Medicare Open Enrollment is the once-a-year window, October 15 through December 7, 2026, when people with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan for 2027. Whatever you choose takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, your current plan generally carries over, along with any changes it has already announced for next year.

That last part is why I want every Medicare patient in Statesboro, Brooklet, Lyons, and the rest of Bulloch and Toombs County to take an hour this fall and look. Plans change their premiums, deductibles, drug lists, and pharmacy networks every year. A plan that worked fine in 2026 can look very different in 2027. Below is the checklist I’d use, with the 2027 numbers Medicare has published as of October 2026. This is education, not personal insurance advice, and Walker Pharmacy does not sell, recommend, or enroll anyone in Medicare plans.

Key Dates for 2027 Coverage

• October 1, 2026: The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov shows 2027 plans, so you can start comparing now.
• On or around October 8, 2026: 2027 Star Ratings for health and drug plans post on Medicare.gov, according to CMS.
• October 15, 2026: Open Enrollment begins.
• December 7, 2026: Open Enrollment ends. The plan must receive your enrollment request by this date.
• January 1, 2027: New coverage starts. If you kept your plan, its 2027 changes start too.
• January 1 to March 31, 2027: If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare (with the option to add a drug plan) during this window.

Start With Your Annual Notice of Change

Every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan mails members an Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, in September. It spells out what changes in January: costs, coverage, provider networks, service area, and more. If you didn’t get one, call the member services number on your plan card and ask for it.

When you read it, look for these things first:

• Your premium and deductible for 2027. Both can go up or down.
• Every medication you take. Is each one still on the drug list (formulary)? Did any move to a higher tier? Are there new prior authorization or quantity limits?
• Your pharmacy. Is it still in the network for 2027, and does it have preferred or standard cost sharing? More on that below.
• Your doctors, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan. Networks change too.

A tip from the counter: make the list of your medications before you open the ANOC. Include the name, strength, and how many you take a day. Then the comparison goes quickly, and you’ll have exactly what the Plan Finder asks for.

The 2027 Part D Numbers to Know (as of October 2026)

The out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400

Since 2025, Medicare Part D has had a yearly cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs. For 2027, CMS finalized that cap at $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. The Medicare & You 2027 handbook puts it plainly: once you, or programs paying on your behalf like Extra Help, reach the limit, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.

A few practical points about the cap:

• It applies to drugs your plan covers. A drug that isn’t on your plan’s formulary won’t help you reach it, which is one more reason to check every medication.
• Your monthly premium is a separate cost from your drug copays and coinsurance.
• Medicare notes that when you use a discount card or coupon program instead of your Medicare plan, the purchase isn’t counted toward your Medicare deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. If you’re comparing a cash price with your plan price, ask us and we’ll walk through it with you.

The standard deductible can be up to $700

If your plan has a drug deductible in 2027, it can be no more than $700, up from $615 in 2026. Some plans have a lower deductible or none, and some cover lower-tier drugs before the deductible. Your ANOC tells you what yours is.

Insulin stays at $35 a month

Medicare drug coverage limits the cost of a one-month supply of each covered insulin product to no more than $35. If you use insulin, still confirm your specific insulin is on the 2027 formulary.

A quick look at Georgia for 2027

CMS’s Georgia fact sheet (September 28, 2026) lists 161 Medicare Advantage plans and 9 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans available in the state for 2027, with the lowest stand-alone drug plan premium at $5.30 a month. Those are statewide numbers. What’s offered in Bulloch County or Toombs County depends on your ZIP code, so the Plan Finder is the place to see your actual choices.

Check That Your Pharmacy Is in the Network (and Preferred)

This is the part I care about most, because it’s the part people skip. Medicare’s handbook explains that your drug costs depend partly on which pharmacy you use: whether it offers preferred or standard cost sharing, is out of network, or is mail order. A preferred pharmacy has agreed with the plan to charge you less. The same prescription can cost different amounts depending on where you fill it.

So before you pick a 2027 plan, check two things:

1. Is Walker Pharmacy in the plan’s 2027 network? Pharmacy networks are set plan by plan and year by year. Please don’t assume. Look it up in the Plan Finder, check the plan’s pharmacy directory, or call the plan.
2. Is it preferred or standard? In the Plan Finder, you can add your pharmacy and see cost estimates for your drugs at that location.

