The Tricare Pharmacy Program gives beneficiaries the option of filling prescriptions at military treatment facility pharmacies; through the Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery option; at Tricare retail network pharmacies; and at non-network pharmacies.
As with most prescription drug plans, Tricare requires that prescriptions be filled with a generic product if one is available. You can enjoy a significant cost savings by getting the generic equivalent of a brand-name drug.
You must refill select maintenance drugs through home delivery via Tricare's home-delivery pharmacy, Express Scripts. For specialty drugs, Accredo fills most of the prescriptions for Tricare Home Delivery.
You can also refill maintenance drugs at military pharmacies. This doesn't apply to active-duty service members or those living overseas.
Maintenance drugs are those you use on a regular basis for chronic health conditions (e.g., high cholesterol, blood pressure). These do not include medications needed for a sudden illness or infection. See our webpage explaining how to fill maintenance medications using Tricare.
How to Fill Prescriptions
Tricare offers many ways for you to have prescriptions filled depending on your family's specific needs. You can have prescriptions filled at any of these pharmacies, based on your specific situation, and you can use more than one option at a time.
While each option is available worldwide, some may be limited outside of the United States.
- Military Pharmacy: Least expensive option with no out-of-pocket costs.
- Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery: Safe, convenient and the most cost-effective option when a military pharmacy is not available.
- Tricare Network Pharmacy: Fast and convenient with more than 60,000 network pharmacies in the United States and territories.
- Non-Network Pharmacy: Most expensive option.
You do not need to file pharmacy claims if you have prescriptions filled at a military pharmacy, through Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery, or at a Tricare retail network pharmacy. However, if you fill a prescription at a non-network pharmacy in the United States or territories, you must pay the full price of your prescription and file a claim with Tricare for reimbursement.
Military Pharmacy
A military pharmacy is the least expensive option for filling prescriptions. At a military pharmacy, you may receive up to a 90-day supply of most medications at no cost. Most military pharmacies accept prescriptions written by both civilian and military providers. Non-formulary medications generally are not available at military pharmacies. To check the availability of a particular drug, contact the nearest military pharmacy in person or by phone.
Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery
Tricare Home Delivery is your least expensive option when not using a military pharmacy. There is no cost for Tricare Home Delivery for active-duty service members. For all other beneficiaries, copayments apply to receive up to a 90-day supply of generic, brand-name and non-formulary medications. Home delivery is well suited for maintenance medications you take on a regular basis. Prescriptions are delivered to you with free standard shipping. Tricare users must approve their refills before they will be shipped. Home delivery also provides you with convenient notifications about your order status, refill reminders and assistance in renewing expired prescriptions.
Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery is only available overseas if you have an APO/FPO address or are assigned to a U.S. Embassy or State Department location. You must have a prescription written by a U.S. licensed provider. Refrigerated medications cannot be shipped to APO/FPO addresses. Beneficiaries residing in Germany cannot use the home delivery option due to country-specific legal restrictions. In the Philippines, you are required to use Tricare-certified pharmacy providers.
Tricare Retail Pharmacy Network
Another option for filling your prescriptions is through a Tricare retail network pharmacy. You may fill prescriptions and pay one copayment for each 30-day supply when you present your written prescription along with your uniformed services identification card to the pharmacist. This option allows you to fill your prescriptions at network pharmacies without having to submit a claim. You have access to a network of thousands of retail pharmacies in the United States.
Non-Network Pharmacies
A "non-network pharmacy" is a retail pharmacy that is not part of the Tricare network. Filling prescriptions at non-network pharmacies is the most expensive option and is not recommended. You may have to pay for the total amount first and file a claim to receive a partial reimbursement.
2024-2025 Tricare Pharmacy Copays
| Place of Service | Generic (Tier 1) | Brand Name (Tier 2) | Non-formulary (Tier 3) |
| Military Treatment Facility (MTF) Pharmacy | $0 | $0 | Not Available |
| Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery (up to a 90-day supply) | $12 | $34 | $68 |
| Tricare Retail Network Pharmacy (up to a 30-day supply) | $14 | $38 | $68 |
Non-network Retail Pharmacy (up to a 30-day supply)
| Tricare Prime options: 50% copy applies after annual deductible is met. All other beneficiaries: $38 or 20% of the total cost, whichever is greater after annual deductible is met. | Tricare Prime options: 50% copay applies after annual deductible is met. All other beneficiaries: $68 or 20% of the total cost, whichever is greater after annual deductible is met. |
Overseas Pharmacy Benefits
Overseas, you may fill prescriptions at military pharmacies. Otherwise, you will need to fill prescriptions at host nation pharmacies by paying the full cost up front and filing a claim with the Tricare Overseas Program claims processor for reimbursement. You must submit proof of payment with all overseas pharmacy claims.
Tricare for Life
If you are eligible for Tricare and have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, you are automatically covered by Tricare for Life. All Tricare beneficiaries, including those covered by TFL, are eligible to use the pharmacy benefit. There is usually little or no benefit to purchasing a Medicare prescription drug plan if you have Tricare. As long as you remain Tricare-eligible, you do not need Medicare Part D. See our Tricare for Life page for more information.
For More Information
For more information about the Tricare pharmacy program, including what drugs are covered, which pharmacies are in the Tricare network, how to sign up for mail delivery, and how to file claims, visit the Tricare Pharmacy Program website.
Keep Up with Changes to Tricare and Your Other Benefits
Want to know about changes in military benefits as they happen? Subscribe to Military.com to get the latest benefits news delivered directly straight to your inbox.
