The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2027 low-income premium subsidy
amounts (or Benchmark premiums) for Medicare Part D plans on July 28, 2026, and in 2027, twenty-nine (29) regions will lower their Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)
benchmark premium and five (5) region will increase
their benchmark premium.
Here are a few state highlights of the 2027 LIS benchmarks:
What is the LIS Benchmark Premium?
The benchmark premium is the maximum* monthly Medicare Part D plan premium that will be paid by CMS for persons qualifying for the low-income subsidy (LIS) or the Medicare Part D "Extra Help" program.
For example, if you qualify for Extra Help benefits and live in a state with a benchmark premium of $30, the Medicare Part D Extra Help program will pay for the premium of a "basic" Medicare Part D plan up to this premium level (or slightly above*) and you will have a $0 monthly premium for your drug coverage.
What happens when someone joins a Medicare plan that has a premium higher than the benchmark?
If a person receiving the low-income subsidy enrolls in a Medicare Part D plan that has a premium higher than their state's benchmark premium, the beneficiary is responsible for paying the difference in premiums - unless the difference between the benchmark premium and the plan premium are relatively small (please see the explanation of the de minimis premium policy below*).
In addition, if the beneficiary enrolls in a low-premium Medicare Part D plan with "enhanced" features, they may also pay a partial premium, even when the plan premium is below the benchmark since the plan is not considered "basic".
Do benchmark premiums change over time?
Yes. State LIS benchmark premiums usually change every year and annual decreases (or increases) in benchmark premiums may provide an indication that the state will offer Medicare Part D beneficiaries more (or fewer) stand-alone Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the $0 LIS Medicare Part D premium.
As reference, the following chart shows how the annual Medicare Part D LIS benchmark premiums in a few example states have fluctuated since 2006. The example states were chosen due to their relatively large population of seniors or Medicare beneficiaries.
You can click on the premium subsidy in the table below to see the stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) for the selected year that qualify for the $0 LIS premium (the 2027 Medicare Part D plan information will be available no later than October 1, 2026).
Here are a few state highlights of the 2027 LIS benchmarks:
- South Carolina will see the largest benchmark decrease with a 2026 LIS subsidy of
$7.28
as compared to
$35.66 in 2026. Alaska had the largest benchmark decrease in 2026.
- Alaska
will have the largest benchmark increase with a 2027 LIS benchmark
of $14.61
as compared to
$0.00
in 2026. Kansas had the largest benchmark increase in 2026.
- Idaho and
Utah
will have the highest benchmark premium of all CMS PDP
regions at $45.51. New York had the highest 2026 benchmark premium ($58.82).
- Oregon, Washington State, Wisconsin and Texas will have the lowest 2027 benchmark premium at $6.27. New Mexico and Alaska had the lowest 2026 benchmark at $0.00.
What is the LIS Benchmark Premium?
The benchmark premium is the maximum* monthly Medicare Part D plan premium that will be paid by CMS for persons qualifying for the low-income subsidy (LIS) or the Medicare Part D "Extra Help" program.
For example, if you qualify for Extra Help benefits and live in a state with a benchmark premium of $30, the Medicare Part D Extra Help program will pay for the premium of a "basic" Medicare Part D plan up to this premium level (or slightly above*) and you will have a $0 monthly premium for your drug coverage.
What happens when someone joins a Medicare plan that has a premium higher than the benchmark?
If a person receiving the low-income subsidy enrolls in a Medicare Part D plan that has a premium higher than their state's benchmark premium, the beneficiary is responsible for paying the difference in premiums - unless the difference between the benchmark premium and the plan premium are relatively small (please see the explanation of the de minimis premium policy below*).
In addition, if the beneficiary enrolls in a low-premium Medicare Part D plan with "enhanced" features, they may also pay a partial premium, even when the plan premium is below the benchmark since the plan is not considered "basic".
Do benchmark premiums change over time?
Yes. State LIS benchmark premiums usually change every year and annual decreases (or increases) in benchmark premiums may provide an indication that the state will offer Medicare Part D beneficiaries more (or fewer) stand-alone Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the $0 LIS Medicare Part D premium.
As reference, the following chart shows how the annual Medicare Part D LIS benchmark premiums in a few example states have fluctuated since 2006. The example states were chosen due to their relatively large population of seniors or Medicare beneficiaries.
