TRICARE Beneficiaries Put Pharmacy Costs on the Chopping Block

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  • TRICARE Management Activity
FALLS CHURCH, Va. --  TRICARE is actively informing beneficiaries of the savings they can experience with the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP).

Letters explaining TMOP and its convenient, safe and cost-saving features are being sent to beneficiaries who receive regular maintenance prescriptions at network retail pharmacies. The letters tell beneficiaries how they can switch from retail pharmacies to TMOP and save up to 66 percent on their prescription drug costs. TMOP offers up to a 90-day supply of medication for the same copayment as a 30-day supply from a retail pharmacy, and with gas prices rising daily, a trip to the pharmacy can be pricey.

Responses to TMOP have been positive.
"Thank you very much for your assistance," said Michael Forman, a TRICARE beneficiary from Chipley, Fla. "I have been telling other retirees that I come in contact with about this program ... thanks again."

Brian Koetting, a beneficiary from Converse, Texas, wrote, "I am new to the home delivery system, and it was recommended to me by my Veterans Affairs provider. I am extremely pleased so far by the service, the people I've spoken to, and the timeliness in getting my prescription. Thanks for providing such a great option for us!"

One easy call to the Member Choice Center (MCC) at 877-363-1433 can start home delivery. A customer service representative will explain the program and offer to process a new 90-day prescription from the beneficiary's provider through TMOP.

Beneficiaries can also register for TMOP at http://www.express-scripts.com/TRICARE -- without downloading or mailing forms. Once the registration process is complete, beneficiaries may use the MCC service online and request that TMOP obtain prescriptions from their provider.

Since launch of the MCC in August 2007, more than 90,000 retail prescriptions have been switched to TMOP.

Go to the prescriptions tab at http://www.tricare.mil for more information about TMOP and other pharmacy programs.