Medicare Part D

Massachusetts Part D Plans for 2027: 10 Stand-Alone Drug Plans From 5 Insurers

BOSTON — Massachusetts residents on Medicare will have 10 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to choose from in 2027, offered by 5 insurers across the state. That is a modest shift from 2026, when 11 stand-alone plans were offered by 6 insurers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) places Massachusetts in the "Central New England" Part D region along with Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont, which means every stand-alone plan counted here is available to any Medicare beneficiary living anywhere in the Commonwealth.

Medicare Part DMassachusetts

The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any plan a person picks during that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

How many stand-alone Part D plans are offered in Massachusetts for 2027?

Massachusetts has 10 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans available statewide for 2027, offered by 5 insurers. That compares with 11 plans from 6 insurers in 2026, a net change of one fewer plan and one fewer insurer.

Because CMS runs stand-alone Part D on a regional basis, the Massachusetts count reflects the "Central New England" region (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont). For 2027, one insurer is new to the Massachusetts stand-alone market: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX. Two insurers that offered stand-alone plans in Massachusetts in 2026 are not doing so in 2027: Aetna Medicare and HealthSpring. Anyone whose current plan is being discontinued will receive a notice from the plan and will have options during the Annual Enrollment Period.

Which insurers offer stand-alone Part D plans in Massachusetts for 2027?

Five insurers offer stand-alone Part D plans in Massachusetts for 2027. Listed alphabetically with their plan counts:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX — 1 plan
• Blue MedicareRx — 2 plans
• Humana — 3 plans
• UnitedHealthcare — 2 plans
• Wellcare — 2 plans

This list is not a ranking. Each plan's premium, deductible, drug list (formulary), pharmacy network, and star rating is set plan by plan, and the only authoritative place to compare those details side by side is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov.

What do the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap and deductible limit mean in Massachusetts?

For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400, and the most any Part D plan may charge as an annual deductible is $700. The out-of-pocket cap replaces the old "donut hole" structure: once a Massachusetts enrollee's covered drug spending reaches $2,400 in 2027, they pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year. In 2026 that same cap is $2,100.

The $700 figure is a ceiling, not a required amount. Individual plans may set a lower deductible, or none at all, and deductibles can apply differently to different drug tiers. For a specific plan's deductible and tier rules, check that plan's documents or the Plan Finder.

Separately, the Part D base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33. That is a national figure CMS uses in calculating the late-enrollment penalty; it is not what any particular Massachusetts plan charges.

Which Part D plans in Massachusetts can someone with full Extra Help join for no premium in 2027?

In 2027, there are 3 stand-alone Part D plans in Massachusetts that a person who qualifies for the full Low-Income Subsidy (also called Extra Help) can join with no monthly premium. In 2026 there were 4 such benchmark plans.

Extra Help is a federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income and resources. People already enrolled in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a Medicare Savings Program usually qualify automatically. Others can apply any time through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security. People qualifying mid-year can switch Part D plans outside the normal enrollment window under special rules explained at medicare.gov.

How does stand-alone Part D compare with the drug coverage built into Medicare Advantage in Massachusetts?

Stand-alone Part D plans — the 10 counted here for Massachusetts in 2027 — are for people who want drug coverage to sit alongside Original Medicare, or alongside a Medicare Advantage plan that does not include drugs (such as some Medicare Advantage PPOs or Private Fee-for-Service plans). Most Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts include Part D drug coverage bundled in, and those bundled plans are counted and shopped separately.

A person generally cannot be enrolled in both a stand-alone Part D plan and a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs; joining one usually ends the other. The Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets Massachusetts residents filter by stand-alone drug plan or by Medicare Advantage with drug coverage.

How can I check a plan's drug list and pharmacies before December 7 in Massachusetts?

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the official tool for checking any 2027 Massachusetts Part D plan's formulary, preferred pharmacies, mail-order options, and total estimated yearly cost based on a person's own prescriptions and ZIP code. Entering each current medication, dose, and quantity gives the most accurate picture.

A few practical steps before the December 7, 2026 deadline:

• Make a current list of prescriptions with dose and monthly quantity.
• Confirm the pharmacies you actually use (including any mail-order).
• Run the Plan Finder for each stand-alone Part D plan under consideration.
• Read the plan's "Evidence of Coverage" or Summary of Benefits for 2027 directly from the insurer.

The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits payable beginning January 2027, which may affect household budgeting as people compare plans.

Where can Massachusetts residents get free help choosing a 2027 Part D plan?

Free, unbiased help is available directly from Medicare. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including TTY at 1-877-486-2048, or go to medicare.gov to use the Plan Finder and chat features. Medicare counselors can walk through plan comparisons and enrollment steps without charging a fee.