You can click on the premium subsidy in the table below to see the stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) for the selected year that qualify for the $0 LIS premium (the 2027 Medicare Part D plan information will be available no later than October 1, 2026).
| CMS Region |
State(s) |
2027 Subsidy |
2026 Subsidy |
2025 Subsidy |
2024 Subsidy |
2023 Subsidy |
2022 Subsidy |
2021 Subsidy |
2020 Subsidy |
2019 Subsidy |
2018 Subsidy |
2017 Subsidy |
2016 Subsidy |
2015 Subsidy |
2014 Subsidy |
2013 Subsidy |
2012 Subsidy |
2011 Subsidy |
2010 Subsidy |
2009 Subsidy |
2008 Subsidy |
2007 Subsidy |
2006 Subsidy |
| 1 | NH, ME | $7.47 | $21.72 | $33.77 | $35.99 | $31.10 | $30.53 | $29.08 | $29.67 | $33.20 | $34.27 | $32.99 | $32.82 | $29.60 | $27.78 | $33.49 | $31.18 | $28.90 | $26.96 | $28.12 | $30.64 | $30.72 | $36.09 |
| 2 | CT, MA, RI, VT | $33.82 | $35.76 | $52.52 | $43.53 | $36.27 | $36.27 | $35.16 | $34.77 | $36.20 | $35.58 | $34.83 | $31.14 | $29.65 | $27.99 | $31.35 | $32.04 | $33.66 | $34.57 | $31.74 | $29.17 | $27.35 | $30.27 |
| 3 | NY | $40.45 | $58.82 | $72.34 | $48.72 | $38.90 | $42.43 | $42.27 | $36.55 | $39.33 | $38.98 | $40.99 | $39.73 | $36.94 | $37.23 | $43.22 | $39.79 | $38.69 | $33.32 | $27.71 | $24.18 | $24.45 | $29.83 |
| 4 | NJ | $36.28 | $54.17 | $56.86 | $45.51 | $35.02 | $37.07 | $37.33 | $35.48 | $37.16 | $35.97 | $40.81 | $39.98 | $37.64 | $37.10 | $37.04 | $36.00 | $35.74 | $35.01 | $30.99 | $31.23 | $28.12 | $31.37 |
| 5 | DE, DC, MD | $7.88 | $31.21 | $46.32 | $41.29 | $39.22 | $36.96 | $32.30 | $29.65 | $29.98 | $30.70 | $33.22 | $33.45 | $30.61 | $32.34 | $34.96 | $34.57 | $34.28 | $33.71 | $30.85 | $30.78 | $29.65 | $33.46 |
| 6 | PA, WV | $12.8 | $32.71 | $48.36 | $40.16 | $41.08 | $40.74 | $37.45 | $35.63 | $37.03 | $37.18 | $39.45 | $35.30 | $33.91 | $35.50 | $36.57 | $34.32 | $34.07 | $32.09 | $29.23 | $26.59 | $28.45 | $32.59 |
| 7 | VA | $6.28 | $24.56 | $30.70 | $38.46 | $34.55 | $35.11 | $31.37 | $27.88 | $30.61 | $30.05 | $32.52 | $32.78 | $29.47 | $29.34 | $30.06 | $30.95 | $33.25 | $34.15 | $31.72 | $31.03 | $30.52 | $34.42 |
| 8 | NC | $13.25 | $36.17 | $51.22 | $46.89 | $38.38 | $35.82 | $30.34 | $26.36 | $28.91 | $30.16 | $31.37 | $31.07 | $29.34 | $28.28 | $32.04 | $33.00 | $34.87 | $34.90 | $33.45 | $33.43 | $32.13 | $36.30 |
| 9 | SC | $7.28 | $35.66 | $46.57 | $45.73 | $37.84 | $31.12 | $27.56 | $23.78 | $24.55 | $23.03 | $26.03 | $26.57 | $28.78 | $33.87 | $38.75 | $36.15 | $36.90 | $35.02 | $32.01 | $31.12 | $31.41 | $34.88 |
| 10 | GA | $6.29 | $25.42 | $39.99 | $44.23 | $37.30 | $32.38 | $29.80 | $25.34 | $25.68 | $24.53 | $26.43 | $25.78 | $26.47 | $29.32 | $34.22 | $31.18 | $32.83 | $29.62 | $29.16 | $30.04 | $31.07 | $33.15 |
