TRICARE Patients Curb Rising Phamacy Costs by Switching to Home Delivery

TRICARE patients are making the switch to Home Delivery.  In record numbers, patients with regular prescription medications are getting their 90-day supplies through the mail-order option – TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. That’s made a dent in use of more expensive retail pharmacy options.

Retail pharmacy growth slowed from an annual rate of about 7 percent in 2010 to less than 2 percent through July 2011. 

“This success is due in large part to great teamwork among TMA staff, our pharmacy contractor, senior DoD leadership, military associations and many more people who took the time to help us get the word out,” said retiring TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) Deputy Director Rear Adm. Christine Hunter.  It’s a trend she is sure will continue under the leadership of incoming TMA Deputy Director, Brig. Gen. Bryan Gamble.

Beneficiaries who use TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery get prescription medications shipped conveniently and safely to their door through U.S. mail. Home Delivery also offers the popular option of automatic prescription refills. 

“Patients realize significant savings by getting regular prescriptions though Home Delivery,” said Hunter, “and so does the Department of Defense.” 

There’s an additional reason to switch to Home Delivery going into effect Oct. 1, 2011. “Pharmacy copays are changing,” said Hunter. “We’re going to zero copays on generic medications obtained through Home Delivery and you can’t do better than that.”

For more information about TRICARE pharmacy options, new copayment rates and Home Delivery visit www.tricare.mil/pharmacy. Patients can see if making the switch to TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery works for them and move their prescriptions to Home Delivery through the website at www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE. There’s even an “app for that” for registered users at www.express-scripts.com/mobile where registered users can order refills, check orders and find a network pharmacy.