It's November, which means Federal Benefits Open Season is almost here. Today, Maddie and Kyle discuss health insurance, dental and vision insurance, and flexible spending account options before diving into changes for the Foreign Service Benefit Plan for 2025. 

 This is just the start of AFSPA's Open Season work. Please find more information at www.afspa.org/openseason. 

Join us for a webinar or other event throughout Open Season. You can find the full list of webinars at www.afspa.org/events.  

View our past recordings of podcasts and AFSPA Live events at www.youtube.com/afspacares. 

To learn more about the open enrollment period through December 1, 2024, for our Group Enhanced Life (GEL) and Immediate Benefit Plan (IBP) programs, visit www.afspa.org/life. 

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM), and we are kicking things off with a focus on millennials. With our guest, Nicole Devlin from Prudential, we discuss the needs of this population and why now might be the best time for them to consider this important part of their financial portfolio. 

 This episode is just the start of a busy month. Join us for more events, all available at www.afspa.org/events. 

• What You Should Know About Life Insurance webinar on 9/17 at 8 AM, 1 PM, and 6 PM ET. Register here. 
• Senior Living Foundation's Planning for Change Seminar on 9/24 at 1 PM ET at AFSPA Headquarters. Register here.
• Prudential Financial Wellness Checkups on 9/24 and 9/25. Register here. 
• AFSPA Live on 9/26 at 11 AM ET about AFSPA Life Insurance Plans. Watch live at youtube.com/afspacares.
• For more information on AFSPA's life insurance programs, visit www.afspa.org/life.

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, we discuss a new solution from Teladoc. Lisa DeLarso joins us to share about Virtual Primary Care.

Primary360 is a virtual primary care solution that inspires lasting relationships between people and care providers through longitudinal care plans, continuous care team support, and a unified, whole-person experience. Primary360 offers a solution that isn’t always available with traditional care—including personalization, flexibility, choice, convenience, and care coordination. From the new patient visit to every checkup afterward, Primary360 allows people to be fully supported by a care team across their healthcare needs.

For more information about virtual primary care, please visit Teladoc.com/Aetna or call 1-855-835-2362. 

Please note that the virtual primary care program is available only to FSBP members physically located in the United States.

To kick off our 2024 podcasts, we have an episode focused on one of the new programs available to FSBP members: Maven Clinic. Maven is a comprehensive virtual care platform providing critical support across fertility, pregnancy, adoption, parenting, pediatrics, and ongoing care including all stages of menopause. This program became available to FSBP members on January 1 at no cost. 

Marcy Cuneo and Teresa Wilkinson from Maven join AFSPA Talks to provide an overview of what Maven offers and how their care model works. Maven leaders will join us for AFSPA Live on February 29 at 11 am ET. See www.afspa.org/events for all of our upcoming events. 

To learn more about Maven, go to http://mavenclinic.com/join/FSBP

See the 2024 FSBP Brochure for full details of infertility coverage.

Please note that all infertility services, whether received in the U.S. or overseas, require prior approval. Call 800-593-2354 before scheduling services.

You also can connect with fertility advocates by calling 833-415-1709.

With today's episode, we address the most frequently asked questions on open season. A panel of AFSPA experts joins to provide answers and clarity on changes for 2024. 

For more information on open season, please visit www.afspa.org/openseason 

To contact the infertility prior approval line, call 1-800-593-2354. 

To contact the Plan's fertility advocate, call 1-833-415-1709. 

For more information about the FSBP Express Scripts Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, visit www.afspa.org/pdp. You will find the form there to opt out. 

For more on our direct billing partners, visit https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/overseas/overseas-partners/. 

For more information on dental, life, and disability insurance programs offered by AFSPA, visit www.afspa.org/aip.

Today, Kyle and Maddie discuss the 2024 open season with a particular focus on the improvements under FSBP. In particular, their discussion focuses on: 

• Increases in the allowance for alternative benefits: massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic services; 
• Expansion in the coverage of infertility services; and 
• The new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) 

Don't miss other upcoming open-season events. Find all of our events at www.afspa.org/events. 

We couldn't fit all the information into the podcast, so here are some links with more information: 

• AFSPA/FSBP Open Season information: www.afspa.org/openseason 
• FSBP-Express Scripts Prescription Drug Plan (PDP): www.afspa.org/pdp 
• Prior approval line for Comprehensive Infertility and ART: 800-593-2354 
• Fertility Advocate: 833-415-1709 
• Gender Affirming Surgical prior approval: 800-593-2354 

There are an increasing number of diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in both children and adults. Despite the prevalence of this diagnosis, many do not understand this condition. Today, we welcome a health coach from Brightline Health who will walk through the basics of ADHD including behaviors, symptoms and treatments. Our guest discusses the support offered by Brightline Health, an in-network, stateside provider for Foreign Service Benefit Plan members. 

Learn more and sign up for Brightline at www.hellobrightline.com/fsbp

Check out our latest blog about ADHD at afspa.org/blogs.

Find information about FSBP changes for 2024 and events around open season at www.afspa.org/openseason

Our full events calendar is available at www.afspa.org/events.

Beginning in January 2024, many Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) plans will be offering a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) to their members. The Foreign Service Benefit Plan will be among them. This program will result in savings for our members aged 65 and older. Join us for a detailed discussion of PDPs generally and the specifics of the FSBP PDP. 

Mark your calendars for two upcoming discussions of the FSBP PDP: 

October 31, at 12 noon ET - We will offer a live webinar with an overview of the PDP and a chance for you to ask your questions. 

November 30 at 11 am ET - Our monthly AFSPA Talks program will focus on the PDP and offer another opportunity for you to get answers about this program. 

You can learn more at www.afspa.org/fsbp/pdp. 

If you have questions about the benefits under the PDP, please contact the dedicated Express Scripts line at 855-690-8353, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

For more information on Medicare Part D premiums, please visit https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/monthly-premium-for-drug-plans. Please see the 2024 chart at the bottom of the page (based on 2022 income). 

In 2021, we offered an episode diving into the various options that are available for long-term care insurance. Shortly after we aired that program, the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIS or LTCFEDS) stopped accepting new applications and enrollments and changes to existing enrollments, and the stoppage is expected to last through at least December 2024. At the same time, the program is going through a contract renewal which is resulting in premium increases for many enrollees. 

This week, we welcome back Federal retiree and benefits expert Tammy Flanagan of Retire Federal. She breaks down the basics of LTC insurance, how the Federal program works, what these rate increases may mean, and the options LTCFEDS enrollees have as these changes occur. Don't miss this informative episode on a widely used Federal program. 

Links: 

Retire Federal - https://www.retirefederal.com/

Tammy's previous episode on Federal Retirement Planning - https://afspatalks.buzzsprout.com/1756283/11388923-afspa-talks-federal-retirement-planning

AFSPA Talks Long Term Care Insurance episode - https://afspatalks.buzzsprout.com/1756283/9592735-afspa-talks-long-term-care

Tammy's podcast "Plan Your Federal Retirement" - https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com/podcasts/

Today, AFSPA welcomes Dr. Kandis Daroski, PT, DPT, to our show to discuss a new offering from Hinge Health: their Women's Pelvic Health program. Dr. Kandis talks through common pelvic floor issues and how they manifest themselves and how they are typically treated (or more commonly not). She then talks through the innovative solution offered for treating pelvic floor disorders - remote exercise and physical therapy from Hinge Health. This program is available to FSBP members beginning October 1, 2023. 

Visit https://hinge.health/fsbp-podcast to learn more about all the programs from Hinge Health.

Find more information about how meditation can help with pelvic health: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pain-and-the-whole-body/202309/how-meditation-can-support-pelvic-health

Register for a Hinge Health webinar to learn more: https://hingehealth.zoom.us/webinar/register/7616960129707/WN_nNXZdYArRpu56qeUXqkmzA 
Did you know that many women experience symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) for years without realizing it? Join Dr. Kandis Daroski and Dr. Bijal Toprani, two pelvic health experts from Hinge Health, for an insightful discussion about pelvic health and how to care for it.

