Medicare Part D
Nashua Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: Dec. 7 Deadline
NASHUA, N.H. — Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and this year the window carries real weight for Granite State seniors. The cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs rises to $2,400 in 2027, plan lineups are shifting nationwide, and the choices Nashua residents make this fall will shape their coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027.
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Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, and any changes made during this time start Jan. 1, 2027.
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
- Higher earners face IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums if their 2024 income was above $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint).
- Outside the fall window, people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch plans or return to Original Medicare during a separate period from Jan. 1 through March 31.
Here's what you can actually do during this window — and how to think it through without rushing.
What the Annual Enrollment Period lets you do
Between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, you can:
- Switch from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage plan, or the other way around.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
- Sign up for Part D for the first time if you didn't enroll when you were first eligible (a late enrollment penalty may apply).
Any change you make during this window takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Why 2027 is a bigger deal than usual
Two program-level changes are worth understanding before you compare anything:
- The $2,400 Part D cap. In 2027, no one on a Medicare drug plan will pay more than $2,400 out of pocket for covered prescriptions in a calendar year. That's up from the $2,100 cap in 2026 and replaces the old "donut hole" structure, which was eliminated in 2025. Drug coverage now moves through three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- The Part D deductible ceiling is $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027. Plans can set their deductible lower than that, but not higher.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is available again in 2027. It's an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across monthly payments instead of paying a large amount at the pharmacy counter. It doesn't lower your total cost — it just smooths it out.
If you're a higher earner, note that IRMAA surcharges — the income-related add-ons to your Part B and Part D premiums — begin above $109,000 for single filers in 2026 ($218,000 for joint filers), based on your 2024 tax return.
What's available around Nashua
Nashua sits in Hillsborough County, and that's the level Medicare uses to set plan availability. When you go to the Plan Finder at medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code, the tool pulls the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans offered in Hillsborough County. Neighbors in Manchester see the same county-wide list; someone across the line in Merrimack County may see different options.
The number of plans available in New Hampshire counties has grown considerably over the past decade, which is good for choice but can feel overwhelming. That's exactly what the Plan Finder — and free local counselors — are for.
How to actually decide
You don't need to compare every plan. You need to compare the ones that fit your situation. A useful order of operations:
1. List your prescriptions. Exact names, doses, and how often you take them. 2. List your doctors and preferred hospitals. Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, and the specialists you already see. 3. Decide what matters most: predictable monthly costs, freedom to see any provider, extra benefits like dental or vision, or the simplicity of Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy. 4. Run the Plan Finder at medicare.gov with your drug list. It will estimate your annual drug costs under each plan sold in Hillsborough County. 5. Read the Annual Notice of Change your current plan mailed you in September. Premiums, formularies, and provider networks change every year — even if you love your current plan, don't assume it's identical in 2027.
About Star Ratings
Medicare publishes a 1-to-5 Star Rating for each Medicare Advantage and Part D plan. The ratings measure things like customer service, member complaints, and how well the plan manages chronic conditions. They're a useful data point — not a verdict. A 4-star plan that doesn't cover your medications is still the wrong plan for you.
If you miss Dec. 7
You have a second, narrower window: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, Jan. 1 through March 31. During those three months, if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan). You cannot use this period to join Medicare Advantage for the first time from Original Medicare.
Certain life events — moving, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help — can also trigger a Special Enrollment Period outside these windows.
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 Hillsborough County
(MA penetration in Hillsborough 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.
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 PeriodAnyone 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 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
I like my current plan. Do I have to do anything?
Can I keep my doctors if I switch plans?
Does the $2,400 cap apply to every drug?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.