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The Department of Defense (DoD) and Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) work together to promote a high-quality, cost-effective pharmacy benefit. A key factor in making this benefit a success is the mandatory generic drug program, which has been in place for more than 10 years.

It is DoD policy to use generic medications instead of brand-name medications, whenever possible. If a generic equivalent drug does not exist, the brand-name drug will be dispensed at the brand-name cost.

Currently, brand-name drugs that have a generic equivalent may only be dispensed if there is clinical justification for use of the brand-name drug in place of the generic equivalent.

ESI is proud to serve your prescription drug needs. Visit the Express-Scripts Web site for more information on your prescription drug benefit or call 1-866-DoD-TRRX (1-866-363-8779).

       
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You asked for it and we listened! TRICARE Beneficiaries have been asking for a method to pay Prime enrollment fees by telephone. Humana Military has met that request with the new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) payment system.

“The main reason the IVR payment system was implemented was due to another pilot project for which we had been recording after-hours calls, and callers repeatedly said, ‘I want to make a payment on the phone, now’,” explains Wanda Mabry, manager of Humana Military’s IVR Team.

The new IVR system allows you to make a payment over the phone 24 hours a day, seven days per week. It also provides information and allows you to request forms to set up future automatic monthly payments.

The IVR system is convenient and easy to use. Anytime you need to make a payment, call 1-800-444-5445, press the option for payments and then follow the prompts.

If you call during business hours your call will automatically default to a live customer service representative. If you would rather use the automated IVR to make your payment instead of speaking with a customer service representative, select the option for the automated payment IVR. If you call after business hours you can select the option for payment information and choose the automated payment IVR option.

When you call to make a payment you will need to have this information available:
       

• Sponsor’s Social Security number
• Payment amount
• Type of credit card (e.g., MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover)
• Verification of name on credit card
• Credit card number
• Credit card expiration date

Upon successful completion, you will receive an authorization number. Please record this number in your files.

If you are interested in setting up automatic monthly payments, the IVR will fax the appropriate forms directly to you. It can also give you the Web site address, where you can download the forms yourself.

If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, you have the choice of either selecting the TRICARE Prime Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Authorization form, to have payments withdrawn from your bank account, or the TRICARE Prime Enrollment Fee Allotment Authorization form to have payments deducted from your retirement check. TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) beneficiaries can select the TRICARE Reserve Select EFT Authorization form to set up automatic payments.

“The new IVR automated payment system is one way Humana Military tries to meet our callers’ needs; we hope it will give our callers a good experience,” concludes Mabry.

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Last Update:  April 3, 2008