Military Health Care: The Issue of "Promised" Benefits (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Aug. 12, 2003 |
| Report Number |
98-1006F |
| Authors |
David F. Burrelli |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Many military health care beneficiaries, particularly military retirees, their
dependents, and those representing their interests, state that theywere promised “free
health care forlife at military facilities” as part oftheir “contractual agreement” when
they entered the armed forces. Efforts to locate authoritative documentation of such
promises have not been successful. Congressional report language and at least three
recent court cases have rejected retiree claims seeking ‘free care at military facilities’
as a right or entitlement. These have held that the current medical benefit structure
made up ofmilitaryhealth care facilities, Tricare and Medicare provide lifetime health
care to military members, retirees and their respective dependents. Nevertheless,
claims continue to be made, particularly by those seeking additional benefitsfromthe
Department of Defense, or attempting to prevent an actual or perceived reduction in
benefits.
