Key takeaways
- The 2027 handbook states plainly that 2027 premium amounts, drug costs, and income limits weren't available at the time of printing.
- Settled for 2027: the Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,400 and the maximum Part D deductible of $700.
- Not 2027 figures: the Part B deductible ($283), the IRMAA thresholds ($109,000 single / $218,000 joint), and the Extra Help limits printed in the same book — those are 2026.
- Part B and IRMAA figures for a coming year are typically announced by CMS in the autumn, often after Annual Enrollment has already begun.
- This matters most for budgeting and for anyone near an IRMAA bracket, where a threshold shift changes the answer.
- It does not need to delay your plan comparison — the things that decide a plan choice are already published.
There’s an odd thing about Medicare’s autumn: the official handbook for next year arrives before some of next year’s actual numbers do.
That isn’t a criticism — the book has to go to print on a schedule, and several figures are set later in the year. But it creates a trap that’s easy to fall into while you’re comparing plans, and easy to avoid once you know it’s there.
The handbook admits it
Buried in the 2027 Medicare & You handbook is a sentence worth quoting, because it explains everything else:
The 2027 premium amounts, drug costs, and income limits weren’t available at the time of printing. Visit Medicare.gov to get the most up-to-date information available.
So the book you’re holding — or downloading from us — is genuinely the 2027 edition, and simultaneously contains a number of 2026 figures used as reference points. Both things are true.
Which is which
| Figure | Value in circulation | Which year it actually is |
|---|---|---|
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,400 | 2027 — settled |
| Maximum Part D deductible | $700 | 2027 — settled |
| Negotiated prices for 15 more drugs | Effective January 1, 2027 | 2027 — settled |
| Part B deductible | $283 | 2026 |
| IRMAA income thresholds | $109,000 single / $218,000 joint | 2026, based on 2024 income |
| Extra Help income limits | $23,940 single / $32,460 married | 2026 |
The pattern is clear once you see it: the drug-coverage figures are set; the premium and income-threshold figures generally aren’t yet.
Where this actually bites
If you’re budgeting for next year
Anyone planning next year’s fixed costs from the Part B deductible or premium in that book is budgeting from this year’s number. Leave yourself room, or wait for the official announcement before finalising.
If you’re anywhere near an IRMAA bracket
This is the one that can genuinely change a decision. IRMAA surcharges are based on income from two years earlier, and the thresholds are adjusted annually. Someone sitting just under a bracket using the 2026 number may be over it once the 2027 figure lands — or the reverse.
If you’re close to a threshold and considering something discretionary before year end — a Roth conversion, a property sale, a large withdrawal — that’s a conversation to have with your tax professional using the actual figures, not the placeholder ones.
If you’re checking Extra Help eligibility
The limits printed in the handbook are the 2026 ones, and they’re higher in several situations anyway — if you still work, or have dependents living with you. The right move is to apply and let Social Security decide rather than ruling yourself out against a number that will move. Our guide to Extra Help covers what actually counts.
What this does not mean
It would be a mistake to take all this as a reason to wait. The information that decides a plan choice is already available:
- Next year’s plan premiums, copays, and deductibles — published from October 1
- Next year’s drug formularies and tiers
- Next year’s provider and pharmacy networks
- Your plan’s changes, in the Annual Notice of Change that arrived by September 30
None of that is waiting on a federal announcement. So the comparison work described in our September prep checklist can and should go ahead on schedule — especially since some 2027 Medicare Advantage plans can now carry an enrollment capacity limit.
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2027 Part B premium and deductible announced? CMS typically announces the coming year’s Part B figures in the autumn — often after Annual Enrollment has already opened. Medicare.gov carries the current numbers as soon as they’re set.
Is the $2,400 Part D cap definitely a 2027 number? Yes. The handbook states it as the 2027 figure, along with the $700 maximum deductible.
Why does the handbook include 2026 numbers at all? Because a reference point is more useful than a blank. The book is printed before every figure is finalised, and it flags the limitation directly.
Should I wait for the final numbers before choosing a plan? No. Plan-specific costs, formularies, and networks are published from October 1, and those are what determine which plan fits.
I’m close to an IRMAA bracket. What should I do? Talk to your tax professional, and don’t finalise a year-end income decision against the prior year’s thresholds.
Where do I check the current figures? Medicare.gov is the authority, and it’s updated as each number is released.
The short version
Read the year label. The drug figures for 2027 are real; several of the premium and income figures printed beside them are last year’s, standing in until the official ones arrive.
That’s not a reason to delay your plan review — it’s a reason to be careful about which numbers you write in your budget.
If you’d like help sorting the settled figures from the placeholders for your own situation, or a review of your coverage before December 7, reach out for a free, no-obligation review or call 904-654-5450. Kate Spilsbury (RSSA®, CMIP®) is an independent, licensed agent based in Jacksonville, serving Northeast Florida and Camden County, GA. We’ll keep updating our figures here as the official 2027 amounts are released.
This article is educational and not medical, tax, or legal advice. Figures reflect what has been published as of writing and change as CMS releases final amounts — always confirm current figures with Medicare.gov or Social Security before acting. Mere Benefits is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We don’t offer every plan available in your area.
Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — Medicare & You 2027, including its note that 2027 premium amounts, drug costs, and income limits weren't available at printing. Download the handbook.
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs
- Social Security Administration — Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)
- Social Security Administration — Extra Help with Medicare drug costs
Founder & Licensed Insurance Agent at Mere Benefits — RSSA®, CMIP®. Independent, no-pressure guidance across Northeast Florida & Camden County, GA. This article is educational and not medical, tax, or legal advice.
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