TRICARE: Switch pharmacies or pay full price
The health care program for more than 9.5 million world-wide beneficiaries is changing the pharmacy benefit portion of its coverage. According to a TRICARE announcement, beginning Oct. 1, TRICARE beneficiaries using select name-brand maintenance drugs will be forced to switch their prescription to a military pharmacy or the program’s home delivery service known as Express Scripts or face paying full price for the prescription. Select maintenance drugs are medications taken for chronic conditions, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. The ruling does not affect medications for acute conditions, such as cases where antibiotics are needed short-term.