Prepare a Thai pharmacy claim before leaving the counter

Practical guide

Who can use this

FMP, CHAMPVA and TRICARE beneficiaries purchasing eligible medicines in Thailand.

Eligibility and coverage rules

The payer's drug and prescribing rules still apply. A medicine's availability in a Thai pharmacy alone does not establish benefit coverage.

Steps to take

1. Ask for the drug name, strength, dosage, quantity, price, fill date, pharmacy details and prescriber information on your records.
2. For CHAMPVA, check the drug's coverage and ask how to document a foreign product when a U.S. NDC is unavailable. Do not manufacture an NDC.
3. For TRICARE prescriptions filled outside the U.S./territories, follow the specific Prescription Claims instructions and use the overseas claims route.
4. For FMP, retain the prescription and documentation connecting it to the covered condition.

Timing: TRICARE's specific Prescription Claims page states 3 years for fills outside the U.S./territories and 1 year for U.S./territory fills. Follow the drug-claim instructions and obtain clarification if your notice says otherwise.

Official actions

• TRICARE prescription claim instructions
• CHAMPVA pharmacy guidance
• Meds by Mail service guidance

Additional requirements

• FMP does not mail medicines or cover U.S. mail-order medicines.
• CHAMPVA's OptumRx retail network is described as U.S./territories. Do not present a Thai pharmacy as network-covered without verification.
• Do not promise Meds by Mail delivery to a Thai address. Current public guidance verifies restrictions on refrigerated/flammable shipments; confirm the specific destination and medicine with the service.

Thai import legality, product equivalence and a specific drug's coverage are not determined here.

Documents checklist

• Prescription
• Detailed paid pharmacy receipt
• Other insurer's EOB if applicable