Please note: This webinar is designed for those with female vaginal anatomy and is hosted by Hinge Health, a covered insurance benefit that employees on certain healthcare plans have access to. Please confirm with your employer if you qualify for Hinge Health.

For many of us, the end of August means a return to school. That transition can come with a number of changes and challenges. Today, we explore some of the mental health challenges that may arise and how parents can promote mental wellness for their kids of all ages. Jodi Harris, LCSW, of Active and Connected Family Therapy brings her unique experience as both a mental health professional working with Foreign Service families and an EFM herself to the discussion. 

Jodi also will be our guest on AFSPA Live at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday, August 31. Join us on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn. 

Resources discussed on today's show: 

Good Inside by Becky Kennedy: https://www.goodinside.com/book/

The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.: https://drdansiegel.com/book/the-whole-brain-child/

Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds by David C. Pollock and Ruth Van Reken: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/121920.Third_Culture_Kids

Foreign Service Youth Foundation: https://www.fsyf.org/

Active & Connected Families Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-connected-families/id1547081877

Families in Global Transition: https://www.figt.org/

Skin cancer is the most common cancer and 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. As we spend more time in the sun due to summertime, it is important to know the different types of skin cancer, how to prevent it, and what treatments are available. To help us understand more about skin cancer, we have Leah B. Jacobson, Sr. Medical Director at Aetna joining us.

Links discussed in today's episode:
UV Awareness blog: https://www.afspa.org/blog/unveiling-the-dangers-of-uv-rays/
Everybody Deserves a Massage blog: https://www.afspa.org/blog/get-a-massage-on-us-you-deserve-it/
Teladoc: https://teladoc.com/

If you haven't already, make sure you have completed the Foreign Service Benefit Plan Member Satisfaction survey! You can find the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/mm30TVftrN

It’s August, and for many families, that means preparing for a return to school. This can be a challenge for kids and parents. Changing routines, decreasing free time, and, for many of our members, new locations can make for bumpy August and September. Our guests today, working from Brightline Health, will provide some strategies for families to ease the return to school for everyone. 

 Learn more about Brightline Health and sign up for it at www.hellowbrightline.com/fsbp. (Brightline is considered an in-network provider with FSBP. Services are available to FSBP members in the U.S. only. Calendar year deductible and coinsurance apply.)

Dr. Kendra Read is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Vice President of Therapy at Brightline. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She completed her internship in pediatric psychology at Nemours Hospital for Children and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Stanford University School of Medicine in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department.  Previously, she served as the Director of the Mood & Anxiety Program and Director of Anxiety Programs at Seattle Children’s Hospital, as well as the Director of Psychotherapy Training at the University of Washington School of Medicine Child Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Read specializes in the treatment of youth with anxiety disorders and OCD from a cognitive behavioral therapy perspective. She is highly invested in increasing access to evidence-based behavioral health interventions for youth and their families.

Irene Biscante is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and the Vice President of Coaching at Brightline. She holds a bachelor's degree in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Education and Promotion from Brigham Young University - Idaho and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Child and Adolescent Therapy at Northcentral University. With over seven years of experience in health and behavior change startups such as Noom, Omada Health, and Sanvello Health, Irene has specialized in scaling evidence-based and personalized behavioral coaching through 1:1 video sessions, secured chat, and group/peer sessions. Irene was part of the early team at Brightline where she established the Behavioral Health Coaching function, built the coaching team, co-created coaching programs using evidence-based tools and practices, and developed quality oversight programs to ensure safe and high quality care services at Brightline. With behavioral coaching as an emerging field and a brand new service offering for youth, she successfully transitioned this offering from a direct-to-consumer, out-of-pocket service to a service covered by health plans and employers due to strong care outcomes across all ages. Prior to joining Brightline, Irene served as a coach manager at Noom Inc., where she managed teams, led hiring and onboarding processes, and was a founding internal faculty member in the company’s accredited national board certification program for health coaches. She has coached thousands of individuals both in-person and across digital platforms on a national and international scale. Irene is passionate about expanding access to mental health services independent of income or social status, developing coaches, behavior specialists, and health educators to focus on youth mental health using evidence-based and culturally competent care practices, and reshaping the narrative around youth and family mental health through proactive prevention, early intervention strategies, and behavior change initiatives.

