2026 TRICARE Prescription Copays & Pharmacy Costs | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer Active duty service members pay $0 for all covered prescriptions. For all others, the cost depends on where you fill the script: military pharmacies are free, while home delivery and retail pharmacies require tiered copays based on whether the drug is generic, brand-name, or non-formulary.

Details

TRICARE pharmacy costs are standardized across all plans (Prime, Select, Reserve Select, etc.), though your beneficiary status (Group A vs. Group B) and your sponsor's status (Active Duty vs. Retiree) may impact your enrollment fees, it does not change the pharmacy copay schedule.

### 2026 Pharmacy Copay Rates The following rates are effective for the 2026 calendar year for a 90-day supply (Home Delivery) or 30-day supply (Retail):

| Drug Category | Military Pharmacy (90-day) | Home Delivery (90-day) | Retail Network (30-day) | Non-Network Retail | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Generic (Tier 1)** | $0 | $16 | $16 | $43 or 20%* | | **Brand Name (Tier 2)** | $0 (if stocked) | $43 | $43 | $68 or 20%* | | **Non-Formulary (Tier 3)** | Not available | $76 | $76 | $76 or 20%* |

*\*Non-network costs vary. You generally pay the full price upfront and file a claim for reimbursement. TRICARE Prime users may pay Point-of-Service charges if they use non-network pharmacies without authorization.*

### Key Rules and Exceptions * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Always $0 for covered drugs at any pharmacy. * **Maintenance Medications:** If you are a retiree or a family member living in the U.S., you are generally required to fill "maintenance medications" (drugs taken for long-term conditions like high blood pressure or cholesterol) via Home Delivery or at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF). You are typically allowed two fills at a retail pharmacy before you must switch. * **Specialty Drugs:** These are usually filled through **Accredo** (an Express Scripts specialty pharmacy) or at an MTF. * **Medical Necessity:** If your doctor can prove that a Tier 3 (Non-Formulary) drug is medically necessary over the Tier 1 or Tier 2 alternatives, you may be able to get it at the Tier 2 ($43) price.

### Regional Management While copays are the same nationwide, the pharmacy benefit is managed globally by **Express Scripts**. * **East Region:** Managed by Humana Military. * **West Region:** Managed by TriWest Healthcare Alliance. * **Overseas:** Managed by International SOS.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** $0 copays. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Pay the standard copay rates listed above. * **Retirees and their Families:** Pay the standard copay rates listed above. * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) & TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Members:** Pay standard copay rates. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL) Beneficiaries:** Use the same tiered copay structure as retirees.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Pharmacy Costs:** https://www.tricare.mil/costs/pharmacycosts * **Express Scripts TRICARE:** https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/ * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** https://health.mil/ * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** https://www.triwest.com/