An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | Sept. 29, 2021

TRICARE Pharmacy Copayments to Increase in 2022

By TRICARE Communications

Do you get your prescription drugs through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or at a TRICARE retail network pharmacy? If so, you’ll pay anywhere from $1 to $8 more in copayments starting Jan. 1.
 
“Congress and the Department of Defense worked together on these cost changes as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018,” said U.S. Public Health Service Cmdr. Teisha Robertson, a pharmacist with the Defense Health Agency’s Pharmacy Operations Division. “The changes are part of a larger effort to help fund improvements in military readiness and modernize the TRICARE health care benefit.”
 
These costs changes won’t affect all beneficiaries. If you’re an active duty service member (ADSM), you’ll still pay nothing for your covered drugs at military pharmacies, retail network pharmacies, and through home delivery. Copayments for survivors of ADSMs will remain the same. Medically retired service members and their family members also won’t see a change in their copayments next year.
 
As described in the TRICARE Pharmacy Program Overview, TRICARE groups prescription drugs based on the medical and cost effectiveness of a drug compared to other drugs of the same type. The cheapest, most widely available category is generic formulary drugs. This is followed by brand-name formulary drugs and non-formulary drugs. You’ll see cost increases in all three of these categories. The new cost will depend on the type of pharmacy.
 
Here are the new copayment changes.
 
TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery (Up to a 90-day supply)
  • Generic formulary drugs will increase from $10 to $12
  • Brand-name formulary drugs will increase from $29 to $34
  • Non-formulary drugs will increase from $60 to $68
 
TRICARE retail network pharmacies (Up to a 30-day supply)
  • Generic formulary drugs will increase from $13 to $14
  • Brand-name formulary drugs will increase from $33 to $38
  • Non-formulary drugs will increase from $60 to $68
 
It’s important to note that you may only fill some brand-name maintenance drugs twice at retail network pharmacies. These are drugs that you take for long-term conditions. After the second refill, you must use home delivery or a military pharmacy. This doesn’t apply when you fill short-term use drugs at retail network pharmacies.
 
Non-network pharmacies (Up to a 30-day supply)
Non-network pharmacy costs remain the same if you use a TRICARE Prime plan. With a TRICARE Prime plan, you’ll pay a 50% cost-share after you meet your point-of-service deductible for covered drugs. For all other health plans, non-network pharmacy costs are as follows: 
  • Generic formulary drugs and brand-name formulary drugs will cost $38 (up from $33) or 20% of the total cost, whichever is more, after you meet your annual deductible
  • Non-formulary drugs will cost $68 (up from $60) or 20% of the total cost, whichever is more, after you meet your annual deductible
 
Keep in mind, if you can use a military pharmacy, this remains your lowest cost option.
There’s still no cost for covered generic and brand-name drugs at military pharmacies.
 
Have more questions about your TRICARE pharmacy benefit? Go to TRICARE Pharmacy to learn more.
TRICARE Open Season is here. Now through Dec. 12, most people enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select can make enrollment changes for next year. Open season doesn’t apply to everyone who uses TRICARE.

Does TRICARE Open Season Apply to Me?

News
Nov. 20, 2023

TRICARE Open Season is here. Now through Dec. 12, most people enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Prime or...
Read More
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Connor Colassaco, 52nd Medical Group pharmacy vault custodian, reaches for medication at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Dec. 14, 2022. Members of the pharmacy count and label all controlled medication to ensure it is properly inventoried. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessica Sanchez-Chen)

Getting TRICARE Prescriptions Overseas

News
Nov. 16, 2023

No matter where you live or travel, it’s important to have the prescription drugs you need. To help make this...
Read More
TRICARE Open Season 2023, November 13-December 12, 2023

TRICARE Open Season Is Here: Explore Your Health...

