9/22/2011 - FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) -- Co-payments for some medications provided through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery are being reduced to zero. As of Oct. 1, home delivery beneficiaries may fill generic prescriptions at no cost to themselves.
Generic formulary drugs purchased through home delivery currently cost $3 for a 90-day supply.
"These new copays make using TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery more affordable than ever," said Navy Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, the TRICARE Management Activity deputy director. "Home delivery offers a great value for patients taking maintenance medications for chronic conditions."
The following changes to the TRICARE pharmacy co-payments are scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1:
- Generic formulary drugs purchased at retail pharmacies will go from $3 to $5.
- Brand name formulary drugs from retail pharmacies will go from $9 to $12.
- Nonformulary medications will go from $22 to $25 in both retail and home delivery.
Brand name formulary drugs purchased through home delivery will have the same $9 co-payment. Co-payments for prescriptions filled through home delivery cover a 90-day supply, but only a 30-day supply when purchased at a retail pharmacy.
"This is the first change to TRICARE pharmacy co-pays since 2002," Hunter said. "Our goal is to keep costs as low as possible for our beneficiaries and (the Defense Department)."
Military members, their families and retirees are increasingly using home delivery to get their maintenance medications delivered through U.S. mail, saving TRICARE about $30 million in 2010. Use of home delivery has grown in 2011 by nearly 10 percent over 2010. More than 1 million prescriptions per month are filled through the service.
For more information about TRICARE pharmacy, the new co-payment rates and home delivery, visit www.tricare.mil/pharmacy.
(Courtesy of TRICARE Management Activity)
Comments
9/27/2011 12:13:43 PM ET I know prices are going up, but for us the home delivery prices are a lot better than going to the pharmacy in town. I love your program and thank God every day that my husband served in the military and has access to this great program.
