Climate Change and Your Health: What TRICARE Beneficiaries Need to Know

Heat waves, severe storms, and changing disease patterns are already affecting health care. If you use TRICARE, that can mean harder access to prescriptions, higher allergy seasons, and different emergency needs. This page tells you what to watch for and gives clear, practical steps so you and your family stay safe and keep your medicines when the weather gets worse.

How climate change affects medications and care

Hotter temperatures and power outages can spoil temperature-sensitive drugs like insulin. Floods or storms can close pharmacies and interrupt deliveries, so your refill schedule matters. Warmer seasons expand ticks and mosquitoes, raising the chance of Lyme disease and other infections that may need new prescriptions. Poor air quality during wildfires makes asthma and COPD worse, often meaning more inhaler use and doctor visits.

Supply-chain delays are common after big storms. Even if TRICARE covers a drug, you might face shortages if distribution centers are damaged. Mental health also shifts: people living through repeated disasters can face anxiety, depression, or insomnia, which could change medication needs or increase counseling appointments.

Practical steps for TRICARE members

1) Check ahead. Know which of your medicines need refrigeration and plan backup cooling (coolers with ice packs work short-term). 2) Refill early. Use TRICARE's 90-day fills or mail-order options when possible to keep an extra supply on hand. 3) Update contacts. Make sure your pharmacy and TRICARE contact info are current so you get alerts about closures or formulary changes fast.

4) Build an emergency kit. Include a list of current medications (generic and brand names), dosages, prescribing provider, and your TRICARE ID. Add a two-week supply of nonperishable meds when possible. 5) Use telehealth. If a clinic is closed, virtual visits can keep prescriptions current. TRICARE's telehealth options often cover consults and refills - check your plan before an emergency.

6) Watch local risks. If you live near wildfire zones, coastal areas, or mosquito hotspots, ask your provider about preventive steps, vaccines, or alternative meds that hold up better under stress. 7) Plan for power loss. Talk to your doctor about long-term storage solutions for temperature-sensitive drugs or about switching to formulations that tolerate room temperature.

Finally, stay informed. Follow local emergency services and Defense Health Agency notices for updates that affect TRICARE services and pharmacies. Small actions - early refills, a written med list, and telehealth familiarity - make a big difference when weather or heat interferes with care. If you’re unsure how climate risks affect your prescriptions, call your TRICARE pharmacy or health care team and ask for a plan you can use when things get unpredictable.

Tip: keep digital copies of prescriptions and insurance cards on your phone and cloud, and store paper copies in a waterproof bag. Sign up for TRICARE alerts and your local emergency notifications. If you need alternative pharmacy options during outages, ask your provider about equivalent generics or temporary supplies. These small prep moves cut stress and keep treatment going when climate events hit.