The short answer: during Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, compare 2027 drug plans on Medicare.gov using your actual medication list and the pharmacy you use. For each plan, confirm every one of your drugs is covered and whether your pharmacy is preferred, standard, or out of network, then enroll by December 7 so the coverage starts January 1, 2027. If you want a second set of eyes, call Palos Pharmacy at (708) 883-6601 and a pharmacist can help you check how a plan treats your prescriptions.
When is Medicare open enrollment for 2027?
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027. According to Medicare.gov, the plan has to receive your enrollment request by December 7 for it to start on January 1. During this window you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare drug plan, move between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan, or switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.
Before the window opens, your current plan sends an Annual Notice of Change. Medicare says plans send it in September, and it lists the changes to your coverage and costs that start in January. If yours has not arrived, call the number on your member card and ask for it. Reading it is the fastest way to spot a problem, like one of your medications moving to a more expensive tier or coming off the drug list entirely.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?
For 2027, Medicare caps what you pay out of pocket for covered Part D drugs at $2,400 for the year, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once you reach that amount, Medicare.gov says you will not pay anything out of pocket for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.
Medicare also says no drug plan can have a deductible higher than $700 in 2027, and some plans have no deductible at all. Premiums, copays, and which tier each drug lands on still vary from plan to plan, so think of the $2,400 as a ceiling, not a price tag. And the cap counts what you spend on covered drugs, so a medication that is not on a plan's drug list does not count toward it. That is one more reason to check your whole list against every plan you consider.
How do I check if my pharmacy is in network?
The most reliable way is Medicare's own Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/plan-compare: enter your ZIP code, add your drugs, and pick the pharmacy you use, and each plan will show whether that pharmacy is in its network and what your drugs would cost there. You can also call a plan directly using the number on its website or member materials.
Or just ask us. Call (708) 883-6601, tell us which plan you are looking at, and a pharmacist can help you check how it handles your prescriptions at Palos Pharmacy. You will notice we do not post a list of plans on this page. That is on purpose. Networks can change from one year to the next, and what was true for 2026 may not hold for 2027, so always check the plan year you are signing up for.
Preferred vs standard network pharmacy: what's the difference?
A preferred pharmacy has agreed to charge less within a specific plan, so your copay or coinsurance may be lower there, while a standard network pharmacy is still covered, often at a somewhat higher copay. Medicare.gov explains that out-of-network pharmacies usually cost more, and if you use one, you will probably have to pay full cost for your drugs.
| Pharmacy status | What it means | What you usually pay |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred network | In the plan's network and has agreed to charge less | Often the lowest copay or coinsurance in that plan |
| Standard network | In the plan's network without the extra discount | Covered, often at a somewhat higher copay than preferred |
| Out of network | Not part of the plan's network | Usually more, and you will probably pay full cost |
One thing surprises a lot of people: preferred status is set plan by plan. The same pharmacy can be preferred in one plan, standard in another, and out of network in a third. The gap between preferred and standard copays can be small or large depending on the plan and the drug, so look at the actual dollar amounts Plan Finder shows for your list. Sometimes the difference is a few dollars a month and you would rather keep the pharmacist who knows you. Sometimes it is bigger. Either way, you are making that call with real numbers in front of you.
What should I check during open enrollment? A step-by-step checklist
Set aside an hour, gather your pill bottles and your member card, and work through these steps in order.
- Read your Annual Notice of Change. Look for any of your drugs that changed tiers, picked up new rules like prior authorization, or were dropped.
- Write down every medication. Name, strength, and how often you take it. If you fill your prescriptions with us, call and a pharmacist can go over the list of what we fill for you so nothing gets missed.
- Enter your list in Plan Finder. Go to Medicare.gov/plan-compare, enter your ZIP code, add each drug, and choose the pharmacy you want to use.
- Check your pharmacy's status in each plan. Is it preferred, standard, or out of network? Confirm it for the 2027 plan year specifically.
- Compare the total yearly cost, not just the premium. A low premium with high copays on your drugs can cost more over the year than the other way around.
- Get free, unbiased help if you are unsure. Illinois SHIP counselors (1-800-252-8966) can walk through your options with you at no cost.
- Enroll by December 7, then bring us your new card. Once your 2027 member card arrives, share it with the pharmacy before your first refill of the year.
What happens to my prescriptions if my plan changes?
Your prescriptions stay the same, but starting January 1 the new plan's drug list, prices, and rules apply, so a drug you take could cost more or need prior authorization. Medicare says that when your new coverage begins, you may get a transition fill: a one-time, 30-day supply of a drug you have been taking that the new plan does not cover or that requires prior authorization or step therapy.
Think of those 30 days as breathing room, not a fix. Use the time to talk with your doctor about a covered alternative, or to ask the plan for an exception. Medicare explains that you or your prescriber can request an exception, and your doctor may need to show that the drug is medically necessary for you, or that a different drug would be less effective or cause problems.
On the pharmacy side, a few simple habits help. Share your new card with us in early January, before your next refill, so the first fill of the year runs under the right plan. If you use medication synchronization, we already review your list before each sync date, so a January coverage change gets caught along with everything else. And if a new plan leads you to move your prescriptions, a prescription transfer to Palos Pharmacy takes one phone call.
What is the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan?
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is a free, voluntary option that lets you pay your out-of-pocket drug costs in monthly amounts spread across the calendar year, instead of all at once at the pharmacy counter. Medicare says every Medicare drug plan and Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage offers it.
Here is how it works, according to Medicare. You sign up by contacting your plan. When you pick up a covered prescription, you do not pay the pharmacy; your plan sends you a monthly bill instead. Medicare is clear that this option does not save you money or lower your drug costs. It only spreads them out, and Medicare says you are most likely to benefit if you have high drug costs earlier in the calendar year.
The open enrollment detail people miss: Medicare says your plan automatically renews your participation every year unless you change plans or opt out. If you switch to a new plan for 2027, your participation ends with the old plan, and you need to contact the new plan to sign up again. If you count on those monthly payments, put that call on your January to-do list.
Who can help me compare Medicare plans for free?
In Illinois, the Senior Health Insurance Program, or SHIP, offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling at 1-800-252-8966. It is run by the Illinois Department on Aging, its counselors do not sell insurance, and they help Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers understand their options. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), which Medicare says is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
We want to be upfront about our role. Palos Pharmacy is not a licensed insurance agent, so we do not recommend Medicare plans. What we can do is help you understand how a plan you are considering treats the prescriptions you already fill with us, and answer your medication questions along the way. For the plan decision itself, SHIP and Medicare are the right calls.
How can I help a parent review their drug plan?
Start with your parent's current medication list and their Annual Notice of Change, then sit down together with Plan Finder or set up a call with a SHIP counselor. Plenty of adult children in Orland Park, Oak Lawn, Palos Park, and across the southwest suburbs handle this for a mom or dad, and it goes much faster with everything in one place.
If your parent's prescriptions are scattered across several pharmacies, open enrollment is a natural time to bring them together. Our caregiver guide to managing medications for aging parents walks through how, and free prescription delivery anywhere in Illinois means the pharmacy you choose does not have to be the one closest to their house. While you are planning for next year, fall is also a good time to ask about flu shots and other vaccines.
The bottom line
Mark December 7 on the calendar and start early. Read your Annual Notice of Change, put your real medication list into Plan Finder, and check your pharmacy's status in every plan you consider. If a question comes up about your prescriptions, call us at (708) 883-6601. If the question is which plan to pick, call SHIP. Either way, you walk into January knowing what your medications will cost and where you will fill them.