Medicare Part D
California Part D Plans for 2027: 10 Stand-Alone Drug Plans From 5 Insurers, Down From 12
SACRAMENTO — Californians who buy a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan will choose from 10 plans offered by 5 insurers for 2027, down from 12 plans and 6 insurers in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Landscape files. Because California is a single CMS Part D region, every stand-alone plan counted here is available to anyone with Medicare living anywhere in the state.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- California has 10 stand-alone Part D drug plans from 5 insurers for 2027, two fewer plans than in 2026.
- The 2027 out-of-pocket cap on covered Part D drugs is $2,400, and no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700.
- Californians with full Extra Help can join 1 stand-alone plan at no monthly premium in 2027, compared with 2 such plans in 2026.
- The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium (2026) | $202.90 | Medicare.gov |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2026) | $2,100 | CMS |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2027) | $2,400 | CMS |
| Part D maximum deductible (2026) | $615 | CMS |
| Annual Enrollment Period (for 2027 coverage) | October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare.gov |
Area counts are for the county as a whole and are not a recommendation of any plan. Program figures are set nationally.
The 2027 Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice made during that window takes effect January 1, 2027.
How many stand-alone Part D plans are offered in California for 2027?
California has 10 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans from 5 insurers for 2027, down from 12 plans and 6 insurers in 2026. The counts come from the CMS 2027 and 2026 Part D Landscape files.
One insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX, is new to California's stand-alone Part D market for 2027. Two insurers that offered stand-alone plans in California in 2026 — Aetna Medicare and HealthSpring — are not offering stand-alone Part D plans in the state for 2027. Californians already enrolled in a plan that is leaving should watch for a notice from their plan explaining their options.
Which insurers offer stand-alone Part D plans in California for 2027?
Five insurers offer stand-alone Part D plans statewide in California for 2027. Listed alphabetically, they are:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX — 1 plan
- Blue Shield of California — 2 plans
- Humana — 3 plans
- UnitedHealthcare — 2 plans
- Wellcare — 2 plans
This list is not a ranking. Plan details — premiums, deductibles, drug lists (formularies), preferred pharmacies and more — vary from plan to plan and are available on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and in each plan's own documents.
What do the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap and deductible limit mean for Californians?
In 2027, the most a Medicare Part D enrollee anywhere in California will pay out of pocket for covered prescription drugs in the year is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once a person reaches that cap, they pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.
Separately, the most any Part D plan may charge as an annual deductible in 2027 is $700. Plans may charge less than that or no deductible at all; the $700 figure is the ceiling CMS allows. For reference in late-enrollment penalty calculations, CMS has set the 2027 Part D base beneficiary premium at $41.33. Individual plan premiums are set plan by plan and are listed on the Medicare Plan Finder.
Which California Part D plans can a person with full Extra Help join at no premium in 2027?
Californians who qualify for the full Low-Income Subsidy, known as Extra Help, can join 1 stand-alone Part D plan in California at no monthly premium in 2027. In 2026, there are 2 such benchmark plans in the state.
Extra Help pays part or all of Part D premiums and lowers drug costs for people with limited income and resources. Eligibility and applications are handled through the Social Security Administration and medicare.gov. People already receiving Extra Help whose current benchmark plan is no longer at zero premium for 2027 should read the notices sent by their plan and by CMS.
How does stand-alone Part D compare with the drug coverage built into Medicare Advantage in California?
Stand-alone Part D plans in California cover prescription drugs only and pair with Original Medicare. The 10 plans counted here for 2027 are stand-alone plans; prescription drug coverage that is bundled inside a Medicare Advantage plan is a separate category and is not included in this count.
For many Californians the choice is between (a) Original Medicare plus a stand-alone Part D plan, with or without a Medigap policy, and (b) a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Both paths are described on medicare.gov, and the Medicare Plan Finder shows the options side by side by ZIP code.
How can Californians check a plan's drug list and pharmacies before December 7, 2026?
The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the official tool for checking whether a specific California Part D plan covers a particular drug and which pharmacies are in its network. Enter a ZIP code, add your prescriptions and preferred pharmacies, and the tool will show each plan's coverage, costs and pharmacy status for 2027.
A few things worth confirming before the December 7, 2026 deadline:
- Each medication you take appears on the plan's 2027 formulary at a tier you can live with.
- Your usual pharmacy — including any mail-order pharmacy — is in the plan's network, ideally as a preferred pharmacy.
- Any prior authorization, step therapy or quantity limits that apply to your drugs are ones you can work with.
- If you qualify for Extra Help, the plan shows your subsidized premium and cost sharing.
The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits payable beginning January 2027, which is a separate figure from any Medicare premium or plan cost.
Where can Californians get free help choosing a Part D plan for 2027?
Free, personalized help with Medicare questions is available directly from Medicare. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including TTY service at 1-877-486-2048, or visit medicare.gov to compare plans with the Plan Finder and to review your current coverage.
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.
Prescription coverage
How Medicare Part D works in 2026
The old coverage gap (“donut hole”) is eliminated as of 2025 (three phases now). There’s now a hard yearly cap of $2,100 on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs, and you can spread those costs across the year with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment Period (Open Enrollment)Anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the $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
How many stand-alone Medicare Part D drug plans are offered in California for 2027?
What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap in 2027?
When is the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 Medicare coverage?
Where can I compare California Part D plans and get free help?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Sources and methodology
- Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (Part B premium)
- CMS, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) program rules
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan-year announcements
- Medicare.gov, enrollment periods and plan rules
Figures cited in this article
- CMS 2027 Part D Landscape Source File: the California stand-alone plan count, insurer list, new and exiting insurers, and benchmark plan count for 2027.
- CMS 2026 Part D Landscape Source File: the California stand-alone plan and insurer counts and benchmark plan count for 2026, used for the year-over-year comparison.
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov): the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,400, the $700 maximum plan deductible, and the $41.33 base beneficiary premium.
- Medicare.gov — Medicare enrollment periods: the Annual Enrollment Period dates of October 15 through December 7, 2026, with coverage effective January 1, 2027.
- Social Security Administration: the October 14, 2026 announcement of a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for benefits payable beginning January 2027.
How we put this together: area counts come from the CMS files listed above for the county that contains this city, program figures come from CMS, Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration, and no plan is ranked or recommended.
By The Medicare Desk · Published . For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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This page was last updated: October 2026.