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    Medicare Part D Picker

    Pick the right drug plan. Save thousands. Free official tool.

    Why this matters

    Part D plans change every year. The plan that was best last year may have raised premiums, dropped your medication, or added restrictions. Most people who never re-shop are overpaying by $500-$2,000 a year. Open Enrollment is Oct 15 - Dec 7 every year.

    Use the official Medicare Plan Finder (free)

    1. Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare.
    2. Click "Find Drug & Health Plans" or "Compare 2026 plans".
    3. Type your zip code.
    4. Choose "Drug plan (Part D)".
    5. Enter EVERY medication you take — exact names, doses, how often.
    6. Pick your preferred pharmacy. (Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, etc. — costs vary by plan.)
    7. The site shows EVERY available plan with: annual cost, monthly premium, what each drug costs.
    8. Sort by "Lowest drug + premium cost".
    9. Pick the cheapest — that's your plan.

    Important: This requires creating a free Medicare.gov account. Use Login.gov to sign up.

    What "annual cost" includes

    • Monthly premium x 12.
    • Annual deductible (what you pay before the plan kicks in).
    • Each prescription's copay or coinsurance for the whole year.
    • Any "donut hole" coverage gap costs.

    A plan with a $25/month premium might be more expensive overall than a $75/month plan if your meds aren\'t in its formulary. The Plan Finder does this math for you.

    Things to check on each plan

    • Are ALL my drugs on the formulary? If even one isn\'t, that drug costs full price.
    • Tier: Most generics are Tier 1 ($0-3). Brand-name drugs Tier 2-3 ($30-80). Specialty drugs Tier 4-5 (much more).
    • Pharmacy network: "Preferred" pharmacy = lowest copay. "Standard" = higher. Some plans only cover at certain chains.
    • Prior authorization: Some drugs need extra paperwork to get covered. Look for the "PA" mark.
    • Star rating: 1 to 5 stars. 4-5 means good customer service and accuracy.

    If your prescription costs are high

    • Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) — if you have less than $23,895 income, you qualify for big premium and copay reductions. Apply at SSA.gov.
    • State pharmaceutical assistance — many states have programs. Check at medicarerights.org or your state\'s SHIP office.
    • Manufacturer assistance — for expensive brand drugs, search the drug name + "patient assistance program".
    • The new $2,000 cap (2025+): Total out-of-pocket on Part D drugs is capped at $2,000/year. Big help for people on expensive medications.

    Free help

    SHIP — your State Health Insurance Assistance Program — offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. They\'ll sit with you and run the Plan Finder. Find yours at shiphelp.org or call 1-877-839-2675.