Starting Oct.1, a new law requires that all TRICARE beneficiaries, except active duty servicemembers, get select brand name maintenance drugs through either TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or from a military pharmacy.
Beneficiaries who keep using a retail pharmacy for these drugs will have to pay the full cost.
The TRICARE pharmacy contractor, Express Scripts, will soon send a letter to beneficiaries taking an affected drug, explaining their options. Beneficiaries can contact Express Scripts at (877) 363-1303 to see if they are affected.
In September, affected beneficiaries received a letter from Express Scripts in regards the need to switch their drug.
After Oct. 1, beneficiaries still filling an affected drug at a retail pharmacy will receive another letter informing them of the change to the benefit. After that, beneficiaries will have one final “courtesy” fill at a retail pharmacy. If they fill at a retail pharmacy again, they have to pay 100 percent of the cost of their medication.
For information about this change to the pharmacy benefit, visit www.tricare.mil/RxNewRules or call (877) 363-1303.