It's summer, and for many of us, that means some travel. These days, travel is rarely without some interruption or challenge, and there's help available when the unexpected becomes inevitable. AFSPA's Sr. Director for Ancillary Insurance Programs Adrienne Seabrooks joins us to help demystify travel insurance and tell us what to look for when considering policies.

This month, AFSPA wants to see your best vacation or travel photos. The photos don't have to be from 2023, and they don't have to include you (but we encourage it). Ten people will be selected to win a FREE AFSPA Surprise Pack. There are two ways to enter:

1. Tag @afspacares on Facebook or Instagram in your favorite vacation or travel photos. Make sure to include the hashtag "#AFSPATravelAdventure" to have your photo considered. 
2. Email your photos to outreach@afspa.org. 

The deadline for submissions is Monday, July 24, 2023, at 11:59 pm EST. We will select the winners in the first week of August and notify them by email. 

Links discussed in today's episode:

AFSPA's travel insurance plans: www.afspa.org/travel

CDC Traveler's Health site: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): https://step.state.gov/

This episode has been in the works for more than a month. April was Autism Awareness Month. Approximately 1 in 36 people are diagnosed with autism, but many of us understand little about the diagnosis. Today, Heather Buzbee of Brightline Health joins us to share her experience as a practitioner and a parent and help us understand this condition. In this interview, we learn about diagnoses, the uniqueness of each person diagnosed with autism, prevalent struggles faced by people with autism, and more. 

PLEASE NOTE: There is a brief discussion of mental illness and suicidality in this episode. 

Learn more about Brightline Health at www.hellobrightline.com/fsbp

For support with autism and other needs, contact the FSBP Care Management Team at 1-800-593-2354. 

#autism #autismawareness

This week, we bring you an overview of health topics for the month of May: Mental Health Awareness Month, Blood Pressure Awareness Month, Better Speech and Hearing Month, and Women’s Health Week. There are a number of programs mentioned in this episode, and here are links to those:

AFSPA’s events calendar: www.afspa.org/events

AFSPA’s blog: www.afspa.org/blogs

myStrength: www.mystrength.com – access code FSBP

AbleTo: www.AbleTo.com

Brightline: www.hellobrightline.com/FSBP

Teladoc (U.S.): www.teladoc.com/Aetna

vHealth (overseas): www.vhealth-teladochealth.com/en

Truman Group: https://trumangroup.com/

Livongo: http://get.livongo.com/FSBP

Lifestyle and Condition Coaching Program: www.myactivehealth.com/FSBP

Hearing Aid Discount Program: www.afspa.org/aip - Discount Care Programs

A recent WHO study concluded that 1 in 6 adults around the world experiences infertility in their lifetime. Procedures for diagnosing and treating infertility have come a long way in recent decades, and health insurance coverage around these procedures continues to evolve. In 2023, the Foreign Service Benefit Plan ( FSBP) offered coverage of assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures for the first time.

In this episode, we share with you again an interview with Dr. Jordan Pritzker on the topics of infertility and treatment initially shared in December 2022. 

• FSBP Prior approval for ART procedures - 800-923-2220
• FSBP Fertility Advocate - 833-415-1709
• Institutes of Excellence (IOE) Infertility Providers - www.aetnainfertilitycare.com

Today, we bring you something a bit different than our typical episode. It was just over three years ago, in March 2020, when COVID-19 profoundly changed life for most of us. The last three years had profound effects on healthcare around the world - how it's delivered, how data is used, and how we approach issues at a population level. 

Dr. Timothy Foggin of Teladoc Health Canada brings his experience and expertise in family medicine, population health, and international healthcare management to this topic. The discussion covers issues of population health, pandemic preparation, telehealth, and the future of care delivery. 

This week we shift our focus from FSBP to everything else AFSPA does. Sr. Dir. of Ancillary Insurance Programs Adrienne Coleman-Seabrooks provides an overview of our other offerings, from insurance to professional services. Listen for a special announcement about our Group Enhanced Life (GEL) program. 

