The origins of the military health care benefit can be traced back nearly 70 years. Over the intervening decades, the system took on multiple names, evolved in response to DoD and public sector health care system changes, and faced multiple (and ongoing) funding and staffing threats.

The establishment of TRICARE and TRICARE For Life (TFL), along with other military health system reforms, has directly impacted your access to care and the value of the military health care benefit. Protecting that benefit from disproportionate out-of-pocket cost increases and ensuring it evolves to keep up with new technology, treatment protocols, and high-quality benchmark health plans is a top priority for MOAA.

Keep up with MOAA’s work in this and other advocacy areas by visiting our new-look Legislative Action Center. And check out these three key dates to the formation of your current health care coverage:

June 7, 1956

• What: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Dependents’ Medical Care Act of 1956.
  
  
• So What: The law codifies the eligibility for space-available military treatment facility (MTF) care for active duty family members, retirees and their families, and survivors. It also establishes coverage for civilian medical care (with cost sharing) for active duty families. Eisenhower supported the legislation as part of his push to “strengthen the career service.”

Sept. 30, 1966

• What: Congress approves the Military Medical Benefits Amendments, which provides civilian care coverage (with cost sharing) for working age retirees and would lead to the creation of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS).
  
  
• So What: After Congress passed legislation creating Medicare in 1965, working age uniformed services retirees were the only beneficiary segment without coverage for civilian medical care. Congress responded with the Military Medical Benefits Amendments that extends civilian coverage to non-Medicare eligible retirees and their dependents. The amendments also allow DoD to contract with civilian facilities, greatly expanding care options for beneficiaries. In the mid-1990s, CHAMPUS would become TRICARE Standard.

Oct. 30, 2000

• What: The FY 2001 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) becomes law.
  
  
• So What: The legislation expands TRICARE retail and mail order pharmacy coverage to Medicare-eligible retirees (and their spouses and survivors) as of April 1, 2001, and allows those beneficiaries with Medicare Parts A and B to be part of what would become known as TRICARE For Life.