TRICARE makes OTC coverage permanent benefit

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The health care programn for uniformed service members on Thursday announced that its over-the-counter drug coverage is here to stay. Formerly a demonstration program, TRICARE's OTC benefit becomes a permanent part of the TRICARE pharmacy benefit on Feb. 1. 

 

On that day beneficiaries must pay the usual generic copays for covered OTC drugs. OTC drug coverage will still require a prescription from their doctor. 

 

Female beneficiaries can still get levonorgestrel, an emergency contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy. 

 

Feb. 1 also brings a change to which drugs are available under the OTC benefit. The allergy medications cetirizine and loratadine were previously covered, but now the versions that contain pseudoephedrine are also covered. However, brand name Prilosec OTC is no longer covered. The generic version, omeprazole, is still covered, as is the prescription version of Prilosec.