| 11 | FL | $7.28 | $4.82 | $20.30 | $37.74 | $35.92 | $34.32 | $30.76 | $28.47 | $30.25 | $29.07 | $29.13 | $28.07 | $25.83 | $22.13 | $24.76 | $23.82 | $25.41 | $27.45 | $21.47 | $19.16 | $22.63 | $29.07 |
| 12 | AL, TN | $13.65 | $27.74 | $40.01 | $41.43 | $35.16 | $32.72 | $30.20 | $28.69 | $31.40 | $30.62 | $31.76 | $31.32 | $30.20 | $29.67 | $33.69 | $31.71 | $33.72 | $30.73 | $29.80 | $28.29 | $29.60 | $32.33 |
| 13 | MI | $6.28 | $8.75 | $26.58 | $35.85 | $32.65 | $31.49 | $30.08 | $30.15 | $32.91 | $33.28 | $34.17 | $33.47 | $31.46 | $32.46 | $34.18 | $34.37 | $34.71 | $34.92 | $32.08 | $30.49 | $30.79 | $33.22 |
| 14 | OH | $21.05 | $31.38 | $39.30 | $40.87 | $34.71 | $33.54 | $29.83 | $28.54 | $32.92 | $31.95 | $32.30 | $29.52 | $28.64 | $28.93 | $29.87 | $29.41 | $29.67 | $30.47 | $28.40 | $26.82 | $28.51 | $30.69 |
| 15 | IN, KY | $17.02 | $38.44 | $49.58 | $42.34 | $28.11 | $29.65 | $29.61 | $29.52 | $31.75 | $31.24 | $32.06 | $31.90 | $31.79 | $34.95 | $37.22 | $35.92 | $36.44 | $35.75 | $33.95 | $33.50 | $32.42 | $35.69 |
| 16 | WI | $6.27 | $21.12 | $43.51 | $48.07 | $43.10 | $42.29 | $40.70 | $39.91 | $40.80 | $40.04 | $40.09 | $37.70 | $35.32 | $37.03 | $38.25 | $36.67 | $36.96 | $38.20 | $38.15 | $31.03 | $29.67 | $31.27 |
| 17 | IL | $7.61 | $15.20 | $22.77 | $32.79 | $27.35 | $29.05 | $27.43 | $26.04 | $27.37 | $27.50 | $28.68 | $29.60 | $28.23 | $28.59 | $30.94 | $30.23 | $30.65 | $31.59 | $30.18 | $30.26 | $29.66 | $31.60 |
| 18 | MO | $18.38 | $43.03 | $50.99 | $43.65 | $36.27 | $33.42 | $30.48 | $30.10 | $32.06 | $29.99 | $30.07 | $26.13 | $28.28 | $31.21 | $34.59 | $32.05 | $34.92 | $40.01 | $31.89 | $26.71 | $27.88 | $31.37 |
| 19 | AR | $6.28 | $8.93 | $20.91 | $35.74 | $31.93 | $26.72 | $26.76 | $24.96 | $24.81 | $22.56 | $22.58 | $20.92 | $24.76 | $30.03 | $34.15 | $31.62 | $32.12 | $28.48 | $26.89 | $27.69 | $30.51 | $35.45 |
| 20 | MS | $6.28 | $23.84 | $47.25 | $40.11 | $31.92 | $29.22 | $26.95 | $25.13 | $26.85 | $25.81 | $26.53 | $28.14 | $29.33 | $30.56 | $34.56 | $33.40 | $33.01 | $33.02 | $31.53 | $31.35 | $31.70 | $36.39 |
| 21 | LA | $17.03 | $32.89 | $55.63 | $46.17 | $38.35 | $36.35 | $34.27 | $32.21 | $33.06 | $30.92 | $32.80 | $32.13 | $31.28 | $31.75 | $37.33 | $35.01 | $34.75 | $31.32 | $27.48 | $24.62 | $28.45 | $34.14 |
| 22 | TX | $6.27 | $4.82 | $18.30 | $28.37 | $25.00 | $25.10 | $22.48 | $20.78 | $23.96 | $24.59 | $27.34 | $28.05 | $27.31 | $27.73 | $31.83 | $29.99 | $30.48 | $27.53 | $25.36 | $25.01 | $26.93 | $31.68 |
| 23 | OK | $11.03 | $28.24 | $49.75 | $42.22 | $32.90 | $30.90 | $29.11 | $28.74 | $30.84 | $29.65 | $30.83 | $30.72 | $29.97 | $30.18 | $32.80 | $31.53 | $33.62 | $32.31 | $29.36 | $28.04 | $30.35 | $35.13 |
| 24 | KS | $35.48 | $55.20 | $51.73 | $43.31 | $32.96 | $32.92 | $31.78 | $31.53 | $32.46 | $31.43 | $30.27 | $30.67 | $30.32 | $34.21 | $36.04 | $36.67 | $36.94 | $35.77 | $33.66 | $30.62 | $30.56 | $33.44 |
