You take the same medication, use the same pharmacy and refill it on the same schedule. Then January comes, and the price at the pharmacy counter is higher than you expected. What changed? Your plan may have moved the medication to a different pricing tier, or your pharmacy may no longer offer the plan’s lowest copays. Medicare
A Medicare prescription review starts with what you actually take and where you fill it. Whether you have a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, here’s what to check for 2027.
1. Pull out your prescription bottles
Write down each medication’s exact name, strength and the quantity you get per refill. Include prescriptions you fill only a few times a year. If you take a brand-name medication, use that name when you check coverage.
Look up each prescription on the plan’s 2027 drug list, also called a formulary. Check its pricing tier and any coverage rules. A plan may require prior authorization, limit how much it covers at one time or ask you to try another medication first. If you find a new restriction, ask your prescriber and the plan how it could affect your next refill. Medicare
2. Compare prices at two pharmacies
Check your regular pharmacy and one other location you’d be comfortable using. If the plan has preferred in-network pharmacies, you could pay less at one of those locations than at another pharmacy in the same network. Compare the exact locations using the same refill quantity. If you usually fill a 90-day prescription, compare the price for that supply where available. Medicare
3. Compare what you could spend over the full year
Look at the monthly premium, any drug deductible and your estimated prescription costs. A lower monthly premium can lose its appeal if you pay more every time you fill a prescription. If you’re comparing Medicare Advantage plans, also check whether your doctors and hospitals are in network and what you could pay for the medical care you expect to use. Medicare
4. Check what’s changing in January
Find the Annual Notice of Change your current plan sent in the fall. It outlines changes to costs and coverage that take effect in January. Use it alongside your medication list, then compare your current plan with other options through Medicare Plan Finder. Medicare Open Enrollment runs through December 7, 2026, and changes made during this period generally take effect January 1, 2027. Medicare
Bring your medication list to a Medicare review
Contact our office to schedule a Medicare coverage review. Have your medication list, preferred pharmacy and current plan name handy. We can walk through your coverage and estimated costs together so you can decide whether your current plan still fits.
