The Future of U.S. Military Health Care

Abstract

The United States Military Health System (MHS) is a $16 billion organization providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art health care for a beneficiary population of 8.2 million servicemen and servicewomen, their dependents, and retirees. Care is provided though a worldwide network of 508 Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) and supporting structures, and the cost breakdown is approximately $12 billion for the MTFs and $3.5 billion for civilian support contracts through the TRICARE system. To undertake the difficult task of providing care to such an extensive population, the MHS employs 106,000 Active military and 48,000 civilian personnel. In addition to this large Active peacetime healthcare organization, there is a vast reserve organization made up of individuals and units in the National Guard and Reserve component that completes the entire Readiness structure of the MHS.

It’s time we steered by the stars, not by the lights of each passing ship.

—General Omar Bradley