TRICARE Overseas Pharmacy Guide: Costs & Options | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer When living or traveling overseas, your pharmacy options depend on your location and beneficiary status. Most members get prescriptions filled at military pharmacies for free, but if you use a civilian pharmacy, you must pay upfront and file for reimbursement; the Express Scripts mail-order service is generally only available for APO/FPO/DPO addresses and cannot ship to most foreign civilian addresses.

Details

### 1. Military Pharmacies (MTFs) This is the most cost-effective option. If you have access to a military base, you can fill your prescriptions at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) pharmacy at no cost (2026 rates). This applies to both local prescriptions and those from stateside providers, provided the medication is on the facility's formulary.

### 2. TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery Administered by **Express Scripts**, home delivery is available to overseas beneficiaries under specific conditions: * **APO/FPO/DPO Addresses:** You can receive most maintenance medications via mail. * **Foreign Addresses:** Due to international shipping laws and customs regulations, Express Scripts generally **cannot** ship to civilian addresses outside the U.S. and its territories. * **Refrigerated Meds:** Shipping temperature-sensitive medications to overseas addresses is often restricted or unavailable.

### 3. Host Nation (Civilian) Pharmacies If you are not near a military base or cannot use mail order, you must use a local civilian pharmacy. * **Payment:** You will almost always have to pay the full price out-of-pocket at the time of purchase. * **Claims:** You must file a claim for reimbursement. In the TRICARE Overseas region, claims are processed by **International SOS**. * **Cost-Shares:** Your reimbursement will be the total cost minus your applicable deductible and cost-shares. For 2026, Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) generally have $0 copays, while others' costs vary based on their plan (Select, Prime Overseas, etc.).

### 4. Important Restrictions * **Philippines:** Beneficiaries in the Philippines must use a "Certified Pharmacy" to be eligible for reimbursement. Use the International SOS provider search tool to find one. * **Controlled Substances:** You cannot receive controlled substances (like certain sleep aids or pain medications) via mail order to an overseas address. These must be obtained through an MTF or local host-nation provider.

## Who this affects * Active Duty Service Members (ADSM) and their families (ADFMs) stationed OCONUS. * Retirees and their families living abroad. * National Guard and Reserve members on active duty orders overseas. * TRICARE For Life (TFL) beneficiaries residing in foreign countries.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Filling Prescriptions Overseas](https://www.tricare.mil/Pharmacy/FillPrescriptions/Overseas) * **Express Scripts:** [TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery](https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/) * **International SOS:** [TRICARE Overseas Beneficiary Portal](https://www.tricare-overseas.com/) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Pharmacy Benefits Program](https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Access-Cost-Quality-and-Safety/Pharmacy-Operations)