Colorado Part D Premiums Rise for 2027: Plan Your Move
Every stand-alone Part D plan offered in Colorado in both years raised its premium for 2027, two plans are gone, and the deductible limit rose to $700. Here is how to compare by your own drugs and pharmacy before December 7.
Key takeaways
- Colorado has 8 stand-alone Part D plans for 2027, down from 10 in 2026. SilverScript Choice and HealthSpring Extra Rx are not in the 2027 CMS file.
- All 8 of the 8 plans offered in both years raised their monthly premium. The average increase is $44.32 a month.
- The standard deductible rises from $615 to $700, and the yearly cap on covered drug costs rises from $2,100 to $2,400.
- In Adams County, 6 of the 31 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage have a $0 Part D deductible for 2027.
- Compare with your exact prescriptions and preferred pharmacy during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.
If you have a stand-alone Part D plan in Colorado, expect to pay more for it in 2027. The CMS plan files show every plan offered in both years raised its premium, 2 plans left the state, and the deductible limit went from $615 to $700. The good news: the yearly cap on what you pay for covered drugs is still in place, at $2,400 for 2027.
Part D, or prescription drug coverage, is one of the most important parts of your Medicare plan. Plans change their premiums, drug lists, tiers and pharmacy networks every year, so the plan that fit you in 2026 may not fit you in 2027. That is why Lisa Asmussen asks every client to review drug coverage annually.
Here is what changed in Colorado, how to compare plans based on your specific medications and preferred pharmacy, and what to do during the Annual Enrollment Period.
What changed for Colorado Part D plans in 2027?
Fewer plans, higher premiums and a higher deductible. Colorado goes from 10 stand-alone prescription drug plans in 2026 to 8 in 2027. In 2026, 2 plans had a $0 monthly premium; in 2027, none do.
- stand-alone Part D plans in Colorado, 2026 to 2027
- 10 to 8
- returning plans that raised their premium
- 8 of 8
- standard Part D deductible
- $615 to $700
- yearly cap on covered drug costs
- $2,100 to $2,400
| Plan | 2026 premium | 2027 premium | Change | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellcare Classic | $2.20 | $7.30 | +$5.10 | $615 to $700 |
| Wellcare Value Script | $0.00 | $5.30 | +$5.30 | $615 to $700 |
| HealthSpring Assurance Rx | $61.70 | $126.50 | +$64.80 | $615 to $700 |
| Humana Basic Rx Plan | $0.00 | $11.30 | +$11.30 | $615 to $700 |
| Humana Premier Rx Plan | $137.10 | $156.40 | +$19.30 | $0 to $350 |
| Humana Value Rx Plan | $48.50 | $102.30 | +$53.80 | $601 to $687 |
| AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC | $125.00 | $211.70 | +$86.70 | $615 to $700 |
| AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC | $151.90 | $260.20 | +$108.30 | $130 to $300 |
How much will a Colorado drug plan cost in 2027?
Monthly premiums for the 8 Colorado plans range from $5.30 to $260.20 in 2027. 3 plans are under $15 a month. But the premium is only one part of the yearly cost. A low-premium plan with a $700 deductible can cost more over a year than a higher-premium plan that covers your drugs on a lower tier.
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, CY2027, Colorado (PDP region 27).
5 of the 8 plans charge the full $700 deductible. The plans with the lowest deductibles, AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC ($300 deductible, $260.20 a month) and Humana Premier Rx Plan ($350 deductible, $156.40 a month), carry two of the highest premiums. People with higher incomes pay an IRMAA amount on top of any plan premium.
Worked example: comparing plans by total yearly cost
Comparing by total yearly cost means adding twelve months of premium to what you would pay at the pharmacy. Here are two hypothetical people, not clients, priced on 3 real Colorado plans from the 2027 CMS file: the lowest premium, a mid deductible and the lowest deductible. To keep the arithmetic visible, each plan is assumed to charge its own deductible and then the standard 25% coinsurance up to the $2,400 cap; real plans use tier copays, so your own drugs will price differently.
| Plan (monthly premium, deductible) | A few generics, $40 a month full price | One brand drug, $500 a month full price |
|---|---|---|
| Wellcare Value Script ($5.30, $700) | $544 | $2,089 |
| Humana Premier Rx Plan ($156.40, $350) | $2,259 | $3,639 |
| AARP Medicare Rx Preferred from UHC ($260.20, $300) | $3,467 | $4,847 |
For the person on generics, Wellcare Value Script comes out lowest at about $544 for the year: with only $480 of drugs, they never get past most deductibles, so the premium decides it. For the brand-drug user, Wellcare Value Script is lowest at about $2,089. A lower deductible saves at most a few hundred dollars at the pharmacy, which a much higher premium can more than cancel out. That is why the plan with the smallest deductible is not automatically the cheaper choice.
Run your own list through Medicare Plan Finder or our Part D drug cost calculator (choose 2027), or bring it to us: the real answer depends on which tier each of your drugs lands on and whether your pharmacy is preferred.
What about drug coverage in a Medicare Advantage plan?
Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D, and their drug deductibles vary widely. In Adams County, 31 of the 36 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 include drug coverage. 6 of them have a $0 Part D deductible, and the highest is $700.
If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, your drug changes are in the same Annual Notice of Change as your medical changes. Our post on the 2027 open enrollment checklist for Adams County covers the medical side.
How do I compare plans for my own medications?
Compare the total yearly cost of your drugs at your pharmacy, not the premium. A comparison only works if it uses your real list.
- Write down every prescription with the name, dose and how often you take it. Include anything you fill by mail.
- Name your preferred pharmacy. Preferred pharmacies in a plan's network can mean lower copays, and the same plan can cost different amounts at two pharmacies in Brighton.
- Check each drug on the 2027 formulary. Note the tier and any prior authorization, step therapy or quantity limit.
- Add up the year: 12 months of premiums, plus the deductible, plus your copays, until you hit the cap.
- Compare at least three plans, including the one you have now.
When can I change my Part D plan?
During the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, 2026. A new plan starts January 1, 2027, and joining a new drug plan ends your old one automatically.
| Window | Dates | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Period | Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026 | Join, switch or drop a Part D plan for January 1 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2027 | If in Medicare Advantage, one switch, including to Original Medicare plus Part D |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | After a move, loss of other drug coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help |
Going without drug coverage has a cost. The late enrollment penalty adds 1% of the national base premium ($38.99 in 2026) for every full month without creditable coverage, for as long as you have Part D.
The bottom line
Part D costs more in Colorado for 2027: 8 of 8 returning stand-alone plans raised their premiums, 2 plans left, and the deductible limit rose to $700. The $2,400 cap still limits the worst case. Review your coverage every year, compare plans by your own medications and preferred pharmacy, and decide before December 7.
Frequently asked questions
How many Part D plans are available in Colorado for 2027?
8 stand-alone Part D plans, down from 10 in 2026, according to the CMS 2027 landscape file. Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are counted separately by county.
What is the Part D deductible in 2027?
The standard Part D deductible limit is $700 for 2027, up from $615. Some plans charge less, and some charge no deductible on certain tiers.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?
$2,400 for covered Part D drugs in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. After that you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
Will my Part D plan renew automatically?
If your plan is still offered in 2027, yes, with its 2027 premium, deductible and drug list. If your plan is leaving, you need to choose a new one by December 7, 2026.
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 Medicare Part D Bid Information Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Please note: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 10 organizations which offer 106 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.Headwaters Health and Wealth 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.