For more information about AIP offerings, visit AFSPA.org/AIP. 

This week, we have an episode that may be of particular interest to the 1,700+ new enrollees who joined FSBP during open season: an overview of the Plan and how it works. We also included a bit about the changes for 2023 for long-time members. Learn more about some of the features mentioned in this episode:

Changes for 2023: https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/new-for-2023/

FSBP Wellness Programs: https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/wellness-programs/

FSBP Prescription Drugs Coverage: https://www.afspa.org/prescriptions/

FSBP Overseas Care: https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/overseas/

Contact a nurse care manager at 800-593-2354

Recent changes in access to military treatment facilities (MTFs) have had an outsize effect on DoD civilians in Japan. This episode reviews coverage and programs available to members in Japan - and in many cases around the world - and how to access these benefits. 

For more information about vHealth, please visit https://vhealth-teladochealth.com/en. 

For more information about Livongo chronic condition support, visit get.livongo.com/FSBP 

For a list of our overseas direct billing partners, visit https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/overseas/. 

Happy New Year! In our first AFSPA Talks episode of 2023, AFSPA COO and host,  Kyle Longton, discusses some common New Year's resolutions and the programs AFSPA offers to help you keep them. You can find a full outline of the Foreign Service Benefit Plan wellness programs at https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/wellness-programs/.

For more information on the Financial Wellness Program, click here. 

Happy New Year! AFSPA Talks is taking a quick break on doing a full episode this week, but we’ll be back in two weeks with a full episode airing on Monday, Jan 23rd where we’ll be talking about the post-holiday blues and the wellness programs we offer to help Foreign Service Benefit Plan members and their dependents. This includes programs like our digital coaching and our Lifestyle and Condition Coaching Program, so stay tuned!

Don’t forget to join us for our AFSPA Live broadcast on our YouTube channel @afspacareson Thursday, Jan 26that 11:00am ET where we will be answering your questions about the new FSBP-Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan which we started offering this year

In this episode, we talk with John McQuillan from Teladoc Health UK. He walks us through the care and consultation options available to Foreign Service Benefit Plan (FSBP) members outside the U.S. for general medical and mental health needs. He offers some examples that will be familiar to many of our members worldwide. 

 These benefits are branded as vHealth (Worldwide) in the FSBP Brochure Sections 5(a) and 5(e): https://www.afspa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024_FSBP_Brochure_-RI-72-001_Final_1.8.2024.pdf. 

To access the Teladoc Health services outside the U.S. - branded as vHealth under FSBP benefits, download the vHealth (Worldwide) app from the App Store or Google Play Store. You also can visit https://vhealth-teladochealth.com/en. To reach them by phone, call +1-857-256-3784 (U.S.) or +44-20-3499-2851 (UK). 

The holidays are upon us, and they bring with them tasty treats and stress. Managing our health this time of year can be a challenge, but it's not impossible. To provide some ways to be kind to ourselves while remaining healthy this holiday season, we welcome Grace Silverio, BSN, CDCES, RN, MSN, Director of Solution Strategy for Teladoc Health and a subject matter expert for chronic conditions. 

For more information on Livongo chronic condition solutions, visit https://www.get.livongo.com/fsbp 

For more on the wellness programs available to FSBP members, visit https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/wellness-programs/. 

With only one week left of open season, host Kyle Longton turns to some of his colleagues for help answering your most frequent questions. We touch on general information about FEHB, FEDVIP, and FSAFEDS before digging into FSBP wellness incentives and ending with a lightening round on the FSBP-Aetna Medicare Advantage Program. Some of the websites discussed in this episode include:

FEDVIP information: www.benefeds.com 

FSAFEDS: www.fsafeds.com 

FSBP-Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan: www.fsbphealth.com/retiree 

FSBP Open Season Information: www.afspa.org/openseason

AFSPA Open Season Webinars: www.afspa.org/events 

In 2023, AFSPA is offering coverage for ART procedures under the Foreign Service Benefit Plan for the first time. Today we delve into not only this coverage but also causes of infertility and the various treatments, including ART procedures. OB/GYN Jordan Pritzker, MD, MBA, FACOG, joins us to share his expertise in this area and talk us through what individual might experience as they seek to grow their families. 

