Troop Health Care Access Remains Top Concern, Leaders Say
In testimony before Congress this week, top enlisted leaders from the U.S. military services raised deep concerns over continued obstacles to health care access for service members and their families—a problem that has persisted despite ongoing reforms. The issue was highlighted in the latest congressional hearing on military quality of life, during which senior noncommissioned officers described it as one of the most frequently voiced frustrations among troops. The topic was examined in detail in an article published by Military Times titled, “Health care access a top complaint among troops, top enlisted leaders tell lawmakers.”
The enlisted leaders, who serve as principal advisors to military service chiefs, emphasized that access problems span both domestic care through the military’s direct health system and outsourced medical services under the TRICARE program. Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea each reported recurring complaints from service members about delays in receiving care, difficulty finding specialist appointments, and inconsistency in services depending on geographic location.
“What we hear constantly is the challenge of access to health care—and not just for the service members, but for their families,” said Ruiz during his testimony. The sentiment was echoed by his counterparts, who also highlighted how such difficulties can undermine morale, increase stress among families, and even factor into decisions to leave the service.
Military families stationed in rural or underserved areas encounter the most pressing issues, as local civilian providers often do not accept TRICARE or have insufficient capacity to accommodate military patients. Congressional members expressed frustration over these ongoing barriers, asking Defense Department leaders why efforts to reform the system have yet to yield substantial improvements for those on the ground.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pressed the Pentagon for greater transparency and faster implementation of promised reforms. “We’ve been hearing about these problems for years,” he noted. “We want to know what’s being done to fix them—not just at the policy level, but where it matters to our troops and their families.”
In response, defense officials pointed to several ongoing initiatives designed to increase provider participation in TRICARE, streamline the referral process, and enhance telehealth access. Still, lawmakers and military leaders alike acknowledged that meaningful progress remains elusive.
The hearing also touched on related quality-of-life concerns, including housing conditions, child care availability, and pay disparities. Yet health care access remained the dominant theme, with lawmakers and military representatives alike agreeing that ensuring timely, high-quality medical services is a foundational element of readiness and retention.
Legislators signaled that they would push forward in the coming months with further oversight and potential legislative solutions aimed at addressing the persistent shortcomings. For many service members and their families, however, the delays in care remain a daily reality—one that leaders say must be dealt with more urgently as the force continues to contend with recruitment and retention challenges.
