Trends in Preventative Health Services for Veterans with Military Coverage Compared to Non-Military Coverage

Abstract

Veterans have a wide range of health care coverage options through military sources, including Veterans Affairs health care and TRICARE health plans, and non-military sources, including private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Multiple comparisons have demonstrated that care in VA facilities outperforms care in health care settings; however, differences in care delivery based on coverage source have not been fully evaluated. Increasingly, non-military payors have established numerous quality reporting programs and incentives in primary care, which may impact care delivery differentially in veterans with military compared with non-military coverage. We examined the quality of preventative care delivery over time among veterans with military coverage compared with non-military coverage.