For more information on infertility and mental health and personal family formation journeys, scroll back to our June episodes in your feed. 

This week, we offer a preview of our new FSBP-Aetna Medicare Advantage
Plan, a new option within FSBP for members with Medicare Parts A and B.
Learn about the special features in this plan, including Silver Sneakers and
Part B premium reductions of up to $900 per year. Also, gain an
understanding of how this plan differs from the Foreign Service Benefit Plan
you know already.

 Use the following resources to make an informed choice and find out if the FSBP-Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan is for you:

General Open Season Webinars:
www.afspa.org/events

AFSPA Open Season Information:
www.afspa.org/openseason

Information on the FSBP-Aetna
Medicare Advantage Plan:
www.fspbhealth.com/retiree

Webinars on the FSBP-Aetna Medicare
Advantage Plan: www.fsbphealth.com/webinars

FSBP-Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan
Questions: call 1-866-241-0262
Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm ET

AFSPA Talks Episode on Medicare Advantage Plans: 
https://afspatalks.buzzsprout.com/1756283/10104318-afspa-talks-medicareadvantage-plans

In this episode, COO Kyle Longton takes you through some general information about the upcoming open season before focusing on the Foreign Service Benefit Plan. Learn what's staying the same for 2023 and what enhancements are coming in the new year - including new benefits and incentives focused on maternal health, coverage for ART procedures, and a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Check out www.afpsa.org/openseason for more information and a schedule for our Open Season live webinars. We hope you can join us to have your questions answered.

In this episode, we continue our month-long focus on breast cancer with an examination of nutritional needs while undergoing cancer treatment. Kerry Coughlin, RD, CSO and Rebecca Philipps, PharmD join us to discuss this topic and support available from TherapEase Cuisine, a program available to patients who fill their cancer medications at Accredo Specialty Pharmacy. 

To learn more and enroll in the program, visit www.TherapEaseCuisine.com

On this episode, AFSPA Talks Cancer Support Programs.

In this episode, we kick off a month-long focus on breast cancer awareness. Melissa Wolf, MS, NP-C, AOCNP, joins us. As an Assistant Medical Director for PinnacleCare, she brings her expertise to provide an introduction to breast cancer: what do we mean when we say cancer, risk factors, early detection and prevention, treatment options, and when and how to get a second opinions. Melissa also will be our guest for AFSPA Live on October 27 at 11am ET. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, federal benefits expert, Tammy Flanagan, joins AFSPA COO Kyle Longton, to talk about the importance of retirement planning and the work she does at Retire Federal. She walks through the broad considerations for any federal employee as they consider their future after retirement before diving into the often-complicated topic of life insurance within the FEGLI program. You can see Tammy's work elsewhere at:

• Retire Federal: https://www.retirefederal.com/
• For Your Benefit (Federal News Network): https://federalnewsnetwork.com/category/radio-interviews/fyb-archives/
• Government Executive: https://www.govexec.com/voices/tammy-flanagan/2340/
• Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast: https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com/podcasts/

This week AFSPA Talks Financial Planning and Wealth Management with Greg Klingler, COO and VP, Wealth Management at GEBA. Greg holds a number of designations and licenses, including Certified Financial Planner, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, and the Chartered Federal Benefits Consultant Designation. You can learn more at www.gebawealth.com

Disclaimer:
Securities offered by Cape Securities Inc, Member FINRA, SIPC.
Managed money offered through Cape Securities Advisory.
Past returns do not guarantee future results. The views expressed within this podcast should not be considered a personalized recommendation. If you desire specific recommendations, please contact a financial advisor who will consider your financials, risk tolerance and investment time horizon prior to advising on potential solutions.

It's Pride Month, and we're talking with Alyssa Clayden, PhD, LCSW. She first joined us in 2021 to discuss support for LGBTQ+ youth, and we're exploring the same topic in this episode. Our focus is on how parents and other family members and allies can support children and adolescents who are exploring their identities in terms of sexual attraction and gender identity. We take some time to discuss what parents may experience and how this support can be different in the U.S. and overseas. 

