TRICARE provides health coverage to active duty service members, retirees, and their families. The TRICARE formulary is managed by Express Scripts and includes three tiers of drug coverage. Military treatment facility (MTF) pharmacies offer the lowest cost ($0 copay), while retail and mail-order options are also available with varying copays.
Key Facts
Check Your Specific Plan's Formulary
Coverage varies by plan. Use our formulary checker tool to look up your exact copay and restrictions.
Open Formulary CheckerSources and standards behind this page
Drug coverage in the United States is governed by published rules rather than by any one insurer's summary, and the sources below are the primary ones. They are linked so a reader can check a claim without taking this page's word for it.
- FDA Orange Book publishes the therapeutic-equivalence ratings that decide whether a generic may be substituted for a brand-name drug.
- FDA generic drug facts sets out what "generic equivalent" means and what a manufacturer must prove.
- CMS prescription drug coverage defines the rules a Medicare drug plan formulary must follow and how it may change mid-year.
- Medicare.gov drug coverage (Part D) states what a Part D plan is required to offer a member.
- CMS prescription drug appeals documents the coverage-determination and exception process when a drug is denied.
This page describes how coverage and formularies work. It is not medical advice, and a reader's own plan documents and prescriber decide what applies to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the Express Scripts website for TRICARE (express-scripts.com/TRICARE) and use the formulary search tool. You can also call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303. The TRICARE formulary search shows tier placement, copay, and any restrictions for each medication.
The cheapest option is always the military treatment facility (MTF) pharmacy, where all prescriptions are $0. The next cheapest is TRICARE Home Delivery (mail order). Retail pharmacies have the highest copays. For maintenance medications, home delivery for 90-day supplies offers the best value outside of MTFs.
TRICARE's coverage of weight loss medications varies. FDA-approved anti-obesity medications may be covered with prior authorization and documentation of medical necessity. Coverage policies are reviewed by the BCAC. Check with Express Scripts for current coverage of specific weight loss drugs.
Related Resources
- VA Formulary 2026
- Medicare Part D Formulary 2026
- UnitedHealthcare Formulary 2026
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