Understanding TRICARE Costs: A Guide to Copayments, Cost-Shares, and More

TRICARE beneficiaries may encounter copayments, cost-shares, and deductibles when seeking covered health services and prescription drugs. Copayments are fixed dollar amounts, cost-shares are percentages of total costs, and deductibles are amounts paid before cost-sharing begins. Factors such as TRICARE plan, beneficiary category, and service type determine these costs. Following plan rules and using network providers can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Different TRICARE plans have varying copayments, cost-shares, and deductibles, and the TRICARE Pharmacy Program also has its own cost structure. Beneficiaries can check the Compare Costs tool and TRICARE regional contractors for up-to-date information on out-of-pocket costs.