TRICARE Prescription Refill Timing & Rules (2026) | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer Under the TRICARE pharmacy program managed by Express Scripts, you can typically refill your prescriptions when **75% of your current supply** has been consumed. For most 90-day supplies, this means you can request a refill roughly 22 days before your current medication runs out.

Details

The timing for your prescription refill depends primarily on how you receive your medication: via military pharmacy, home delivery, or a retail network pharmacy.

### The 75% Rule TRICARE utilizes a "refill-too-soon" logic to ensure medication safety and prevent waste. * **90-day supply:** You are eligible for a refill after 68 days (approximately 75% of the supply). * **30-day supply:** You are eligible for a refill after 23 days.

### TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery (Express Scripts) For medications delivered by mail, Express Scripts recommends setting up "Auto-Refill." If you do not use Auto-Refill, you should place your order as soon as you hit the 75% mark to account for shipping time. * **2026 Pharmacy Costs:** For a 90-day supply of generic formulary drugs via home delivery, the copay is $13; brand-name formulary drugs are $38 (based on 2026 rates).

### Retail Network Pharmacies If you use a local network pharmacy (like CVS, Walgreens, or others), the same 75% rule applies. The pharmacist's system will receive a "refill too soon" rejection from Express Scripts if you attempt to fill it earlier. * **2026 Retail Costs:** For a 30-day supply, generics are $16 and brand-name formulary drugs are $43.

### Military Pharmacies (MTFs) Prescriptions filled at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) have $0 copays. While timing rules are generally consistent with the 75% threshold, individual MTFs may have specific local pickup policies or automated refill phone lines. It is best to call your local MTF pharmacy's automated line to check the "ready" date.

### Exceptions and Edge Cases * **Lost or Stolen Medication:** You must usually contact your provider and Express Scripts for an override. This may require a police report for controlled substances. * **Deployments:** Active duty members being deployed can request an "Extended Deployment Prescription Fill" to receive up to a 180-day supply. * **Travel/Vacation:** If you are traveling, you can request a one-time "vacation override" through Express Scripts to get your refill early. * **Controlled Substances:** Schedule II medications (like many ADHD or pain medications) cannot be refilled; they require a brand-new prescription from your doctor every time.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Always $0 copays; usually limited to MTF or home delivery. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Subject to the 75% timing rule across all pharmacy channels. * **Retirees and their Families:** Must use home delivery or MTFs for maintenance medications or pay higher retail costs. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Members enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) follow these standard pharmacy timelines.

## Sources 1. **TRICARE.mil Pharmacy Overview:** https://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy 2. **Express Scripts TRICARE Portal:** https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/ 3. **Defense Health Agency (DHA) Pharmacy Programs:** https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Access-Cost-Quality-and-Safety/Access-to-Healthcare/Pharmacy-Program 4. **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** https://www.triwest.com/