Blue Shield of California Part D Prescription Drug Plans (2027)
Blue Shield of California sells two stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) for 2027: Blue Shield Rx Plus and Blue Shield Rx Enhanced. A stand-alone plan is what you pair with Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement, since Medigap plans do not cover prescriptions. Plan details below were taken from Blue Shield’s own 2027 plan finder on October 22, 2026.
Blue Shield’s 2027 Part D plans
| Blue Shield Rx Plus (PDP) | Blue Shield Rx Enhanced (PDP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan ID | S2468-003 | S2468-004 |
| Drug deductible | $700 | $200 |
| Monthly premium | $210.00 | $252.60 |
| Premium for the year | $2,520 | $3,031 |
| Medicare star rating | Not yet rated | Not yet rated |
Premiums as quoted in Blue Shield’s 2027 plan finder for ZIP 90012 (Los Angeles County) on October 22, 2026. California is its own Part D region, so stand-alone drug plan premiums are generally the same across the state, but always confirm yours at quote time. Your real cost depends on the drugs you take and the pharmacy you use. Add your prescriptions in the plan finder to see an estimate.
How to read the two plans
- Rx Plus has the lower premium and the full $700 deductible, which is the most any Part D plan can charge in 2027. It tends to fit people who take few or low-cost generics.
- Rx Enhanced costs about $42.60 more a month and cuts the deductible to $200. If you expect to spend through the deductible early in the year, the lower deductible can make up much of that difference. Run your actual drug list before you assume it does.
- Both plans have the same 2027 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs: $2,400. Once you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.
2027 Part D rules that apply to every plan
- Out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
- Maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: you can ask any Part D plan to spread your out-of-pocket drug costs into monthly payments across the year instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
- Late enrollment penalty: if you go 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after you first become eligible, Medicare adds a permanent penalty to your premium. It is 1% of the national base premium for each full month you went without coverage.
- Extra Help: people with limited income and assets can qualify for Medicare’s Extra Help program, which lowers premiums, deductibles and copays. You can apply through Social Security.
- When you can switch: Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, with new coverage starting January 1.
Pairing Part D with a Medicare Supplement
If you choose Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement plan, you need a separate Part D plan for prescriptions. You do not have to buy both from the same company. Many of our clients pair a Blue Shield of California Medicare Supplement plan with whichever drug plan covers their prescriptions most cheaply. That may be a Blue Shield plan or another carrier’s. If you are on a Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan, drug coverage is usually built in and you do not need a stand-alone PDP.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Shield of California the same company as Anthem Blue Cross?
No. They are two separate, competing companies in California. We work with both and can compare their drug plans side by side.
Which Blue Shield drug plan is cheaper?
Rx Plus has the lower premium. Whether it is cheaper for you depends on your prescriptions, because Rx Enhanced has a $500 lower deductible. Enter your drugs in the plan finder above, or send us your list and we will run it against both plans and other carriers’ plans.
Can I use any pharmacy?
Each plan has a pharmacy network, and preferred pharmacies usually mean lower copays. Add your pharmacy in the plan finder to see what you would pay there.
Want us to run your drug list? Call (855) 847-7020 ext. 2 or schedule an appointment. We will compare Blue Shield’s two plans against the other Part D plans we offer in your county. There is no cost to you.
Plan details on this page reflect the 2027 plan year and were reviewed on October 22, 2026. Premiums, deductibles, formularies and pharmacy networks change every year.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (in California, HICAP at 1-800-434-0222) to get information on all of your options.
California Health Agents is a licensed independent insurance agency, NPN 14924332. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States government, the federal Medicare program, Covered California, the California Department of Insurance, or the Department of Managed Health Care. Enrollment in a Part D plan depends on contract renewal. Quotes and plan summaries are estimates and are not a contract, guarantee of coverage, or offer of insurance.