TRICARE Pharmacy Choices:

1. Military Treatment Facility Pharmacy (Free)
Prescriptions may be filled (up to a 90-day supply for most medications) at an MTF pharmacy at no cost to the beneficiary, if the medication is on the MTF formulary. Beneficiaries should contact their local MTF to find out what is on the formulary and for specific details about filling and refilling prescriptions at the MTF pharmacy. They can use the TRICARE Formulary Search Tool to find out what medications must be made available at all full service military pharmacies (called the Basic Core Formulary), and they may visit the MTF locator to find the closest MTF. With no co payment or cost share, the MTF pharmacy is the best value to the beneficiary.

2. TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP)
TMOP is administered by Express Scripts Inc. (ESI), and is available for prescriptions that beneficiaries take on a regular basis. For the beneficiary, it is the more cost-effective way to receive prescriptions compared with using retail pharmacies. Beneficiaries may receive up to a 90-day supply for most medications. Prescription refills may be requested by mail, phone or online. Beneficiaries who have prescription drug coverage from another health insurance plan may not use TMOP, unless the medication is not covered under the other plan, or the beneficiary exceeds the dollar limit of coverage under the other plan. To use TMOP, beneficiaries simply register with TMOP by completing the registration form available online at www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE. They should follow the instructions on the ESI Web site to submit the form. Beneficiaries should then mail their health care provider's written prescription and the appropriate co payment or cost share to ESI. New prescriptions may also be faxed or phoned in by the provider. Within 10-14 days, the medications are sent directly to the beneficiary. Beneficiaries may also contact the TRICARE Service Center for assistance. For more information about how to use TMOP, beneficiaries can visit the ESI Web site at www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE or contact TMOP member services at (866) DOD-TMOP, (866) 363-8667, within the United States; or toll-free, (866) ASK-4PEC, (866) 275-4732, outside the United States. Beneficiaries may also visit the TRICARE pharmacy Web site at www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/tmop.cfm or search Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (select "Pharmacy" as a category in the box entitled "Search").

3. TRICARE Retail Pharmacy Program (TRRx)
TRRx is also administered by Express Scripts Inc. (ESI). Beneficiaries in the United States and its territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) may use an expanded, nationwide network of more than 54,000 retail pharmacies to fill prescriptions. To find a network pharmacy anywhere in the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, beneficiaries may use the TRICARE pharmacy locator service available on the ESI Web site or they may call (866) DoD-TRRx, (866) 363-8779. More information on the retail pharmacy program is available on the TRICARE Web site at www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/ or at Frequently Asked Questions, (select "Pharmacy" as a category in the box entitled "Search"). Beneficiaries may also visit the TRRx Web page on ESI's Web site, www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE.

TRICARE Pharmacy Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) provides a world-class pharmacy benefit through TRICARE to all eligible uniformed service members, retirees, and family members, including beneficiaries age 65 and older.  Prescription drug coverage is the same regardless of your beneficiary category or which health plan option you are using (except for Active Duty personnel, who pay no out of pocket cost).

Costs

Pharmacy costs are based on whether the prescription is classified as a formulary generic (Tier 1), formulary brand name (Tier 2) or non-formulary (Tier 3) drug, and where you choose to have your prescription filled.  Below is an overview of prescription costs:

Military Treatment Facility (MTF) Pharmacy

·         $0 copayment for up to a 90-day supply of most medications.

·         Not all medications are available at MTF pharmacies. Call first to check      availability.

TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy

·         $3 for generic formulary medications

·         $9 for brand-name formulary medications

·         $22 for non-formulary medications

·         May receive up to a 90-day supply of most medications for these copayments

TRICARE Retail Network Pharmacy

·         $3 for generic formulary medications

·         $9 for brand-name formulary medications

·         $22 for non-formulary medications

·         May receive up to a 30-day supply of most medications for these copayments

You'll pay more to have prescriptions filled at non-network pharmacies and costs vary depending on who you are and which health plan you are using (e.g. TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Standard, TRICARE For Life).  Active Duty Service Members pay nothing out of pocket for prescriptions filled at an MTF pharmacy, the TRICARE Mail Order pharmacy or a TRICARE Retail Network pharmacy.