AFSPA Talks

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 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: 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/afspacaresResources: www.postpartum.net www.resolve.org Coping With Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss: Finding Perspective and Creating Meaning by Amy WenzelPSI 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:  If you missed our first AFSPA Live, please visit: www.youtube.com/afspacares

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 Disability and Critical Illness Insurance. AFSPA offers many different forms important forms of protection in the event of the unexpected. Two of those may seem to overlap or duplicate coverage: critical illness insurance and long term disability. They are not the same, and today’s episode explores what each covers, how the coverage works, and why you might want to consider one or both. Our focus with AIP continues with these deep-dive. Learn more about our disability and critical illness insurance.

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.

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO, Kyle Longton has an in-depth discussion on Medicare Advantage Plans  and how they work together with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and commercial plans, with John H. Ficaro, Vice President of Aetna Group Retiree & De-Risking Solutions. This is the last episode of our "Focus on Medicare" podcast series. If you missed the first two episodes of this series, below are the links to listen to each episode.AFSPA Talks Medicare & the FEHBAFSPA Talks Medicare, Tricare & the FEHB

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO, Kyle Longton discusses Medicare, Tricare, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, and how they work together with Rear Adm. Christine Hunter (Ret.), MD Former Chief Medical Officer, OPM Co-Chair, NCQA Committee on Performance Measurement. AFSPA CEO, Paula S. Jakub, RHU also joins the conversation to give us more information on how Medicare coordinates benefits with the other two programs. Below are some helpful links: AFSPA webinar on Medicare:  Medicare Overview:  OPM information on overseas coverage:  Military Officers Association of American Post on Medicare and TRICARE for Life:  Tricare4u: www.tricare4u.com  TRICARE: www.tricare.mil

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, CEO, Paula Jakub brings us through a discussion on Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, and how they work together. Paula talks about Medicare regulations, benefit coordination, how to differentiate between Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, and how the FEHB coverage works for federal retirees who do not take Medicare.We highly encourage you to follow along with the visual slides from our recorded webinar presentation at Medicare & the FEHB - Updated for 2022 - YouTube. Also, visit our Medicare page to learn more on how the Foreign Service Benefit Plan works with Medicare at

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton takes us through a discussion of how AFSPA can help you with your 2022 new year's resolutions. Listen in as Kyle discusses wellness incentives, wellness programs, and more!

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton discusses staying healthy throughout the holiday season with Dr. Jonathan Rubens, Chief Medical Officer of ActiveHealth Management. Senior Director Leah Briggs also joins the conversation to give us more information on Lifestyle and Condition Coaching and how a coach can help you stay on track this holiday season. Jonathan S. Rubens brings more than 25 years of experience as a physician leader in both academic and community settings. As the CMO, Jonathan leads a multidisciplinary team of physicians, pharmacists and nurses focused on building effective population health management programs and clinical analytic tools to promote evidence-based patient care.Leah Briggs is Senior Director of Clinical Solutions at ActiveHealth and a Registered Nurse with over 13 years of case management experience. Along with Dr. Rubens, Leah leads the strategic evolution of clinical programs at ActiveHealth Management, including the Lifestyle and Condition Coaching program.For more information on the Lifestyle and Condition Coaching program, click here.

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton is the one being interviewed! That's right, this episode dives into Open Season and the questions members usually have this time of year. Kyle brings us through 2022 Foreign Service Benefit Plan plan changes and enhancements, and answers FAQs.

In this episode of AFSPA Talks, COO Kyle Longton brings us through a discussion on Long Term Care for Long Term Care Awareness Month. For this episode, Kyle is joined by Linda Tsironis Caruthers, founder and CEO of Long-Term Care Consultants. Linda Tsironis Caruthers, CSA, LTCP is the founder and CEO of Long-Term Care Consultants, Inc., a dedicated long-term care insurance agency providing long-term care planning and caregiver support resources to individuals and employer groups. She has specialized in long-term care insurance since 2000 and earned the Long-Term Care Professional (LTCP) designation from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) in 2005 and the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors in 2006.