GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Military families can reduce health care costs by taking advantage of money-saving features offered by TRICARE and TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

There are four key ways to save --using generic drugs, having medications delivered by mail, keeping doctor appointments and signing up for automatic payments.

Choose Generic Drugs
With generic drugs, families can save as much as 40 to 60 percent on prescriptions without skimping on the quality of medications.

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration requires that generic drugs have the same chemical composition and potency and affect the body in the same way as their brand-name counterparts and reports that about 42 percent of brand name drugs currently have generic equivalents.

Fill Prescriptions by Mail
Fill generic drug prescriptions using the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy and save even more -- as much as 66 percent off medicines sold at retail pharmacies.

For each prescription filled at a retail pharmacy, the co-pay for a month's supply is $3 for generic, $9 for brand name drugs, and $22 for non-formulary medications. Mail-order customers pay the same amount but receive a 90-day supply -- three times the amount they get when paying month-by-month at retail pharmacies.

Prescriptions are shipped in plain, weather-resistant pouches and received within 10 to 14 days after an order is placed, with no shipping and handling costs. Expedited shipping is available for an additional charge.

To enroll in this program, begin by telling your provider you want to use TRICARE's mail-order service and ask that he or she write two prescriptions -- one for the first month to fill immediately at a retail pharmacy and the other for a 90-day supply for the mail-order pharmacy.

A registration form is available by calling 1-866-363-8667, or visiting the Express Scripts Web site, www.expressscripts.com/TRICARE. Mail the form with the prescription to the address provided on the form. Providers may fax the prescription, but faxes from other locations cannot be accepted.

Avoid Missed Appointment Fees
One way to waste money is to miss a doctor's appointment or cancel a visit at the last minute, which causes problems for providers. Many TRICARE providers charge patients fees for missed appointments.

TRICARE regulations don't prevent providers from establishing their own policies regarding missed appointment fees. However, the provider must notify patients of this policy in advance and have the patient sign a formal agreement.

Most providers require that patients call to cancel or reschedule an appointment within a specific time, usually within 24 or 48 hours prior to the original appointment.

Use Automatic Payment Options
Military retirees can save time and the hassle of stamps and post office visits by using TriWest Healthcare Alliance's automatic payment system to pay TRICARE Prime enrollment fees.

There are three automatic payment options available on www.triwest.com: monthly allotments deducted from retirement checks; recurring credit card payments automatically charged to your Visa® or MasterCard®; and electronic funds transfers, deductions from a specified checking or savings account.

To register for automatic enrollment fee payments, visit www.triwest.com and select "online payments," then download and complete the applicable form (registered users may complete the EFT form online). Mail the completed form and the first three-month payment (check, money order, or credit card information are acceptable) to the address on the form.