2026 Medicare Part D Outlook
Below are the finalized 2026 defined standard Medicare Part D prescription drug plan parameters as released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), April 2025.- Chart comparing 2022 through 2026 defined standard Medicare Part D prescription drug plan parameters
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2026 defined standard Medicare Part D prescription drug plan parameters
Each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releases the Medicare Part D drug plan benefit parameters for the "Defined Standard Benefit" plan and the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) benefits. Medicare Part D plan providers then can use these standardized benefit parameters to determine drug plan coverage for the next plan year.The CMS "Part D Benefit Parameters for Defined Standard Benefit" outline the minimum allowable Medicare Part D plan coverage. However, CMS allows Medicare Part D plans to offer a variation on the defined standard benefits (for example, a Medicare Part D plan can offer a $0 Initial Deductible instead of the standard deductible).
Accordingly, although an actual Part D drug plan's coverage can vary from the CMS standardized benefits, you can use these parameters as a preview of how your Medicare Part D plan coverage may change in January, 2026. Actual Medicare drug plan options and benefit details will be available for your review beginning October 1, 2025.
Here are a few highlights of the defined standard Medicare Part D plan changes from 2025 to 2026. And the chart below shows the changes in defined standard Medicare Part D design for plan years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
- Initial Deductible:
The Initial Deductible is an amount you will pay yourself before your Medicare drug plan coverage begins to pay a share of the retail drug cost. Insulin and ACIP vaccines covered by your Medicare drug plan are always excluded from the deductible - and some drug plans will exclude certain low-costing drugs tiers from the deductible. The standard Initial Deductible will increase from $590 in 2025 to $615 in 2026. - Initial Coverage Limit (ICL):
The Initial Coverage Limit ended in 2025 and was replaced by the annual drug maximum out-of-pocket spending limit (RxMOOP). - Coverage Gap (Donut Hole):
The Coverage Gap phase was eliminated in 2025. - Total annual drug maximum out-of-pocket spending (TrOOP) threshold (RxMOOP):
The annual out-of-pocket spending limit will increase from $2,000 in 2025 to $2,100 in 2026. The TrOOP threshold now represents the maximum out-of-pocket spending limit for formulary drugs (RxMOOP).
- The Catastrophic Coverage phase:
After exceeding the annual TrOOP threshold or RxMOOP, Medicare beneficiaries enter the Catastrophic Coverage phase of their Medicare Part D coverage. Since January 1st, 2024, Medicare beneficiaries pay nothing ($0) for formulary drugs purchased in the Catastrophic Coverage phase and will remain in this phase until the end of the calendar year.
Chart comparing 2022 through 2026 defined standard Medicare Part D prescription drug plan parameters
Click here to see a comparison of plan parameters for all years since 2006
Medicare Part D Benefit Parameters for Defined Standard Benefit |
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| Part D Standard Benefit Design Parameters | 2026* | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Deductible - In most situations, the beneficiary pays 100% of their drug costs until the deductible is met. | $615 | $590 | $545 | $505 | $480 | |
| Initial Coverage Limit (ICL) - Beginning with plan year 2025, the ICL is eliminated. Pre-2025, prior to reaching the ICL the beneficiary paid 25% of their drug costs and once the ICL was reached, the Coverage Gap (Donut Hole) began. | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | $5,030 | $4,660 | $4,430 | |
| Out-of-Pocket Threshold (OOP threshold or RxMOOP) -
The Catastrophic Coverage phase begins
(and prior to 2025, the Coverage Gap ended
when Total Out-of-Pocket (TrOOP) costs exceed this value. Beginning with plan year 2025, the Coverage Gap phase is eliminated. |
$2,100 | $2,000 | $8,000 | $7,400 | $7,050 | |
| Total Part D retail drug costs at OOP threshold before entering Catastrophic Coverage (pre-2025 exiting the Coverage Gap) - (LIS). See note (1) below. | $6,555 | $6,230 | $11,477.39 | $10,516.25 | $10,012.50 | |
| Total Part D retail drug costs at OOP threshold before entering Catastrophic Coverage (pre-2025 exiting the Coverage Gap) - (non-LIS). See note (2) below. | $6,555 | $6,230 | $12,447.11 plus a 75% discount on all formulary drugs |
$11,206.28 plus a 75% discount on all formulary drugs |
$10,690.20 plus a 75% discount on all formulary drugs |
|
| Catastrophic Coverage Benefit: Since plan year 2024, beneficiaries pay no cost-sharing in the Catastrophic Coverage phase of the Medicare Part D coverage. From 2006 through 2023 the Catastrophic Coverage cost-sharing was the greater of 5% or the values shown below. | ||||||
| Generic/Preferred Multi-Source Drug | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4.15 | $3.95 | |
| Other Drugs | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $10.35 | $9.85 | |
Parameters for Medicare Beneficiaries qualifying for the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) (Extra Help) program |
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| Part D Full Benefit Dual Eligible (FBDE) Beneficiaries Parameters See note (3): | ||||||
| 2026* | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| • Deductible | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| • Copayments for Institutionalized Beneficiaries [category code 3] | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| • Copayments for Beneficiaries Receiving Home and Community-Based Services [category code 3] see note (4) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| • Maximum Copayments for FBDE Non-Institutionalized Beneficiaries Up to or at 100% FPL [category code 2]: | ||||||