News
Nov. 13, 2023

TRICARE Open Season begins Nov. 13. For many TRICARE beneficiaries, this is your chance to enroll in a health...
Read More
Pharmacist in military pharmacy

Find Out What Your TRICARE Pharmacy Costs Will B...

News
Nov. 09, 2023

Do you get prescription drugs through the TRICARE Pharmacy Program? Copayments for most beneficiaries are...
Read More
Join us for a TRICARE Facebook Live on open season on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/tricare

Learn About TRICARE Open Season During Nov. 16 F...

News
Nov. 08, 2023

Do you need help understanding your health plan options during TRICARE Open Season? Join us for a TRICARE...
Read More
Airman hugging kids.

Know Your 2024 TRICARE Health Plan Costs

News
Nov. 07, 2023

With a new year fast approaching, you may see changes to your TRICARE health plan costs starting on Jan. 1,...
Read More
Service member gets flu shot from other service member.

Protect Your Family With Flu, COVID-19, and RSV ...

News
Nov. 02, 2023

Are you preparing to spend time with friends and family this holiday season? Now is a good time to make sure...
Read More
TRICARE liaison stands in front of American flag.

Patient Advocates and Beneficiary Counseling and...

News
Oct. 24, 2023

You probably received medical care in a military hospital or clinic before. But did you know these facilities...
Read More

Nov. 20, 2023

Does TRICARE Open Season Apply to Me?

TRICARE Open Season is here. Now through Dec. 12, most people enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select can make enrollment changes for next year. Open season doesn’t apply to everyone who uses TRICARE.

Nov. 16, 2023

Getting TRICARE Prescriptions Overseas

No matter where you live or travel, it’s important to have the prescription drugs you need. To help make this possible, your TRICARE pharmacy benefit is available worldwide. But overseas, your pharmacy options may vary.

Nov. 13, 2023

TRICARE Open Season Is Here: Explore Your Health Plan Options

TRICARE Open Season begins Nov. 13. For many TRICARE beneficiaries, this is your chance to enroll in a health plan or change health plans for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2024. You can make these changes through Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Nov. 9, 2023

Find Out What Your TRICARE Pharmacy Costs Will Be In 2024

Do you get prescription drugs through the TRICARE Pharmacy Program? Copayments for most beneficiaries are changing. The new costs will start Jan. 1, 2024.

Nov. 8, 2023

Learn About TRICARE Open Season During Nov. 16 Facebook Event

Do you need help understanding your health plan options during TRICARE Open Season? Join us for a TRICARE Facebook Live event on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET.

Nov. 7, 2023

Know Your 2024 TRICARE Health Plan Costs

With a new year fast approaching, you may see changes to your TRICARE health plan costs starting on Jan. 1, 2024. These costs may include enrollment fees, premiums, cost-shares, and copayments.

Nov. 2, 2023

Protect Your Family With Flu, COVID-19, and RSV Vaccines

Are you preparing to spend time with friends and family this holiday season? Now is a good time to make sure you and your loved ones are up to date with COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines. TRICARE covers these vaccines based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.

Oct. 24, 2023

Patient Advocates and Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinators Help You Understand Your Health Care Benefit

You probably received medical care in a military hospital or clinic before. But did you know these facilities come with a support staff of people who can help you navigate the health care process? These include patient advocates and Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinators (BCACs). You can find them at most military hospitals and clinics around the world.

Oct. 12, 2023

Choosing Between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select

Want to learn more about choosing between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select during TRICARE Open Season? Then join us for “Choosing Between Prime and TRICARE Select” webinar on Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. ET to learn more about this year’s open season.

Oct. 2, 2023

U.S. Military Departments Implement Brandon Act to Improve Mental Health Support

The three military departments have officially implemented phase one of the Brandon Act with their own policies and procedures to initiate support to service members’ request for mental health assistance. The Brandon Act was signed into law by President Biden on Dec. 27, 2021, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. The former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., signed a policy on May 5, 2023, to initiate the act within the Department of Defense.