42nd Medical Group Maxwell AFB: TRICARE Guide
*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 The 42nd Medical Group (42nd MDG) serves as the primary military treatment facility (MTF) for Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex in Montgomery, Alabama. It is an outpatient clinic providing primary care, flight medicine, and specialty services to active duty service members, retirees, and their families enrolled in TRICARE Prime. Because it is a clinic and not a full hospital, emergency care and inpatient services are referred to civilian networks in the Humana Military (East Region) area.
## In detail The 42nd Medical Group operates as a managed care clinic under the Defense Health Agency. It focuses on medical readiness for the 42nd Air Base Wing and the Air University, while providing comprehensive family health services.
### Core Services Available * **Primary Care:** Family Health, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine. * **Flight Medicine:** Specialized care for aircrews and personnel on flight status. * **Ancillary Services:** Full-service Pharmacy, Laboratory, and Radiology (X-ray). * **Dental:** Limited primarily to active duty personnel; dependents typically use the TRICARE Dental Program through United Concordia. * **Mental Health:** Counseling, ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment), and Family Advocacy.
### Connectivity to TRICARE Regions Maxwell AFB is located in the **TRICARE East Region**. As of 2026, the regional contractor is **Humana Military**. * **Referrals:** If you are a Prime enrollee at Maxwell and require a specialist (e.g., Cardiology, Oncology) or surgery, the 42nd MDG will issue a referral to a civilian provider in the Montgomery regional network. * **Emergency Care:** There is no Emergency Room at Maxwell AFB. For life-threatening emergencies, beneficiaries are instructed to call 911 or go to the nearest civilian ER (such as Baptist Medical Center South or Jackson Hospital).
### 2026 Pharmacy Information The 42nd MDG pharmacy is the most cost-effective way to get prescriptions. * **MTF Pharmacy:** No co-pay for generic or brand-name formulary drugs ($0). * **Home Delivery:** Express Scripts handles mail orders. For 2026, co-pays for a 90-day supply are generally $16 for generics and $43 for brand-name formulary drugs. * **Retail Network:** If you use a civilian pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS, 2026 co-pays are $16 for generics and $43 for brand-name for a 30-day supply.
### Appointment Booking Beneficiaries can book appointments through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal or by calling the central appointment line at 334-953-3373.
## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Required to enroll in TRICARE Prime and receive primary care at the 42nd MDG. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** May choose to enroll in TRICARE Prime (clinic-based) with $0 out-of-pocket costs for covered services at the base, or TRICARE Select (choice of civilian doctors) with annual deductibles and cost-shares. * **Retirees and their Families:** Eligible to enroll in TRICARE Prime at Maxwell on a space-available basis. If the clinic is at capacity, they must use TRICARE Select or TRICARE Prime Remote with civilian providers. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL) Users:** Beneficiaries 65+ can use the Maxwell pharmacy for $0 co-pays but generally receive primary care from Medicare-participating providers off-base.
Common scenarios
**Scenario 1: Active Duty Pharmacy Refill (2026)** Sergeant Smith needs a refill for a standard blood pressure medication. He uses the automated refill line and picks it up at the Maxwell Base Exchange (BX) pharmacy kiosk. * **Total Out-of-Pocket:** $0.
**Scenario 2: Prime Dependent Referral (2026)** The spouse of an Airman enrolled in TRICARE Prime at Maxwell needs a dermatology consult for a suspicious mole. The 42nd MDG primary care manager (PCM) submits a referral. Because Maxwell doesn't have an on-base dermatologist, she is referred to a Montgomery civilian specialist. * **Total Out-of-Pocket:** $0 (since she is Prime and had a valid referral).
**Scenario 3: TRICARE Select Urgent Care (2026)** A retiree on TRICARE Select living in Montgomery takes their child to a civilian Urgent Care center because the 42nd MDG is closed for a "training day." * **Total Out-of-Pocket:** For 2026, the TRICARE Select co-pay for an urgent care visit for a Group A retiree is approximately $37 (standard rate — check TRICARE.mil for exact current tier-based fees).
## Related terms * **MHS GENESIS:** The electronic health record system used for appointments and messaging providers at Maxwell AFB. * **PCM (Primary Care Manager):** The specific doctor or team assigned to you at the 42nd MDG who coordinates all your care. * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum out-of-pocket amount a family pays per year for covered TRICARE services. * **Humana Military:** The current contractor managing the TRICARE East network, including Montgomery, AL. * **MTF (Military Treatment Facility):** A base clinic or hospital; in this case, the 42nd Medical Group.
## Sources * **42nd Medical Group - Maxwell AFB:** https://maxwell.tricare.mil/ * **TRICARE East Regional Portal:** https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * **TRICARE Official Site:** https://www.tricare.mil/ * **MHS Genesis Patient Portal:** https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil/