Service and sacrifice: Understanding whole health care through the eyes of military families

This study explores the lived experiences of active-duty service members and their families to better understand the systemic challenges they face in accessing whole-person health care through TRICARE and related systems and how stakeholders can better serve their unique care needs.

Conducted in early 2025 across 5 states and involving 84 in-home interviews, this research builds on foundational studies conducted by Optum Serve and Fusion Hill from 2018 to 2022. It highlights the unique pressures military families face — frequent relocations, deployments, childcare gaps and financial instability — and how these stressors intersect with health care access, continuity and quality. Download to learn more!