Unfortunately I don't have the reports handy but one of things is that they achieve outcomes similar to private health systems given much less money per capita.

Unfortunately I don't have the reports handy but one of things is that they achieve outcomes similar to private health systems given much less money per capita. Outcomes do take into account the starting conditions ("comorbidities") so this doesn't necessarily mean that the actual health of that population is better than average population. Because as you pointed out, service people get a pretty raw deal when it comes to occupational hazard. ;( Additional info: RAND analysis about VA and non-VA care -- http://www.rand.org/blog/2012/08/socialized-or-not-we-can-learn-from-the-va.html http://www.rand.org/blog/2012/08/socialized-or-not-we-can-le... Meta-study commissioned by the VA looking at existing studies comparing quality of care in VA and out of VA -- http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/esp/quality.pdf http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/publications/esp/quality.pdf