

Historically, health care for military personnel and their dependents was provided in military medical facilities as promised by the military, and through a referral system, by civilian medical personnel where military physicians were not available in a certain specialty, or when and where overcrowding of a military medical facility occurred.Īctive duty military personnel always have priority for care in military medical facilities. With the exception of active duty service members (who are assigned to the Tricare Prime option and pay no out-of-pocket costs for Tricare coverage), Military Health System beneficiaries may have a choice of Tricare plan options depending upon their status (e.g., active duty family member, retiree, reservist, child under age 26 ineligible for family coverage, Medicare-eligible, etc.) and geographic location. The Department of Defense's unified medical program represents $50.6 billion or 8% of total FY2019 U.S. The Department of Defense operates a health care delivery system served approximately 9.4 million beneficiaries in 2018. On that date, it was disestablished and Tricare responsibility was transferred to the newly established Defense Health Agency.

Before 1 October 2013, it was managed by the Tricare Management Activity under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). The Tricare program is managed by the Defense Health Agency. Tricare functions similar to a single-payer healthcare system. Tricare is the civilian care component of the Military Health System, although historically it also included health care delivered in military medical treatment facilities.

Tricare provides civilian health benefits for U.S Armed Forces military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents, including some members of the Reserve Component. Tricare (styled TRICARE) is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)
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Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. > Learn more.This article needs to be updated. Pay any enrollment fees or premiums due during that period.Ī QLE for one family member means all family members may make enrollment changes.

