FALLS CHURCH, Va. –
Are you looking for other ways to get your prescriptions that better fit your pharmacy needs? You’re in luck! When it comes to your prescriptions, the
TRICARE Pharmacy Program gives you several options on how to fill them. Before filling your prescriptions, you can check the
TRICARE Formulary to see if your prescription is covered.
“TRICARE beneficiaries can fill prescriptions a number of different ways,” said Marcy Opstal, Senior Program Analyst, Pharmacy Benefit Integration Branch, Pharmacy Operations Division, at the Defense Health Agency. “These options give you flexibility and allow you to pick what works best for you.”
The TRICARE Pharmacy Program contractor, Express Scripts, administers the TRICARE pharmacy benefit and offers tools to help you manage your medications. Here’s a rundown of your TRICARE pharmacy choices.
Pick the best pharmacy option for you
TRICARE offers four ways to fill your prescriptions. Each option has different costs and advantages.
Military pharmacies
At
military pharmacies, you can get up to a 90-day supply of most medications at no cost. Most military pharmacies take prescriptions from both civilian and military providers. You don’t need to be enrolled at a military hospital or clinic to use its pharmacy, as described in the
TRICARE Pharmacy Program Handbook.
Military pharmacies only carry medications that are on the TRICARE formulary. Call your nearest military pharmacy to see if they have your medication. Visit Military Pharmacy to find one near you.
Home delivery
TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery is generally the least expensive way to fill prescriptions after military pharmacies. Active duty service members pay nothing for home delivery. All others pay a copayment. Home delivery offers up to a 90-day supply of most drugs for lower copayments than a 30-day supply at a
TRICARE network pharmacy.
Home delivery is a good option for medications you take routinely. Shipping is free, and you can order refills online, by phone, or by mail. You’ll get updates about your order and reminders when it’s time to refill.
TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery will ship to any address in the U.S. or U.S. territories, including APO/FPO addresses. Medications requiring refrigerated packaging or that have pressurized dispensing devices won’t ship to APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
Important: Home delivery isn’t available in Germany, Norway, or Saudi Arabia. If you have other health insurance with drug coverage, you can’t use home delivery, unless:
- Express Scripts also manages your OHI’s pharmacy home delivery.
- Your OHI doesn’t cover pharmacy benefits.
- Your medication isn’t covered by your OHI.
- You met your OHI’s benefit cap.
Network pharmacies
You can fill up to a 30-day supply of prescriptions at TRICARE’s network of retail pharmacies, too. Use the
Find a Pharmacy Tool to find a network pharmacy nearby. Check out
Pharmacy Costs to compare what you’ll pay at different pharmacies.
Note: Network pharmacies are only available in the U.S. and certain U.S. territories (Guam, the Northern Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
Non-network pharmacies
You’re also able to fill your prescription at a non-network pharmacy. If you use a non-network pharmacy, you’ll pay the full price for your prescription drugs up front and
file for reimbursement on your own. The reimbursement amount has cost-sharing as well.
Note: Reimbursements are subject to deductibles or non-network cost-shares and copayments.
Wherever you go, remember that you’ll pay the full cost of any non-covered drugs.
Using the Express Scripts Pharmacy Mobile app
The free
Express Scripts mobile app helps you manage your prescriptions from your phone. Visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to download the free app today.
How you can use the app
The Express Scripts Pharmacy Mobile App makes keeping track of your prescriptions easier.
- Order medications. See which prescriptions are available to refill, compare costs, and choose the medications you want delivered to your door.
- Track medications. Get updates as Express Scripts fills and ships your order. You can send your medication to a temporary address if you’re deployed, moving, or on vacation. If you move, your order will go to your new address.
- Request refills. See what prescriptions are ready to refill and where you can save money. You can transfer a prescription from another pharmacy to TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery right in the app.
- Set up reminders. The app can send you reminders when it’s time to take your medications.
- Pay online. Pay for prescriptions and set up automatic payments for home delivery. Active duty service members always pay nothing for up to a 90-day supply.
Set up your Express Scripts account
You’ll need an account to use the app and manage prescriptions online.
Create an Express Scripts account to get started.
Get help any time
For other details about your pharmacy benefit, go to the
TRICARE Pharmacy Program Handbook. You can also reach out to
Express Scripts with any questions.
TRICARE’s pharmacy options give you several convenient and affordable choices. Find what works for you and your family.
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions to get benefit updates, news, and more.