You’re also welcome to call or stop by any of our locations and ask. We’ll tell you what we know about the plans we work with, and we’ll be honest when the plan itself is the one who needs to answer. We wrote more about why networks and pharmacy benefit managers shape your costs in What Is a PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager)?

15 More Drugs With Medicare-Negotiated Prices on January 1, 2027

Under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, prices for the first 10 negotiated Part D drugs took effect January 1, 2026. CMS announced in November 2025 that it reached agreements on 15 more Part D drugs, with negotiated prices effective January 1, 2027:

• Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy (semaglutide): type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular disease and obesity/overweight
• Trelegy Ellipta: asthma, COPD
• Breo Ellipta: asthma, COPD
• Tradjenta: type 2 diabetes
• Janumet, Janumet XR: type 2 diabetes
• Linzess: chronic constipation, IBS with constipation
• Xifaxan: hepatic encephalopathy, IBS with diarrhea
• Vraylar: bipolar I disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia
• Austedo, Austedo XR: Huntington’s disease chorea, tardive dyskinesia
• Otezla, Otezla XR: plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, oral ulcers in Behçet’s disease
• Ofev: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• Xtandi: prostate cancer
• Ibrance: breast cancer
• Calquence: chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma
• Pomalyst: multiple myeloma, Kaposi sarcoma

One important caution: a negotiated price is not the same thing as your copay. What you pay still depends on your plan’s tiers, your deductible, and where you are in the benefit for the year. Medicare’s advice is to contact your plan about how these prices might affect you. If you take any of these, make sure it’s on the 2027 formulary of every plan you’re considering.

Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: Spreading Costs Over the Year

Every Part D plan, stand-alone or Medicare Advantage with drug coverage, offers the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. Instead of paying your out-of-pocket drug costs at the pharmacy, you get a monthly bill from your plan that spreads those costs across the calendar year. There’s no cost to participate, and Medicare says you won’t pay interest or fees, even on a late payment.

What to know for 2027:

• It doesn’t lower your drug costs. It changes when you pay, not how much.
• If you’re already in it and stay in the same plan, it renews automatically for 2027.
• If you switch plans, your participation ends. You’d need to sign up again with the new plan.
• If you get or qualify for Extra Help, Medicare notes this payment option may not be your best choice. Extra Help actually lowers costs.

In general, it’s most useful for people facing high drug costs early in the year. Your plan handles sign-ups, and we’re glad to explain how it looks at the counter.

Extra Help: Worth Checking If Money Is Tight

Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, is a Medicare program that helps people with limited income and resources pay Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays. Medicare.gov lists what people with Extra Help pay in 2027:

• A $0 plan premium and $0 deductible
• Up to $5.80 for each generic drug and up to $14.40 for each brand-name drug at a participating pharmacy
• $0 for covered drugs once total drug costs reach $2,400

You get Extra Help automatically if you have full Medicaid, get help from a Medicare Savings Program paying your Part B premium, or receive Supplemental Security Income. Otherwise, you can apply through Social Security. Medicare.gov lists 2026 limits of $23,940 in income and $18,090 in resources for an individual, or $32,460 and $36,100 for a married couple, and notes the limits may go up each year. People with Extra Help may also be able to change drug coverage once a month, not just during Open Enrollment.

If you think you or a parent might qualify, apply. I’d much rather see someone get help they’re eligible for than skip doses because of cost.

Where to Get Free, Unbiased Help

• Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. Enter your ZIP code, your drugs, and your pharmacy to compare plans side by side and see estimated yearly costs.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
• Georgia SHIP, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program also known as GeorgiaCares. Counseling is free, unbiased, and not tied to any insurance company, and counselors don’t sell insurance. They can help you compare plans and apply for Extra Help or Medicare Savings Programs. Call 1-866-552-4464 and select option 4, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Expect a lot of mail and phone calls this season from companies selling Medicare products. Medicare reminds people that Medicare.gov, the Medicare & You handbook, and 1-800-MEDICARE are its official sources of unbiased information. If a call feels pushy, hang up and use one of the free resources above.

A note from the counter

The cheapest premium doesn’t always mean the lowest yearly cost. The plan that fits best is the one that covers your actual medicines, at a pharmacy you trust, at a total cost you can live with. We covered the basics in an earlier post, Navigating Medicare Open Enrollment: A Brief Pharmacist’s Guide, and the advice still holds: confirm your pharmacy is in network before you commit to a plan for the whole year.

