Who typically makes up over 50 percent of those eligible for care?

The correct option is that retirees typically make up over 50 percent of those eligible for care within the military healthcare system. This demographic includes individuals who have completed their service and are accessing benefits that are extended to them post-retirement.

Retirees are an essential component of the military healthcare system as they have completed a significant period of service and are eligible for various healthcare benefits through programs such as TRICARE. This reflects the broader demographic that seeks care beyond the active duty population, highlighting the importance of providing ongoing health services to those who have served in the military.

While active duty service members and their spouses also represent significant segments of the eligible population, retirees form a larger proportion due to the cumulative number of individuals who transition to retirement each year. Additionally, veteran dependents are part of the care system as well, but they do not account for as high a percentage as retirees. This emphasizes the critical role that the retiree demographic plays in military healthcare planning and resource allocation.