Medicare Part D

Washington Part D Plans for 2027: 8 Stand-Alone Drug Plans From 4 Insurers, Down From 10

SEATTLE — Washington residents on Medicare will choose from a smaller stand-alone Part D drug plan menu for 2027. Federal landscape files show 8 stand-alone prescription drug plans from 4 insurers available statewide, down from 10 plans and 5 insurers in 2026. The change arrives alongside a higher annual out-of-pocket cap and a new Social Security cost-of-living adjustment that takes effect in January 2027.

Medicare Part DWashington

The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage 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 Washington for 2027?

Washington has 8 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans from 4 insurers for 2027, down from 10 plans and 5 insurers in 2026. Washington sits in the CMS Part D region shared with Oregon, and every stand-alone plan counted here is offered region-wide, meaning the same menu is available to Medicare enrollees anywhere in the state.

Two insurers that offered stand-alone plans in Washington in 2026 — Aetna Medicare and HealthSpring — are not offering stand-alone plans in 2027. One insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX, is new to the Washington stand-alone market for 2027. Enrollees whose current plan is not continuing should receive a notice from their plan and can compare options on the Medicare Plan Finder.

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

Four insurers offer stand-alone Part D plans in Washington for 2027. Listed alphabetically, with 2027 stand-alone plan counts:

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

This list covers stand-alone prescription drug plans only. Drug coverage built into a Medicare Advantage plan is a separate product and is not included in this count.

What do the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap and deductible limit mean for Washington enrollees?

In 2027, the most any Medicare Part D enrollee in Washington will pay out of pocket for covered Part D drugs in a calendar year is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once a plan member reaches that cap, they pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.

The second number to know is the deductible ceiling. No Part D plan sold in Washington for 2027 may charge a deductible higher than $700. Individual plans may set a lower deductible or none at all; the $700 figure is the legal maximum, not a typical amount. For the specific deductible on any plan, check the plan's documents or the Medicare Plan Finder.

A separate national figure, the Part D base beneficiary premium, is $41.33 for 2027. That number is used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty for people who go without creditable drug coverage; actual monthly premiums are set plan by plan.

Which Washington Part D plan can someone with full Extra Help join for $0 premium in 2027?

For 2027, 1 stand-alone Part D plan in Washington qualifies as a benchmark plan that a person with full Extra Help (the federal Low-Income Subsidy) can join at no monthly premium, compared with 3 such plans in 2026.

Extra Help lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays for people with limited income and resources. Enrollees who already have full Extra Help and are in a plan that is no longer a benchmark for 2027 may be reassigned or may want to compare the benchmark option. Applications for Extra Help are handled by the Social Security Administration, and eligibility can be checked at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

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

A stand-alone Part D plan in Washington is a separate prescription drug policy that pairs with Original Medicare, and the 2027 count is 8 such plans from 4 insurers statewide. Most Medicare Advantage plans, by contrast, bundle medical and drug coverage into a single policy; that bundled drug coverage is governed by the same federal Part D rules — including the $2,400 out-of-pocket cap and the $700 deductible ceiling for 2027 — but it is not counted in the stand-alone totals above.

Enrollees generally choose one path or the other for drug coverage. Joining a stand-alone Part D plan while enrolled in most Medicare Advantage plans that include drugs can cause disenrollment from the Advantage plan. The Medicare Plan Finder shows both types side by side.

How can Washington enrollees check a plan's drug list and pharmacies before December 7, 2026?

The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov lets Washington residents enter their ZIP code and their prescriptions, then shows which 2027 Part D plans cover those drugs, at which pharmacies, and under what cost-sharing tier. It is the official tool and is free to use.

Each plan's formulary (drug list) and pharmacy network can change from year to year, so even enrollees who are satisfied with their current coverage may want to confirm that their medications and preferred pharmacies are still covered for 2027 before Annual Enrollment closes on December 7, 2026. Insurers also mail an Annual Notice of Change each fall describing what is different for the coming plan year.

Where can Washington residents get free Medicare help?

Free, unbiased help is available year-round from Medicare itself. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit Medicare.gov to use the Plan Finder, read plan documents and review enrollment rules.

The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026 for benefits payable beginning January 2027; questions about Social Security benefits and Extra Help applications go to the Social Security Administration directly.