Express Scripts TRICARE: 2026 Guide to Pharmacy Benefits
*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or the official TRICARE program. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*
## Quick answer Express Scripts is the sole Pharmacy Benefit Manager for the entire TRICARE program. They manage your prescriptions, handle home delivery (mail order) services, and oversee the network of retail pharmacies used by military members, retirees, and their families worldwide.
In detail
Express Scripts manages the TRICARE Pharmacy Program under a massive federal contract. Whether you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, Select, or for Life, your medications flow through their systems. They are responsible for the formulary (the list of covered drugs), the home delivery pharmacy, and the 24/7 pharmacist helpline.
### Ways to Fill Prescriptions Under the Express Scripts contract, you have four ways to get your medications:
1. **Military Pharmacies:** Usually located inside a Military Treatment Facility (MTF). There is $0 copay here for most drugs. 2. **TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery:** Managed directly by Express Scripts. This is the most cost-effective option for "maintenance medications" (drugs you take every day). 3. **Retail Network Pharmacies:** A network of ~50,000 pharmacies (like Walgreens, CVS, or local groceries) where you pay a higher copay but get immediate access. 4. **Non-Network Pharmacies:** The most expensive option; you pay the full price upfront and file a claim for partial reimbursement.
### 2026 Pharmacy Copayments For most beneficiaries (excluding Active Duty Service Members, who pay $0), the following rates apply for the 2026 plan year:
| Drug Category | Home Delivery (90-day) | Retail Network (30-day) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Generic** | $14 | $17 | | **Brand-Name (Formulary)** | $38 | $43 | | **Non-Formulary** | $76 | $76 |
*Note: Maintenance drugs must be filled via Home Delivery or an MTF after two fills at a retail pharmacy, or you may be responsible for the full cost.*
### The Express Scripts Website & App Beneficiaries should create a profile at militaryrx.express-scripts.com to: * **Check coverage:** Use the "Price a Medication" tool to see if a drug is covered and what the copay is. * **Track shipments:** See when your mail-order refills are expected to arrive. * **Manage payments:** Set up auto-pay for your copayments. * **Find a pharmacy:** Search for the closest retail network pharmacy to your current ZIP code.
## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** All prescriptions are $0, but they must use military pharmacies or Express Scripts Home Delivery when possible to maintain full coverage. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Apply the standard copays seen above for retail and home delivery. * **Retirees and their Families:** Includes those on TRICARE Select and TRICARE for Life. These members are the primary users of the Express Scripts Home Delivery service. * **National Guard/Reserve:** Members enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).
Common scenarios
**Scenario 1: Chronic Condition Management** Jane is a TRICARE Select retiree taking a daily "Brand-Name" blood pressure medication. Instead of paying $43 every month at a retail drugstore ($129 for 90 days), she switches to Express Scripts Home Delivery. For the 2026 plan year, she pays just $38 for a 90-day supply, saving $91 every three months.
**Scenario 2: Immediate Need (Antibiotics)** Mark, an Active Duty Family Member, is diagnosed with strep throat and needs antibiotics immediately. He visits a local Walgreens (a retail network pharmacy). He pays a one-time $17 copay (2026 rates) for the 30-day generic generic prescription because he cannot wait for mail delivery.
**Scenario 3: Specialty Medications** Sarah requires a specialized injectable drug for rheumatoid arthritis. Because this is a specialty medication, Express Scripts requires her to use their **Accredo** specialty pharmacy. Her copay remains at the standard formulary rate, but the shipping and handling are managed by Accredo’s specialized clinical team.
## Related terms * **Formulary:** The list of generic and brand-name drugs covered by the TRICARE pharmacy program. * **T-5 Contract:** The current TRICARE contract (effective 2025) which changed regional contractors but retained Express Scripts as the pharmacy manager. * **Accredo:** The specialty pharmacy wing of Express Scripts used for complex, high-cost medications. * **Prior Authorization:** A requirement where your doctor must justify the need for a specific drug to Express Scripts before they will cover it. * **MTF (Military Treatment Facility):** An on-base clinic or hospital where pharmacy services are typically free.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Pharmacy Page:** https://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy * **Express Scripts TRICARE Portal:** https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/ * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** https://health.mil/