Medicare Part D Plan Comparison Calculator
Drug plan cost from medication list and dosages.
Inputs
Results
Total Annual Cost
$1,631.00
≈ 13 pairs of sneakers
Figures current as of 2026. Source: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles Fact Sheet
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter monthly plan premium ($) and annual drug costs ($) for each plan being compared.
- Set brand-name drug percentage and number of medications.
- Enter IRMAA surcharge tier if income exceeds Medicare thresholds.
- Review total annual cost including premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and IRMAA surcharges.
- Compare plans during Open Enrollment (Oct 15 - Dec 7) each year -- best plan changes as formularies change.
How the result changes with Annual Drug Costs ($)
| Annual Drug Costs ($) | Total Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| 10,000 | $3,381.00 |
| 35,000 | $4,894.00 |
| 65,000 | $6,394.00 |
| 90,000 | $7,644.00 |
What each input means
- Monthly Plan Premium ($)
- Monthly premium for the Part D plan. National average ~$33/mo.
- Annual Drug Costs ($)
- Total retail cost of all your prescriptions per year.
- Brand-Name Drug %
- Percentage of your drugs that are brand-name (vs generic).
- Number of Medications
- Total number of different prescriptions you take.
- IRMAA Surcharge Tier
- Income-related surcharge: 0 = none (income <$103k), 1-4 = higher income tiers.
- Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help)
- 1 = Eligible for Extra Help/LIS, 0 = Not eligible.
What each result means
- Total Annual Cost
- Combined premiums and out-of-pocket drug costs for the year.
- Annual Premiums (incl. IRMAA)
- Total premium payments including any IRMAA surcharge.
- Annual Out-of-Pocket
- Deductible + coinsurance + gap + catastrophic costs.
- Deductible Paid
- Amount paid toward the annual deductible ($615 in 2026).
- Plan Coverage Ratio
- Percentage of total drug costs covered by the plan.
- Cost per Med per Month
- Average monthly cost per medication after all plan benefits.
- Net Savings vs. Retail
- Total savings compared to paying full retail price (negative = plan costs more).
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersMonthly Plan Premium ($) = 35, Annual Drug Costs ($) = 3000, Brand-Name Drug % = 30, Number of Medications = 5 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total Annual CostTotal Annual Cost = totalPremiumCost + totalOOP1631 = $1,631
- Calculate Annual PremiumsAnnual Premiums = annualPremium + irmaaSurcharge420 = $420
- Calculate Annual Out-of-Pocket1211 = $1,211
Figures and sources
- 2026 Medicare Part D deductible (2026) — CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles Fact Sheet
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