows and don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may be stuck with your current coverage until next fall.
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.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Maricopa County
(MA penetration in Maricopa County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Prescription coverage
How Medicare Part D works in 2027
The old coverage gap (“donut hole”) was eliminated as of 2025 (three phases now). The hard yearly cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and you can spread those costs across the year with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
Explore
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.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does the yearly out-of-pocket cap include my monthly premium?
Q: What happened to the donut hole?
Q: I take an expensive drug early each year. Can I avoid a huge January bill?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.