Even with $0 standard copays, the $1,000 catastrophic cap serves as a hard limit on additional out-of-pocket spending per family each calendar year (Jan 1–Dec 31):
When it applies: Out-of-pocket expenses—such as prescription drug cost-shares, specialized DME (durable medical equipment), or out-of-network point-of-service fees—count toward the cap.
Reaching the limit: Once total covered family spending hits $1,000, TRICARE pays 100% of the allowable charge for all covered medical care for the rest of that year.
Annual Reset: On January 1 of every year, the balance resets to $0