Part D Premiums Jumping in 2027? Planning in New Jersey
New Jersey has 11 stand-alone Part D plans for 2027, with premiums from $5.30 to $217.90 a month. The drug cost cap rises to $2,400. Here is how to plan.
Key takeaways
- New Jersey has 11 stand-alone Part D drug plans for 2027, down from 12. The same plans are offered in every New Jersey county.
- Monthly premiums run from $5.30 to $217.90. 7 of the 11 plans charge the full $700 drug deductible.
- The yearly cap on what you pay for covered Part D drugs rises from $2,100 in 2026 to $2,400 in 2027.
- With full Extra Help, 2 New Jersey plans have no premium in 2027, because their basic premium sits at or below the state benchmark of $36.28.
- New Jersey residents may also qualify for PAAD or Senior Gold, state programs that work alongside Part D.
If you take prescriptions, 2027 is not a year to let your drug plan renew without a look. Most New Jersey stand-alone Part D plans raised their premium, the standard deductible went up again, and the yearly cap on drug costs rises to $2,400.
The good news is that the cap still protects you from very large bills, and New Jersey has two state programs, PAAD and Senior Gold, that can bring costs down a long way if your income qualifies.
Below are the 2027 New Jersey drug plan figures from the CMS plan file, what changed, and a simple plan for choosing coverage during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.
How many Part D plans are in New Jersey for 2027?
11 stand-alone prescription drug plans, down from 12 in 2026. New Jersey is its own Part D region (region 04), so a plan offered in Camden County is offered in Union County and everywhere else in the state at the same premium. 5 of the 11 are enhanced plans, which add coverage beyond the standard benefit, usually for a higher premium.
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, CY2027, New Jersey (PDP region 04), via the Ambrose Brain, retrieved October 20, 2026.
What changes for Part D costs in 2027?
Three numbers change for everyone with Part D. The plan-specific numbers, your premium and your drug tiers, come on top of these.
| Figure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Highest drug deductible a plan can charge | $615 | $700 |
| Average deductible, New Jersey stand-alone plans | $488 | $594 |
| Average drug deductible, Camden County Medicare Advantage plans (all) | $432 | $609 |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2027.
Which New Jersey drug plans are $0 with Extra Help?
Wellcare Classic (PDP) and Humana Basic Rx Plan (PDP). Extra Help is the federal program that lowers Part D costs for people with limited income and savings. For 2027 the New Jersey premium subsidy amount is $36.28 a month, so a basic plan priced at or below that has no premium for someone with full Extra Help.
| Plan | Monthly premium | Deductible |
|---|---|---|
| Wellcare Classic (PDP) | $24.30 | $700 |
| Humana Basic Rx Plan (PDP) | $28.30 | $700 |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2027.
Those same benchmark plans matter for PAAD members too: PAAD pays the premium for certain basic plans at or below the benchmark. See our PAAD and Senior Gold post.
What if I have no drug coverage at all?
Think carefully before going without. If you go more than 63 days in a row without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after your first chance to join, Medicare adds a late enrollment penalty to your premium for as long as you have Part D. It is 1% of the national base premium ($38.99 in 2026) for each full month without coverage. Two years without coverage adds about $9.40 a month at 2026 rates.
Check your numbers with our Part D penalty calculator.
How do I pick a 2027 drug plan?
- List every drug and dose, including anything you started this year.
- Check each plan's 2027 drug list for the tier, prior authorization and quantity limits.
- Pick your pharmacy and check whether it is preferred in each plan.
- Price the whole year: 12 months of premium plus the deductible plus your copays, up to the $2,400 cap.
- Check PAAD, Senior Gold and Extra Help before you decide. They can change the answer.
The bottom line
New Jersey has 11 stand-alone Part D plans for 2027, from $5.30 to $217.90 a month, most with higher premiums than this year. The drug cap rises to $2,400 and the top deductible to $700. Price your own drug list across the plans, and check PAAD, Senior Gold and Extra Help before you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How many Part D plans are available in New Jersey for 2027?
11 stand-alone Part D plans, down from 12 in 2026, according to the CMS 2027 landscape file. Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are counted separately.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket maximum in 2027?
$2,400 for covered drugs, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.
What is the highest Part D deductible in 2027?
$700, up from $615 in 2026. 7 of New Jersey's 11 stand-alone plans charge the full $700.
Which Part D plans have no premium with Extra Help in New Jersey?
For 2027, Wellcare Classic (PDP) and Humana Basic Rx Plan (PDP), the two basic plans priced at or below the New Jersey benchmark of $36.28 a month.
Sources
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2027 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2026 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- CMS fact sheet: 2026 Part D bid information and base beneficiary premium Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Medicare.gov: avoid late enrollment penalties Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Please note: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.Garden State Medicare Solutions is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. This article is general information, not medical, tax or legal advice.
