Medicare Part D
$2,100: the new Medicare Part D out-of-pocket ceiling in Laramie
LARAMIE, Wyo. — In 2027, no one with Medicare Part D will pay more than $2,400 out of pocket for covered prescription drugs in a calendar year. For people in Laramie who take costly medications — insulin, cancer pills, blood thinners, specialty drugs — this is one of the biggest shifts Medicare has seen in years.
Compare Medicare Part D options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Part D listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
This affects which Medicare Part D options you can choose.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Will your prescriptions still be covered in 2027?
Part D plans rewrite their drug lists every year — tiers move, pharmacies change, drugs drop off. One call checks your exact medications against the 2027 plans in your area.
- Every prescription checked, name by name
- Your pharmacy checked for preferred pricing
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240
Key takeaways
- In 2027, people with Medicare Part D won't pay more than $2,400 out of pocket for covered prescription drugs in a calendar year, and only drug spending counts toward that cap, not premiums.
- The old coverage gap, or "donut hole," is gone, and Part D now has just three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- The optional, free Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets people spread their drug costs into monthly amounts instead of paying large bills at the pharmacy, but missing payments can get someone removed from it, though their drug coverage stays.
- Plans can still differ in deductible amount (up to $700 in 2027), covered drugs, pharmacy networks, and premiums, so comparing plans on Medicare.gov each fall is worth doing.
A big change continues for Part D in 2027
The cap is set by federal law and applies the same way in Albany County as it does anywhere else in the country. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs hits $2,400 in 2027, you pay $0 for the rest of the year on those drugs.
Here's how the new rules work, and what to think about before the Annual Enrollment Period closes on December 7.
The $2,400 cap, in plain English
Under CMS Part D program rules for 2027:
- Deductible: Plans can charge a Part D deductible of up to $700 in 2027 before coverage kicks in.
- Initial coverage: After the deductible, you pay a share of the drug cost (usually 25%) until your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,400 in 2027.
- Catastrophic phase: Once you hit $2,400 in 2027, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.
Only your own spending on covered drugs counts toward the cap — monthly premiums do not.
The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone
If you've been on Medicare a while, you remember the coverage gap — that middle stretch where your drug costs suddenly jumped. It's gone. Since 2025, Part D has just three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic. In 2027, that structure continues, now paired with a hard $2,400 ceiling.
For Laramie residents who used to dread hitting the donut hole in late summer, the math is simpler now. There's a clear yearly maximum, and after that, covered drugs cost you nothing.
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: spread the cost
Even with a $2,400 cap in 2027, paying several hundred dollars in a single month at the pharmacy counter can hurt — especially early in the year, before the deductible is met.
That's why Medicare created the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (sometimes called "M3P" or drug cost smoothing). It's optional, free to join, and available through every Part D plan and every Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage.
Here's the idea:
- Instead of paying the pharmacy directly for your prescriptions, your plan pays the pharmacy.
- Your plan then bills you monthly for what you owe, spread across the remaining months of the year.
- You never pay more in total than you would have paid at the counter — the cost is just smoothed out.
This can be especially helpful if you have one or two expensive drugs early in the year and want to avoid a big January or February bill. You can sign up before the year starts or any time during the year by contacting your plan.
One caution: if you miss monthly payments, you can be removed from the payment plan, though you keep your drug coverage. It's worth doing the math on whether smoothing helps your budget before opting in.
What this means locally
Laramie is in Albany County, where Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are offered by a range of private insurers approved by CMS. The specific plans available — and their formularies, pharmacy networks, and premiums — can change every year.
The out-of-pocket cap and the payment plan option apply to every Part D and Medicare Advantage drug plan sold in Albany County. What can differ between plans is the deductible (up to $700 in 2027), which drugs are covered, which pharmacies are in-network, and monthly premiums. That's why comparing plans on Medicare.gov each fall is worth an hour of your time. The 2027 lineup of plans and carriers in Albany County is listed in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.
If your income is above $109,000 (single filer, based on your 2024 tax return), you may also pay an IRMAA surcharge on top of your Part D premium in 2026. That's separate from the drug cap.
Key dates to circle
- October 15 – December 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. Switch, join, or drop Part D or Medicare Advantage plans.
- January 1, 2027: New coverage — and the $2,400 cap — begins.
- January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare once during this window.
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 Albany County
(MA penetration in Albany 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). In 2027, there's a hard yearly cap of $2,400 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.
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
Does the $2,400 cap include my monthly plan premium?
If I join the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, do I save money overall?
What if a drug I take isn't on my plan's formulary?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.