| 25 | IA, MN, MT, ND, NE, SD, WY | $24.6 | $41.47 | $50.63 | $42.16 | $39.87 | $38.88 | $37.96 | $35.37 | $35.78 | $33.99 | $34.02 | $30.93 | $30.00 | $32.23 | $34.61 | $36.02 | $37.47 | $37.55 | $33.19 | $30.61 | $29.50 | $33.11 |
| 26 | NM | $6.26 | $0.00 | $15.83 | $35.64 | $36.41 | $34.31 | $28.17 | $23.58 | $26.61 | $24.60 | $22.84 | $20.72 | $21.19 | $19.92 | $22.54 | $21.27 | $22.62 | $21.42 | $20.55 | $19.28 | $22.72 | $25.95 |
| 27 | CO | $18.36 | $35.24 | $37.02 | $46.59 | $41.62 | $39.81 | $34.30 | $31.26 | $32.00 | $34.18 | $32.04 | $29.89 | $28.93 | $26.90 | $31.92 | $32.38 | $32.85 | $30.99 | $30.17 | $24.59 | $27.37 | $28.92 |
| 28 | AZ | $16.76 | $16.95 | $30.10 | $43.18 | $42.60 | $40.04 | $36.07 | $32.09 | $32.62 | $32.88 | $35.11 | $33.17 | $32.89 | $27.49 | $29.41 | $26.84 | $27.34 | $24.75 | $16.22 | $15.92 | $21.37 | $24.62 |
| 29 | NV | $7.28 | $9.48 | $21.30 | $31.98 | $32.50 | $31.68 | $26.48 | $23.91 | $25.33 | $27.08 | $27.09 | $25.38 | $24.25 | $22.78 | $20.35 | $22.97 | $30.06 | $27.31 | $20.20** | $16.64 | $20.56 | $23.46 |
| 30 | OR, WA | $6.27 | $10.46 | $26.15 | $40.60 | $41.03 | $40.48 | $35.97 | $32.57 | $33.80 | $34.58 | $34.83 | $33.80 | $33.81 | $34.82 | $37.46 | $36.45 | $35.30 | $35.60 | $31.76 | $30.19 | $28.71 | $30.60 |
| 31 | ID, UT | $45.51 | $37.60 | $54.65 | $44.41 | $42.95 | $42.93 | $38.80 | $36.84 | $38.66 | $40.24 | $39.66 | $39.51 | $39.74 | $39.02 | $42.15 | $40.86 | $40.68 | $40.89 | $37.46 | $33.53 | $31.77 | $33.62 |
| 32 | CA | $7.28 | $12.00 | $29.66 | $40.98 | $38.86 | $33.16 | $31.45 | $32.01 | $34.79 | $35.51 | $36.28 | $31.05 | $28.84 | $28.10 | $29.88 | $30.86 | $32.35 | $28.99 | $24.86 | $19.80 | $21.03 | $23.25 |
| 33 | HI | $33.59 | $45.60 | $47.68 | $40.80 | $35.26 | $35.98 | $31.12 | $25.21 | $25.73 | $25.38 | $26.52 | $26.23 | $27.91 | $25.69 | $33.33 | $30.41 | $29.76 | $25.55 | $25.01 | $24.32 | $26.35 | $27.44 |
| 34 | AK | $14.61 | $0.00 | $38.85 | $38.76 | $34.78 | $32.63 | $29.77 | $31.36 | $33.60 | $32.92 | $34.06 | $36.36 | $32.86 | $37.07 | $34.71 | $36.46 | $36.89 | $38.00 | $36.00 | $36.42 | $33.56 | $34.66 |
How many Medicare Part D plans are offered each year that qualify for the $0 premium?
The number of stand-alone Medicare Part D plans (PDPs) qualifying for the $0 LIS premium changes each year, with the number of unique Part D drug plans leveling out over the past years - and then decreasing again to a new-low in 2023 and 2024 as shown by this chart displaying $0 premium qualifying Part D plans since 2007. In 2025, the number of $0 LIS premium PDPs increased slightly to ten (10) and then in 2026, reached another historical low of eight (8) LIS $0 premium qualifying Part D plans.
