Bartell Drugs TRICARE Network Guide (2026 Update)

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the official TRICARE program or the Department of Defense. For official policy and the most current data, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer Bartell Drugs is a **non-network pharmacy** for TRICARE. While you can still fill prescriptions at Bartell Drugs, you will have to pay the full price upfront and file a claim for partial reimbursement. To avoid high out-of-pocket costs, TRICARE beneficiaries should use West Region network pharmacies like Rite Aid, Walgreens, or Safeway.

## In detail Bartell Drugs, a historic pharmacy chain in the Pacific Northwest, was acquired by Rite Aid in 2020. However, for a significant period, their network status remained a point of confusion for military families in the Washington state area. As of 2026, Bartell Drugs is not a member of the Express Scripts TRICARE retail pharmacy network.

### The TRICARE Pharmacy Landscape (2026) TRICARE pharmacy benefits are managed by **Express Scripts**. The network is designed to steer beneficiaries toward low-cost options. Because Bartell Drugs is outside this network, the cost-sharing structure changes significantly.

* **Network Pharmacies:** You pay a fixed copayment (e.g., $16 for brand-name drugs in 2026). * **Non-Network Pharmacies (like Bartell Drugs):** You pay 100% of the cost at the counter. You may then file a claim with Express Scripts. If approved, you are reimbursed the cost minus the "out-of-network" deductible and/or cost-share.

### 2026 Pharmacy Options in the West Region Since TriWest Healthcare Alliance manages the West Region (effective Jan 1, 2025), and Express Scripts manages the drugs, beneficiaries near Bartell Drugs locations have several nearby network alternatives:

### Filling at Bartell Drugs: The Process If you choose to use Bartell Drugs despite the cost: 1. **Pay Upfront:** You must pay the retail price of the drug. 2. **Submit DD Form 2640:** This is the TRICARE Retail Pharmacy Claim Form. 3. **Wait for Reimbursement:** You will typically only receive back a fraction of what you paid, as TRICARE calculates reimbursement based on the "allowable charge," not the retail price you paid.

## Who this applies to * **TRICARE Prime (Active Duty & Families):** Must use network pharmacies or MTFs to avoid significant Point-of-Service (POS) charges. * **TRICARE Select Beneficiaries:** Have the most flexibility but will pay significantly higher deductibles if using non-network pharmacies like Bartell Drugs. * **TRICARE for Life (TFL) Members:** Generally required to use the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery or network retail pharmacies for maintenance medications after two fills. * **Washington State Residents:** This specifically impacts those living in the Puget Sound area where Bartell Drugs has a heavy footprint.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: The Urgent Antibiotic Sarah, a TRICARE Prime dependent in Seattle, needs an urgent antibiotic on a Sunday. She goes to the Bartell Drugs next to her house. She pays **$85.00** (the full retail price). To get money back, she must mail a claim to Express Scripts. After the non-network penalty, she might only get $20 back. If she had gone to the Rite Aid two blocks away, she would have paid a **$16.00 copay** (2026 rate) and no paperwork.

### Scenario 2: Maintenance Medication John, a TRICARE Select retiree, tries to fill his monthly blood pressure medication at Bartell Drugs. Because he has not met his out-of-network deductible, he pays the full **$120.00** retail cost. Because this is a maintenance drug, TRICARE rules suggest he should use **Express Scripts Home Delivery**, where his 90-day supply would cost only **$13.00** (for generic) in 2026.

## Related terms * **Express Scripts:** The private contractor that manages the TRICARE pharmacy benefit. * **Point-of-Service (POS):** An option for Prime enrollees to see non-network providers at a higher cost. * **Allowable Charge:** The maximum amount TRICARE will pay for a covered service or drug. * **Maintenance Medication:** Drugs taken daily for chronic conditions (e.g., cholesterol, blood pressure). * **T-5 Contract:** The 2025 regional contract transition that shifted the West Region to TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

## Sources * **TRICARE Pharmacy Overview:** [https://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy](https://www.tricare.mil/pharmacy) * **Express Scripts TRICARE Portal:** [https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/](https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [https://www.triwest.com/](https://www.triwest.com/)