Subject: FW: Small Increase to TRICARE Pharmacy Co-pays Begins February 1, 2015

New co-payments for prescription drugs covered by TRICARE will go into effect February 1, 2015. The Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires TRICARE to increase most pharmacy co-pays by $3. Drugs from military pharmacies and generic drugs from TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery still cost beneficiaries $0.

TRICARE pharmacy co-pays vary based on the class of drug and where beneficiaries choose to fill their prescriptions. Home Delivery copays for formulary brand name drugs are going from $13 to $16, and for non-formulary from $43 to $46. You can get up to a 90-day supply of drugs through Home Delivery. At the retail pharmacy network, co-pays for generic formulary drugs go from $5 to $8, brand name formulary go from $17 to $20 and non-formulary from $44 to $47. You can get up to a 30-day supply of drugs at retail pharmacies.

Some pharmacy co-pays are not changing in 2015. Military pharmacies remain the lowest cost option for beneficiaries, with no cost for drugs, and generic formulary medications at Home Delivery remain $0. Home Delivery is a low cost, safe and convenient way for TRICARE beneficiaries to get their maintenance medications. Co-pays at non-network retail pharmacies will also change, based on the changes to retail co-pays. For more details, visit the TRICARE pharmacy costs page.

These changes in the NDAA overrule previous rules passed by Congress in 2013 that connected TRICARE pharmacy co-pays to the retiree cost of living adjustment (COLA).

Source: TRICARE Benefit Update:

https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/BenefitUpdates/Archives/02_02_15_