Guide
Comparing 2026 Part D drug plans against a real medicine list
Written by a Medicare agent with 32 years in the field.
Drug plans change every year: premiums, deductibles, formulary tiers, and pharmacy networks. A plan that was the cheapest last year often is not this year for the same list of medicines.
The 2026 numbers that are fixed for the year
- Maximum annual deductible: $615. No Medicare drug plan may charge more than this in 2026, and many plans charge less or nothing.
- Out-of-pocket cap: $2,100. Once a client's covered out-of-pocket drug spending reaches it, covered drugs cost nothing for the rest of the year.
- Premiums vary by plan. Every plan sets its own monthly premium; compare the total yearly cost for the specific list rather than the premium alone.
Source: official Medicare Part D program figures for 2026. PDP Automation prices each drug list against the plan-specific premium and deductible published in the monthly Medicare data, not against averages.
1. Every medicine on the formulary
A plan that does not cover one regular medicine can cost more than a plan with a higher premium. Check coverage first, then price, and note restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits.
2. Total yearly cost, not the premium
Compare the estimated premium plus drug costs across the year. Two plans with the same premium can differ by hundreds of dollars once tiers and deductibles are applied to a specific list.
3. The pharmacy actually used
Preferred retail, standard retail, and mail order can produce three different totals for the same plan. Price at least two options before recommending one.
4. Star ratings and plan stability
Published star ratings describe service quality, not the cost of a drug list. Use them as a tie-breaker between two plans that cost about the same.
5. The enrollment window
Annual Enrollment runs each fall for coverage starting January 1. Outside it, a Special Enrollment Period is usually required, such as a move or a loss of other drug coverage.
How agents do this at volume
- Plan, formulary, and pharmacy files are loaded from the official monthly Medicare data for every county.
- One drug list is scored against every stand-alone drug plan sold where the client lives.
- The two least expensive matches come back with exact premiums and pharmacy-by-pharmacy differences.
- Each saved result keeps the plan facts used at the time, so questions months later have an answer.
Important notice
PDP Automation is not a government website and is not Medicare.gov. Results show the two least expensive matches, not every plan, and costs are estimates for comparison. For every available plan, visit Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your local SHIIP or SHIP office.
Price a drug list against every local plan — 10 free comparisons.
Start freeMore reading: how to use the Medicare.gov plan finder and automating AEP drug plan reviews.