The Part D Premium Protection Act of 2026 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up a temporary premium credit for people enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) for the year 2027. The credit amount is tied to the average premium reduction seen in the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration and is calculated using premium rates in effect from January 1, 2025, through the last day of 2026 for which data are available. The Secretary must notify each PDP sponsor of the credit amount. Sponsors would charge enrollees the normal premium minus the credit (not less than $0). The Secretary would pay the credit amounts to the PDP sponsors.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, your 2027 premium would be reduced by the credit amount the Secretary calculates. Plan sponsors will apply the credit when charging premiums, and they cannot charge a negative premium. The federal agency (HHS) would send the credit payments to the plan sponsors.
No publicly available information on the total federal cost or appropriations is included in the bill text. The bill directs the Secretary to pay the credit amounts to PDP sponsors but does not provide a cost estimate or specify a funding source in the text provided. The credit calculation uses premium data through the end of 2026 and applies only for 2027.
No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata about proponents’ stated reasons or arguments is included.
No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata about opponents’ stated concerns or arguments is included.