Breaking Down Why Medicare Part D Premiums Are Likely To Go Up in 2026

[GailL1]

Worth the read:

KFF.org Health News - 08/15/2025 - Breaking Down Why Medicare Part D Premiums Are Likely To Go Up 

excerpts from the linked article ~

Medicare enrollees who buy the optional Part D drug benefit may see substantial premium price hikes — potentially up to $50 a month — when they shop for next year’s coverage.

Increases are expected to mainly affect stand-alone Part D plans, not the drug coverage offered as part of Medicare Advantage, the private sector alternative to original Medicare.

Policy experts say premiums are likely to go up for several reasons, including increased use of some higher-cost prescription drugs; a law that capped out-of-pocket spending for enrollees; and changes in a program aimed at stabilizing price increases that the Trump administration has continued but made less generous.

One thing is surer than ever, say many policy experts: Beneficiaries should not simply roll over their existing stand-alone Medicare drug plans.

==============

Lots more info in the KFF.org link ~

[Winter2025VA]

Good morning Gail @GailL1 !!! NO pressure to reply as this is probably off topic as I DO NOT have the time read the article (topic of your thread).

➡️[*** MY QUESTION.

I have always had the Standalone Part D and NO plans to change.

Are you saying there are OTHER Part D setups?

Thanks,

Nicole!

[GailL1]

@Winter2025VA 

Yes for Part D - they can be stand-alone plans if you have Traditional Medicare and if you have a Medicare Avantage plan, the Part D prescription benefits are usually built into the Medicare Advantage plan - MAPD

There are a few MA plans that are offered without the built in Prescription Drug Coverage and these are designed for people who have some other way of getting their Prescription Drug Coverage - like Veterans who use the VA Health System to get their Meds.  

[Winter2025VA]

Thanks Gail @GailL1 . Nicole!

➡️[*** GAIL 

---

@GailL1 wrote:

@Winter2025VA 

Yes for Part D - they can be stand-alone plans if you have Traditional Medicare and if you have a Medicare Avantage plan, the Part D prescription benefits are usually built into the Medicare Advantage plan - MAPD

There are a few MA plans that are offered without the built in Prescription Drug Coverage and these are designed for people who have some other way of getting their Prescription Drug Coverage - like Veterans who use the VA Health System to get their Meds.  

---