ISSUE 5 | The One Who Makes Care Happen

She has three appointments to coordinate.
One child.
One referral.
One prescription.
None of it is simple.
 
In military families, care is not managed at the individual level.
It is managed at the household level.
And in most cases, that responsibility falls to a spouse.
Care is not a single appointment.
It is coordination.
 
85% of active duty spouses are women.
67% have children under 18 at home.
81% have experienced a Permanent Change of Station move, resetting providers, networks, and access.
44% report difficulty accessing care, often tied to provider availability or TRICARE acceptance.

For families seeking care for children:
42% cannot find a provider when needed
44% face wait lists or scheduling barriers
 
Someone has to make the system work.
Find the provider.
Navigate coverage.
Track appointments.
Make the call to move forward.
And that decision is rarely just clinical.

It is financial.
It is logistical.
It is immediate.
When care breaks, the household absorbs it.
 
At the Medic Now Foundation, this is where the gap becomes clear.
The Healthcare Cost Assistance Program (HCAP) focuses on the final step, helping families complete care when small, time-sensitive costs stand in the way.
Because care is not just accessed.
It has to be executed.
 
The strength of a military family is not just in service.
It is in the person who makes sure care actually happens.
 
Sources
Department of Defense
Blue Star Families
Defense Health Agency
Military OneSource
RAND Corporation