Future of Military Health Care Final Report

The provision of health services and health benefits is an established and significant mission of each service branch of the U.S. military. The extent and volume of healthcare services provided through military programs have grown dramatically since World War II , resulting in the worlds largest military health care system. This system serves several distinct categories of beneficiaries, including Active Duty military personnel, families of Active Duty personnel, reservists, and military retirees and their dependents. Unlike civilian health care systems, the Military Health System must give priority to military readiness; the Nations engagement in a long war on terror; the support of a conventional war, if necessary; the provision of humanitarian relief and response to natural disasters; and the achievement of other missions required by national command authorities.