By the Numbers: 5 February

By the Numbers: 5 February

By the Numbers Graphic

9.4 Million

The number of beneficiaries served by the military health system in (FY) 2017, "both on the battlefield and off," according to a 2017 Defense Primer on the Military Health System prepared last year by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

With a 2017 budget request of $49 billion, the DOD’s unified medical program represents about 8% of DOD’s total budget. Beneficiaries may obtain care from DOD-operated and staffed medical and dental facilities (referred to collectively as “military treatment facilities”) or through care from civilian providers purchased through an insurance program known as TRICARE. Purchased care accounts for approximately 52% of the total cost of care delivered through the military health system.