Alyssa is a provider with The Truman Group - https://trumangroup.com/ - long time partners of AFSPA/FSBP. We appreciate their partnership in providing our members with access to mental health care around the globe and making today's episode possible. 

For more information on benefits and programs available to FSBP members, please visit www.afspa.org/fsbp. 

Some resources that may be helpful to our listeners:

glifaa - LGBTQIA+ pride in foreign affairs agencies - https://glifaa.org/

The Trevor Project - https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Foreign Service Youth Foundation - LGBT in the Foreign Service - https://www.fsyf.org/LGBT 

On this episode of AFSPA Talks, we combined two of our previously recorded episodes about Disability, Critical Illness, and Life Insurance. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. If you're interested in learning even more about life insurance, check out our blog at afspa.org/blogs. 

On this episode, AFSPA Talks Children's Behavioral Health with Alison Stoner and Honora Einhorn, two senior clinical managers with Brightline Health. They discuss ways parents and caregivers can support healthy behavioral emotional and social development, the effect of COVID on kids of all ages, signs that may indicate a need for care or intervention, and the network of care professionals in a child's life. They also spend time talking about Brightline and the three-tiered approach this new FSBP partner offers. 

Learn more about Brightline at www.hellobrightline.com/fsbp. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, we take a break to prepare for future podcast episodes. In the meantime, feel free to listen to any of our past episodes! We look forward to sharing a brand new episode with you next week on August 22! 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, we begin our month-long conversation about children's health care. This episode include excerpts from past episodes where COO Kyle Longton talk to pediatric experts about the beginning stages of children's health care - from preparing to welcome a child into your family, to the importance of well-child visits, recommended vaccines, and where to get resources.

 The Foreign Service Benefit Plan covers well-child visits and CDC recommended children vaccines at 100% when seen by an in-network provider. Visit afspa.org/fsbp for more information. 

Visit kidshealth.org for resources on children's health care.

For today's episode, Kyle recorded an interview with John McQuillan, General Manager, Insurance-UK, Teladoc Health. The two discussed the overseas telehealth options available to FSBP members through vHealth. They delved into general medicine, mental health, and even the logistics of how visits work and the outcomes of members who have used the program in the past. Stayed tuned at the end for the full benefit information or visit https://vhealth-teladochealth.com/en to register for the program. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, we continue our theme of overseas care by focusing on the benefits, programs, and service offered through the Foreign Service Benefit Plan. AFSPA CEO Paula Jakub walks through a bit of the history of the Plan before diving into coverage, special features, and unique ways in which AFSPA supports its overseas members. Later, Sr. Director of Compliance Stefon Nicely provides an overview of the AFSPA's partnerships with overseas providers.

Helpful inks:

• FSBP Overseas Coverage: https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/overseas/
• FSBP Overseas Partners: https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/overseas/overseas-partners/

To kick off a month-long focus on overseas care, State Department Chief Medical Officer Larry Padget joins us to talk about the work of the Bureau of Medical Services (MED). Learn about the structure of a mission's Health Unit, the work of regional medical officers and medical providers, and the basics of a MEDEVAC situation. MED serves as the medical home for tens of thousands, and Dr. Padget provides an inside look for the rest of us. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, members of the Foreign Service community join to share their journeys with growing their families. Their stories of adoption, IVF, and surrogacy highlight the challenges and joys that each family experienced. In celebration of Pride Month, we are proud to feature stories from the LGBTQ+ community about their Family Formation Journeys. Thank you to glifaa (Gays, and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs agencies) for their help in putting this episode together.

For more information about the Institutes of Excellence Infertility Providers mentioned at the end of the episode, please visit www.aentainfertilitycare.com.

Today AFSPA Talks kicks off a month-long focus on infertility and family formation with a focus on the mental health. Experiencing challenges conceiving, facing a diagnosis of infertility, and considering ways to expand your family including ART procedures and adoption have effects beyond physical health. They can cause depression and anxiety, put strain on relationships, and more. Our guest today, Alicia Janik, PsyD, addresses the broad effects of infertility and family formation on our mental health.

