Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is available to everyone with Medicare, including Tricare beneficiaries. Tricare users must sign up for Medicare Part B when they become eligible or risk losing Tricare, so you may wonder if you should sign up for Medicare Part D since you already have prescription coverage under Tricare.
Here’s what’s covered under each program, including the costs and limitations, and how to decide what you should do.
Read More: Medicare Open Enrollment and Medicare Advantage Plans
What is Medicare’s Drug Coverage?
Medicare’s conventional drug coverage, outside the Medicare Advantage system, is Medicare Part D. Private insurance companies provide Medicare Part D plans, so the costs and coverage vary.
Beneficiary Costs
- For 2027, the base beneficiary premium will be $41.33, up from $38.99 in 2026, although premiums vary.
- The 2027 maximum deductible is $700, up from $615 in 2026. Deductibles vary by plan; you pay this out of pocket before Medicare pays anything.
- Copays initially vary by plan. Medicare introduced a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescriptions in 2025, which went up to $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027.
- CMS hadn’t published 2027 plan costs as of Oct. 16.
Related: Medicare Open Enrollment
What is Tricare’s Drug Coverage?
Tricare offers drug coverage as a part of its normal insurance programs (Prime, Select, etc.). If you are retired and enrolled in Tricare for Life, you automatically receive prescription drug coverage at no extra cost. If you take maintenance drugs, such as blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication, etc., you must get them filled via Tricare’s mail order pharmacy. If you need drugs for acute care, such as after surgery, you can get them at your local pharmacy or on base. You will normally be responsible for a co-pay.
At a military pharmacy, you can normally get up to a 90-day supply for free. At a retail in-network pharmacy, you will normally pay $16 for a 30-day supply of generic drugs, $48 for brand-name drugs, or $85 for non-formulary drugs. If you choose home delivery, you can get up to a 90-day supply of generic drugs for $14, $44 for brand name, or $85 for non-formulary in 2026 and 2027.
Related: Tricare and FEDVIP Open Seasons: When to Enroll and What You Can Do
Should Tricare Beneficiaries Sign up for Medicare Part D?
It will almost always be to your advantage to keep Tricare pharmacy benefits over Medicare Part D. However, if you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for extra help from Medicare.
Related: Tricare Pharmacy Program: Overview and Current Costs
Keep Up with Changes to Tricare and Your Other Benefits
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26 Comments
Interesting update on Medicare Part D or Tricare Pharmacy: Which Is Better?. Curious how the grades will trend next quarter.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Nice to see insider buying—usually a good signal in this space.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Silver leverage is strong here; beta cuts both ways though.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Silver leverage is strong here; beta cuts both ways though.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Production mix shifting toward USA might help margins if metals stay firm.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Interesting update on Medicare Part D or Tricare Pharmacy: Which Is Better?. Curious how the grades will trend next quarter.
The cost guidance is better than expected. If they deliver, the stock could rerate.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Production mix shifting toward USA might help margins if metals stay firm.
Uranium names keep pushing higher—supply still tight into 2026.
Uranium names keep pushing higher—supply still tight into 2026.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
The cost guidance is better than expected. If they deliver, the stock could rerate.
If AISC keeps dropping, this becomes investable for me.
I like the balance sheet here—less leverage than peers.
Good point. Watching costs and grades closely.
Silver leverage is strong here; beta cuts both ways though.