Plans · Part D
Medicare Part D drug plans in Minnesota
Standalone prescription coverage chosen around your medications and your pharmacy — whether you pair it with Original Medicare, a Minnesota supplement or a Cost plan.
No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
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Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs through private plans approved by Medicare. You can get it as a standalone plan alongside Original Medicare (and usually a Minnesota supplement), built into most Medicare Advantage plans, or built into or paired with a Cost plan.
What changed for 2026
- $2,100 out-of-pocket cap. Once your spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100 in 2026, you pay $0 for covered medications the rest of the year.
- Deductible up to $615. That is the most a plan can charge as its 2026 deductible; many plans set a lower one or none at all.
- Premiums vary by plan. The 2026 national base beneficiary premium — the figure used to calculate penalties — is $38.99, but what you actually pay depends on the plan you choose.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread out-of-pocket drug costs across the year in monthly instalments instead of paying at the counter. It changes when you pay, not how much.
Choosing a plan is about your drug list
Every Part D plan has a formulary — its list of covered drugs and the tier (and cost) for each — and a pharmacy network with preferred pharmacies that cost less. Two plans with similar premiums can cost very different amounts once your specific prescriptions are run through them, and a plan that is cheap at a Twin Cities chain may be expensive at an independent pharmacy in Grand Marais. We compare plans using your actual medication list and your pharmacy, so the lowest total cost wins, not just the lowest premium.
Watch the late-enrollment penalty. If you go 63 or more days without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after you are first eligible, a permanent penalty can be added to your premium for as long as you have Part D. Employer coverage, the VA pharmacy and TRICARE For Life are all creditable; keep proof. See our 2026 costs page to estimate a penalty.
Part D and Minnesota’s plan types
- With a Basic or Extended Basic supplement: always add a standalone Part D plan; the supplement has no drug coverage.
- With a Cost plan: some Cost plans include Part D, others let you buy any standalone plan. If you are unhappy with a Cost plan’s drug coverage you can often keep the medical side and change only the drug plan during the Annual Election Period.
- With Medicare Advantage: usually built in. If you take a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, you cannot add a separate Part D plan.
Higher earners and lower incomes
If your income is above the 2026 thresholds ($109,000 single / $218,000 joint, based on your 2024 tax return), you pay a Part D income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on top of your plan premium; our costs & IRMAA page lays out the brackets. At the other end, Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy) cuts Part D premiums and copays substantially for people with limited income and resources; in Minnesota, qualifying for a Medicare Savings Program or Medical Assistance qualifies you for Extra Help automatically. See Medical Assistance & MSHO.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
When should I enroll in Part D?
Usually when you first become eligible for Medicare, even if you take few or no medications — that avoids the late-enrollment penalty. Exceptions apply if you have other creditable drug coverage such as an employer plan, TRICARE For Life or VA pharmacy benefits.
What is the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap?
$2,100. After your covered-drug spending reaches that amount in 2026, you pay nothing more for covered medications for the rest of the year.
Do I need Part D with a Minnesota Cost plan?
You need creditable drug coverage from somewhere. Some Cost plans include Part D; if yours does not, you can add a standalone Part D plan from any company.
Can you help me pick a plan around my medications?
Yes — that is the most useful thing we do here. Bring your medication list and pharmacy, and we compare plans on your total expected yearly cost.
Ready when you are
Let’s match a drug plan to your prescriptions.
A short, friendly conversation — no pressure, no cost.
Sources we used on this page
- Medicare.gov: Drug coverage (Part D)
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (Nov 14, 2025)
- Medicare.gov: Medicare costs
Figures are checked against the source at the review date in the byline below. If a source has changed since, the source wins.
Written and reviewed by Darin Weidauer — licensed insurance agent (NPN 18580338), Gerontologist (USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology), MBA, Registered Social Security Analyst, and 22-year U.S. Air Force veteran.Last reviewed September 3, 2026. Plan availability, benefits and costs change every plan year — verify current details at Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or Minnesota Aging Pathways at 800-333-2433.