If you missed our first AFSPA Live, please visit: www.youtube.com/afspacares

Resources: www.postpartum.net www.resolve.org
Coping With Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss: Finding Perspective and Creating Meaning by Amy Wenzel
PSI HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773

As we wrap up our focus on AFSPA's AIP options, Vishal Jain from Prudential joins us to discuss Financial Wellness. Learn about the connections between financial and mental wellness and how Prudential's Financial Wellness Program - available at no cost to all AFSPA members - can help you manager your daily spending, pay down debt, and plan for the future. 

For more information about this program, visit: https://www.afspa.org/professionalservices/#Financial_Wellness. 

If you missed our first AFSPA Live, please visit: www.youtube.com/afspacares

 May is mental health awareness month. Just as many factors can influence our mental health, there are a variety of support programs and treatment options to explore. Today, we welcome Jennifer Pertofsky-Plotnek, LCSW-C, CDCES, NCB-HWC. She is currently the Director of Coaching at Teladoc Health. Jennifer talks us through the differences between counseling and coaching. She provides details on the coaching available to Foreign Service Benefit Plan (FSBP) members at no cost through two Teladoc Health programs: myStrength and chronic care management (formerly Livongo). 

Links:

FSBP members can access Teladoc's programs, including myStrength and chronic care management and mental health counseling, through www.teladochealth.com or through the Teladoc Health app, available in the App Store and through Google Play. 

Other access options include: 

FSBP members aged 13 and older can enroll in myStrength at www.mystrength.com, select "Sign-up," and enter the access code "FSBP." 

To access the chronic care management programs (formerly known as Livongo), members can visit http://get.livongo.com/FSBP. You can enroll in diabetes management, hypertension management, and/or weight management. 

Chronic care management and myStrength are available worldwide. 

For more details, please review the 2024 FSBP Brochure at https://www.afspa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024_FSBP_Brochure_-RI-72-001_Final_1.8.2024.pdf. 

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton talks about Life Insurance. Do you know the differences between term, whole, and universal life insurance? Nina Matias from Prudential does, and she’s back to share her expertise. This time, she talks about life and AD&D insurance. Find out about evolutions in the types of plans available and what considerations to take into account when deciding your coverage needs.  

For information about AFSPA’s life insurance plans, please visit www.afspa.org/life.  

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton talks about AFSPA’s Discount Care Program. Valerie DeBruin, VP of Network Operations for Careington and Dr. Joan Waldron discuss the discount plans - their value and how they work. Dr. Waldron also provides great information about the important of preventative dental care. For more information on AFSPA’s Discount Care Program, click here.  

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO, Kyle Longton and Adrienne Seabrooks, Director of Ancillary Insurance Programs at AFSPA, talk about some of the unique AIP programs AFSPA offers. This is a preview of four episodes in our “Focus on AIP” podcast series. To learn more about AFSPA’s Ancillary Insurance Programs (AIP), visit our website at afspa.org/aip. Watch this quick video to see how some of our most important ancillary programs came to be.

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO, Kyle Longton has an in-depth discussion with Dr. Peter Rasmussen, MD, Chief Clinical Officer at The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Susan Scott, Director of Client Services at The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic about our partnership with Cleveland Clinic for the overseas virtual second opinion program.   

The Foreign Service Benefit Plan has a special arrangement with Cleveland Clinic to provide a Virtual Second Opinion to patients who receive treatment in foreign countries. This program allows expert specialists from the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic to review your medical diagnosis and treatment remotely. With 3,500 experts in over 550 advanced subspecialties, you can get help with nearly any health challenge. 

To request a Virtual Second Opinion for treatment received outside the U.S., simply email secondopinion@aetna.com. You may be asked to submit medical history and answer questions specific to your diagnosis. You also may need to gather information from your local physician or hospital, such as pathology (biopsy) slides or X-rays, and upload them to the site as instructed. 

You will be matched to the most appropriate Cleveland Clinic expert specialist who will review your medical history and original tests before rendering an informational second opinion. You will receive notification by e-mail within five calendar days that the opinion is ready for you to view online via a secure website.