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This is an informational and educational podcast by the American Foreign Service Protective Association (AFSPA), featuring Chief Executive Officer, Kyle Longton. AFSPA Talks covers a range of topics across a multitude of categories, from mental wellness, to dental care, to speech and hearing awareness. This podcast is intended for all listeners, not only AFSPA members. This podcast is not intended to give out medical advice, please seek a professional for medical questions.
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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.…
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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…
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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 ea…
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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 a…
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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…
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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 cou…
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In this episode, AFSPA CEO Kyle Longton, CAE, REBC addresses some of the most frequent questions AFSPA has received about the FSBP Express Scripts Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or PDP. While he touches on some basics of the PDP, you can learn more about the specific PDP benefits from our October 23, 2023 podcast and our November 30, 2023 AFSPA L…
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In this episode, AFSPA CEO Kyle Longton provides a comprehensive overview of how Medicare and the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program work together. Learn about each part of Medicare - A, B, C, and D - and what factors you should consider when deciding whether to enroll in Part B. Please note: this presentation addresses only how Medica…
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With this episode, we continue our February focus on fertility. For some people receiving treatment for diagnoses of infertility, prescription drugs can account for half the costs of their treatment. Ensuring on-time delivery of the drugs, understanding how to administer them, and having a resource for understanding the side effects are key to one'…
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Our focus for the month of February is on fertility. We'll have more content later this month about the enhanced infertility coverage under the Foreign Service Benefit Plan for 2024. Today, though, we are talking about coverage for contraception. All of the information in the podcast comes from Sections 5a, 5b, and 5f and Section 7 of the 2024 FSBP…
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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. …
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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 FSB…
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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 advoca…
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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…
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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. Ou…
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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 spec…
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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 …
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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 tr…
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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 experi…
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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. Medi…
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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 consid…
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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…
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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.afs…
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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 assist…
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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 …
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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…
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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/f…
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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…
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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 …
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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…
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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 …
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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 …
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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 wha…
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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 Be…
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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 …
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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 …
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On this episode, AFSPA Talks Cancer Support Programs.由AFSPA
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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 an…
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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-complicate…
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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 Discl…
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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.由AFSPA
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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 interventi…
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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!由AFSPA
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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, recomm…
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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 pro…
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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. …
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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 medi…
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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 F…
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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 …
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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 …
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