*Note: Under the CMS de minimis premium policy, "Part D plans are required to charge full-premium subsidy eligible beneficiaries a monthly Part D beneficiary premium equal to the applicable low-income premium subsidy amount, if the plan’s beneficiary premium for basic prescription drug coverage exceeds the low-income premium subsidy amount by $2 or less."
"Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) § 3303(a), a PDP or MA-PD plan may volunteer to waive the portion of beneficiary’s monthly adjusted basic Part D premium that is a de minimis amount above the low-income subsidy (LIS) benchmark for a subsidy eligible individual. The law prohibits CMS from reassigning LIS members from plans who volunteered to waive the de minimis amount.
The de minimis amount for CY 2026 will be $2."
As an example of the de minimis premium policy, in 2020 North Carolina had a benchmark premium of $26.36 and 3 of the 9 Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the full-LIS $0 premium had monthly premiums higher than the benchmark – but still within the “de minimis” range".
**Note: When the lowest Part D premium is greater than the region's benchmark -- The 2009 low-income benchmark premium amount calculated for Region 29 is $19.68. The low-income premium subsidy amount of $20.20 is the lowest monthly beneficiary premium for a PDP that offers basic coverage in Region 29. Section 1860D-14(b)(3) of the Social Security Act states that the low-income premium subsidy amount is the greater of the lowest monthly beneficiary premium for a PDP that offers basic coverage and the low-income benchmark premium amount.
Keep in mind... Medicare Part D Extra Help benefits were expanded in 2024.
Since plan year 2024 and beyond, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) expanded the full-LIS benefit qualifications to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and consequently, the partial-LIS status (135% to 150% of FPL) was eliminated. So those people who would otherwise qualify for only partial-LIS status (135% to 150% of FPL) now qualify for full-LIS benefits and the partial-LIS benefit level was eliminated.
The number of stand-alone Medicare Part D plans (PDPs) qualifying for the $0 LIS premium changes each year, with the number of unique Part D drug plans leveling out over the past years - and then decreasing again to a new-low in 2023 and 2024 as shown by this chart displaying $0 premium qualifying Part D plans since 2007. In 2025, the number of $0 LIS premium PDPs increased slightly to ten (10) and then in 2026, reached another historical low of eight (8) LIS $0 premium qualifying Part D plans.
*Note: Under the CMS de minimis premium policy, "Part D plans are required to charge full-premium subsidy eligible beneficiaries a monthly Part D beneficiary premium equal to the applicable low-income premium subsidy amount, if the plan’s beneficiary premium for basic prescription drug coverage exceeds the low-income premium subsidy amount by $2 or less."
(www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/Downloads/MemoDeMinimisClarification_102706.pdf)
"Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) § 3303(a), a PDP or MA-PD plan may volunteer to waive the portion of beneficiary’s monthly adjusted basic Part D premium that is a de minimis amount above the low-income subsidy (LIS) benchmark for a subsidy eligible individual. The law prohibits CMS from reassigning LIS members from plans who volunteered to waive the de minimis amount.
The de minimis amount for CY 2026 will be $2."
(www.cms.gov/files/document/july-28-2025-parts-c-d-announcement.pdf)
As an example of the de minimis premium policy, in 2020 North Carolina had a benchmark premium of $26.36 and 3 of the 9 Medicare Part D plans qualifying for the full-LIS $0 premium had monthly premiums higher than the benchmark – but still within the “de minimis” range".
**Note: When the lowest Part D premium is greater than the region's benchmark -- The 2009 low-income benchmark premium amount calculated for Region 29 is $19.68. The low-income premium subsidy amount of $20.20 is the lowest monthly beneficiary premium for a PDP that offers basic coverage in Region 29. Section 1860D-14(b)(3) of the Social Security Act states that the low-income premium subsidy amount is the greater of the lowest monthly beneficiary premium for a PDP that offers basic coverage and the low-income benchmark premium amount.
Keep in mind... Medicare Part D Extra Help benefits were expanded in 2024.
Since plan year 2024 and beyond, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) expanded the full-LIS benefit qualifications to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and consequently, the partial-LIS status (135% to 150% of FPL) was eliminated. So those people who would otherwise qualify for only partial-LIS status (135% to 150% of FPL) now qualify for full-LIS benefits and the partial-LIS benefit level was eliminated.
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