Military Health
The military health care system has two missions: to provide and maintain medical readiness during combat operations and to provide medical services and support to nondeployed military personnel, their dependents, and others entitled to Department of Defense (DoD) care. Overseeing this large and complex health care system, the DoD faces a multitude of management and economic issues. The RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research has evaluated various aspects of TRICARE—the system that provides military health care—and the Veterans Health Administration and other military health undertakings. Current studies are highlighted below.
Profiles of Current Research
Highlights of Recent Studies
Invisible Wounds: Mental Health and Cognitive Care Needs of America's Returning Veterans
Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment
Health Coverage Options for Military Retirees
A RAND survey found that, although the majority of military retirees under 65 have access to civilian health insurance, only half of those retirees choose the coverage and that even modest increases in premium costs would likely lead even more retirees to shift to TRICARE.
Related Web Sites
RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research
Working with Congress
RAND's Washington Office of Congressional Relations (OCR) furthers RAND's mission to provide objective analysis and effective solutions by disseminating research results to Congress and federal agencies. The OCR publishes a monthly electronic newsletter featuring current work on health policy. Contact: Shirley Ruhe (Shirley_Ruhe@rand.org) or Kristy Anderson (kristy@rand.org).
The RAND Health Congressional Newsletter
Top