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What's a PDP?

A Prescription Drug Plan, or PDP is a stand-alone plan from a private insurer that helps cover the cost of medications. It's also known as Medicare Part D insurance. Many Medicare Advantage Plans include drug coverage, but Original Medicare doesn't.

Reasons to get a Prescription Drug Plan

Choosing a plan with USAA by your side helps you manage your drug expenses. You can look at each plan's costs and benefits as you compare the coverage we offer from different insurers. We work with the carriers Humana and Aetna.

Personalized Coverage

Compare plans to find one that covers the medications you take regularly. See if the plan includes the pharmacy or mail order service you want to use.

Estimate Drug Costs

Use our prescription drug list tool annually to see what your medications will cost you for each new plan year.

Freedom From Penalties

If you don't sign up for a PDP when first eligible and don't have comparable drug coverage, you may pay a Part D penalty if you enroll later. You'd owe the monthly penalty as long as you have Medicare.

Your prescriptions

Making a list of your medications and keeping it updated helps you find a plan that's right for you. With our easy-to-use tool, you can create or update your personal list.

Create my list Create a list of your medications with our easy-to-use tool 

Keep prescription drug costs affordable.

When looking at drug plans, you'll want to consider your total out-of-pocket costs as well as your premium. PDPs place different drugs into tiers or levels. Here's some information on drug tiers:

Generic Drugs

Many generic drugs are on the lowest tier. Some generics have no copays.

Brand Name

Brand name medications and other less commonly used generics fall into the midrange tiers.

Specialty

A specialty drug may be in a higher tier with the highest copays.

How to get Medicare Part D

Steps to complete How to get Medicare Part D

  1. Enroll in original Medicare.

    You'll get a confirmation letter from the government with the effective date of your coverage, which must include Parts A and B.

  2. Apply for additional coverage.

    If you decide you need additional insurance, explore the available options to find out which coverage meets your needs.

  3. Consider Part D.

    Once you know what's covered by your Medicare plan, consider whether prescription drug coverage would be right for you.

Prescription Drug Plan FAQ

Not necessarily. You can delay getting a Medicare PDP without being subject to a Medicare D penalty during the time you have drug coverage through the U.S. Department of VA or TRICARE.

It's a government program that pays some or all of your out-of-pocket drug costs if you have Medicare drug coverage. Eligibility is based on your monthly income and assets.

You're responsible for paying your monthly premium, deductible and copays.

  • Your premium is the monthly fee for plan coverage.
  • A deductible is how much you must pay yearly for medications before a plan begins to pay its share.
  • A copay is the amount of the drug's cost that you're responsible for after your deductible is met. Copays vary based on medication.

The best time to sign up for drug coverage is during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period. This is the seven-month period when you're first eligible for Medicare. You could also add a prescription drug plan during the following:

  • Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP – Each year, the AEP runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. You can join or switch a prescription drug plan during this time. Special circumstances like moving out of your plan's coverage area or losing coverage may allow you to enroll or make changes outside of the AEP.
  • Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period – Runs from Jan. 1 through March 31 of each year. During this time, you can disenroll from a Medicare Advantage Plan to enroll in a new one. You can also disenroll to go back to Original Medicare. In either case, you can add a stand-alone Part D plan to the coverage.

Need help deciding?

Our licensed insurance agents can take you through your options.

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