We can’t pick a plan for you, but we can help you get ready. We’re happy to help you put together a list of your current prescriptions to take to the Plan Finder or a Georgia SHIP counselor. Stop by Walker Pharmacy & Boutique on Merchants Way or Walker Pharmacy & Gifts on Northside Drive West in Statesboro, Brooklet Drug, Walker Pharmacy Lyons, or Walker Pharmacy Vidalia. Local, family-owned care is what we’ve built Walker Pharmacy around since 1984.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage?

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027, and the plan must receive your enrollment request by December 7.

What is the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?

The 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026, according to CMS’s CY 2027 Rate Announcement and the Medicare & You 2027 handbook. Once you reach it, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of 2027.

Do I have to re-enroll in my Medicare plan every year?

No. CMS says people who want to keep their current coverage generally don’t need to re-enroll. Your plan’s 2027 changes still apply, though, so review your Annual Notice of Change before December 7.

How do I know if Walker Pharmacy is in my 2027 Medicare plan’s network?

Pharmacy networks vary by plan and can change each year. Add Walker Pharmacy as your pharmacy in the Medicare Plan Finder, check the plan’s pharmacy directory, or call the plan. You can also call or visit any of our locations, and we’ll help you find the answer.

Which drugs have new Medicare-negotiated prices starting January 1, 2027?

CMS lists 15 Part D drugs: Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy; Trelegy Ellipta; Xtandi; Pomalyst; Ofev; Ibrance; Linzess; Calquence; Austedo and Austedo XR; Breo Ellipta; Xifaxan; Vraylar; Tradjenta; Janumet and Janumet XR; and Otezla and Otezla XR. Your copay still depends on your plan, so contact your plan about your costs.

Where can I get free help comparing Medicare plans in Georgia?

Call Georgia SHIP, also known as GeorgiaCares, at 1-866-552-4464 (option 4), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Counseling is free and unbiased, and counselors don’t sell insurance. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE any time or use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.

Ready for a pharmacy that feels like home?

Whatever plan you land on for 2027, you deserve a pharmacy team that knows your name and looks at your whole medication list. If you’re ready to make the switch, transfer your prescriptions to Walker Pharmacy. Transferring is simple, and our team is happy to help. You can also request refills online, ask about free prescription delivery and med sync, or read more in Health News.

Jordan Walker, PharmD | Owner, Walker Pharmacy

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or insurance advice. Walker Pharmacy does not sell, recommend, or enroll anyone in Medicare plans, and pharmacy network participation varies by plan and year; confirm network and cost details directly with your plan or Medicare. Always consult your physician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. Medicare figures reflect CMS and Medicare.gov materials published for 2027 and reviewed as of October 2026.

Sources

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Announcement of Calendar Year 2027 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (April 6, 2026), Table V-2: 2027 standard deductible $700 and out-of-pocket threshold $2,400. CMS CY 2027 Rate Announcement.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare & You 2027 handbook (2027 Part D costs, preferred pharmacies, Medicare Prescription Payment Plan renewal, Georgia SHIP contact). Medicare & You 2027 (reviewed October 2026).
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027 (press release, September 28, 2026). CMS 2027 Open Enrollment press release.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Open Enrollment in Georgia, 2027 (state fact sheet, September 28, 2026). CMS 2027 state-by-state fact sheets.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Negotiated Prices for Initial Price Applicability Year 2027 (fact sheet, November 2025). CMS negotiated prices fact sheet and CMS Selected Drugs and Negotiated Prices.
• Medicare.gov. Your Yearly Medicare Review (CMS Product No. 11220, September 2026) and Open Enrollment. Your Yearly Medicare Review and Medicare.gov Open Enrollment (reviewed October 2026).
• Medicare.gov. Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Medicare.gov ANOC (reviewed October 2026).
• Medicare.gov. Help with drug costs: Extra Help, including what you’ll pay in 2027 and 2026 income and resource limits. Medicare.gov Extra Help (reviewed October 2026).
• Medicare.gov. What’s the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan? and Using this payment option. Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (reviewed October 2026).
• Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services. Georgia SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) Medicare assistance. Georgia SHIP (reviewed October 2026).