| • Up to Out-of-Pocket Threshold | ||||||
| - Generic / Preferred Multi-Source Drug | $1.60 | $1.60 | $1.55 | $1.45 | $1.35 | |
| - Other Drugs | $4.90 | $4.80 | $4.60 | $4.30 | $4.00 | |
| • Above Out-of-Pocket Threshold | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| • Maximum Copayments for FBDE Non-Institutionalized Beneficiaries Between 100% and 150% FPL [category code 1]: | ||||||
| • Up to Out-of-Pocket Threshold | ||||||
| - Generic / Preferred Multi-Source Drug | $5.10 | $4.90 | $4.50 | $4.15 | $3.95 | |
| - Other Drugs | $12.65 | $12.15 | $11.20 | $10.35 | $9.85 | |
| • Above Out-of-Pocket Threshold | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Part D Full-Subsidy - Non-FBDE Beneficiary Parameters: | ||||||
| 2026* | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Applied or eligible for QMB/SLMB/QI or SSI, income at or below
150% FPL and
resources ≤ $18,090 (individuals in 2026) or ≤ $36,100 (couples in 2026) [category code 1] see note (5).
See resources for prior years. Prior to 2024, the full-subsidy income limit was ≤ 135% FPL. | ||||||
| • Deductible | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| • Maximum Copayments up to Out-of-Pocket Threshold | ||||||
| - Generic / Preferred Multi-Source Drug | $5.10 | $4.90 | $4.50 | $4.15 | $3.95 | |
| - Other Drugs | $12.65 | $12.15 | $11.20 | $10.35 | $9.85 | |
| • Maximum Copay above Out-of-Pocket Threshold | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Partial-Subsidy Parameters (Partial-LIS was eliminated January 1, 2024, when Full-LIS was expanded to include former partial-LIS): | ||||||
| 2026* | 2025* | 2024* | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Prior to 2024, Partial-LIS included beneficiaries who have applied for benefits and have income below 150% FPL and limited resources [category code 4] (5). See resources for prior years. | ||||||
| • Deductible | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | $104.00 | $99.00 | |
| • Coinsurance up to Out-of-Pocket Threshold | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 15% | 15% | |
| • Maximum Copayments above Out-of-Pocket Threshold | ||||||
| - Generic / Preferred Multi-Source Drug | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | $4.15 | $3.95 | |
| - Other Drugs | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | $10.35 | $9.85 | |
| *These parameters reflect additional plan coverage required for covered insulin products under section 1860D-2(b)(9) of the Act, as added by section 11406 of the IRA, and ACIP-recommended vaccines under section 1860D-2(b)(8) of the Act, as added by section 11401 of the IRA. | ||||||
| (1) For a beneficiary who is not considered an "applicable beneficiary" (i.e. the beneficiary is LIS-eligible), as defined at section 1860D-14A(g)(1) of the Social Security Act, and is not eligible for the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program, this is the amount of total drug spending required to reach the OOP threshold in the defined standard benefit. Medicare notes, that in 2024, "There was a 7 percent adjustment for the estimated total covered Part D spending at catastrophic for non-applicable beneficiaries, because beneficiaries take a longer time to reach the catastrophic phase threshold when they pay less cost sharing for insulins and vaccines (no more than $35 copay per month's supply of insulin and $0 copay on ACIP-recommended adult vaccines) under the 2024 defined standard benefit." | ||||||
| (2) For a beneficiary who is an "applicable beneficiary" (non-LIS), as defined at section 1860D-14A(g)(1) of the Act, and is eligible for the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program, this is the estimated average amount of total drug spending required to reach the OOP threshold in the defined standard benefit. Medicare notes, that in 2024, "there was a 9 percent adjustment for the estimated total covered Part D spending at catastrophic for applicable beneficiaries, because beneficiaries take a longer time to reach the catastrophic phase threshold when they pay less cost sharing for insulins and vaccines (no more than $35 copay per month's supply of insulin and $0 copay on ACIP-recommended adult vaccines) under the 2024 defined standard benefit". | ||||||
(3) The LIS eligibility categories and corresponding cost-sharing benefits are sometimes
referred to using category codes as follows:
| ||||||
| (4) Per section 1860D-14(a)(1)(D)(i) of the Act, full-benefit dually eligible beneficiaries who are receiving home and community-based services qualify for zero cost sharing if the individuals (or couple) would have been institutionalized otherwise. | ||||||
| (5) The resource limits for CY 2026 will be provided via the annual HPMS memo entitled "Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Resource and Cost-Sharing Limits for Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)" that is expected to be released during the usual timeframe after the September 2025 CPI has been made available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, these amounts are adjusted for beneficiaries that notified the SSA of their intent to use a portion of their resources for burial expenses. The CY 2026 resource limits, include $1,500 per person for burial expenses, are $18,090 ($36,100 if married). Also, beneficiaries that would have been eligible for the partial LIS benefit had the IRA not been enacted will be eligible for the full LIS benefit if they meet the resource standard described at section 1860D-14(a)(3)(E) of the Act. | ||||||
Click here to see a comparison of plan parameters for all years since 2006
Medicare Part D standard benefit trends 2006 to 2026
The graph below shows the finalized Medicare Part D defined standard benefit parameters.
