Does TRICARE for Life cover prescriptions?
Yes — TRICARE for Life includes prescription coverage through Express Scripts: $14 generic, $44 brand, $85 non-formulary for 90-day home delivery in 2026, $0 at military pharmacies, with no donut hole and full creditability for Part D. No separate drug plan is needed.
What's built in
The pharmacy benefit arrives with TFL automatically: home delivery for maintenance medications, a national retail network ($16/$48/$85 for 30-day fills), military pharmacies at $0 where stocked, and copays that count toward the $3,000 family catastrophic cap. Generic substitution applies when a generic exists, and most brand-name maintenance drugs must move to home delivery or a military pharmacy after initial retail fills — the full guide has the mechanics and the formulary tool.
The two follow-on rules
Because Express Scripts is creditable, adding Part D buys duplicate coverage — the comparison page shows why that premium almost never pays (Extra Help qualifiers excepted). And joining a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage rearranges everything: the MAPD goes primary, home delivery ends, and pharmacies must bill both — the trade examined on the TFL + MA page.
Related questions
Do I need to sign up for Express Scripts separately?
Why did my copays go up in January 2026?
You earned these benefits. Make them work together.
Whether you keep exactly what you have or add Medicare coverage alongside it, the right answer depends on your health, budget, and how you like to get care.
No cost, no obligation. You can also get help from Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or your local SHIP office.