Click here to see a comparison of plan parameters for all years since 2006
2026 Medicare Part D program changes beyond the standard parameters
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) identified many improvements to the standard Medicare Part D drug benefit to be rolled out between 2023 and 2029. The following are highlights of the Part D related IRA updates that will be in place for the 2026 plan year:- No cost-sharing for Medicare Part D formulary drugs purchased after reaching the 2026 TrOOP threshold of $2,100.
Medicare Part D beneficiaries will have a $2,100 maximum cap on out-of-pocket spending for Part D formulary drugs (RxMOOP). In 2026, the $2,100 RxMOOP should be approximately reached when a person purchases Medicare Part D formulary drugs with a retail value totaling $6,555 (not considering covered Insulin and Vaccines). In short, in 2026, Medicare Part D beneficiaries will not spend more than $2,100 out-of-pocket for formulary drugs.
- Change to Medicare Part D plan designs: Coverage Gap phase eliminated.
With the addition of the $2,100 RxMOOP, Medicare Part D plans would have only three parts of coverage (or less): (1) the Initial Deductible (if any) and (2) the Initial Coverage Phase that would continue until December 31 of the plan year - or cease when the plan member's out-of-pocket spending reached the $2,100 RxMOOP. Once the person reaches the RxMOOP, they will enter the (3) Catastrophic Coverage phaseCatastrophic Coverage and the person will have no additional costs for Part D formulary drugs.
Medicare Part D coverage 2025 and beyond
- A person's drug costs can be evenly spread over the year
Medicare Part D plans are required to provide plan members an option allowing people to spread their monthly prescription drug costs evenly over the year. For example, if a person purchases an expensive medication in January 2026 and the cost exceeds the $2,100 out-of-pocket threshold, the person could spread the $2,100 cost evenly over the entire year to lessen the impact of a single $2,100 payment with $175 monthly payments.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): Changes to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage 2023 and beyond.
Federal Poverty Level Guidelines: Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Qualifications
The Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) qualifications using the 2026 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines are shown below. The 2026 FPL guidelines will be used for determining LIS qualifications at the beginning of the 2027 plan year.If your income is at or below 150% of the FPL ($23,940 if you are single or $32,460 for married couples), you could qualify for the full Low-Income Subsidy (resource limits also apply - see chart above). Remember, the LIS subsidy helps to pay both your monthly plan premium and drug costs.
Learn more in our article, 2026 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines (FPL): 2026/2027 LIS Qualifications and Benefits.
| Full Low-Income Subsidy Income Requirements (150% of FPL) using the 2026 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines (FPL) | |||
| Persons in Family | 48 Contiguous States & D.C. | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $23,940 | $29,925 | $27,540 |
| 2 | $32,460 | $40,575 | $37,335 |
| 3 | $40,980 | $51,225 | $47,130 |
| 4 | $49,500 | $61,875 | $56,925 |
| 5 | $58,020 | $72,525 | $66,720 |
| 6 | $66,540 | $83,175 | $76,515 |
Click here for additional family member figures. Learn more about the Extra-Help program.
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2027 Medicare Part D Plan Reminder Service
If you would like for us to send you an email as additional 2027 Medicare Part D plan information comes online and when enrollment begins (October 15th), please complete the form below. We will NOT share your information with any third-parties.- Learn more about the 2027 Medicare Part D drug coverage.
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