DOD Announces Pilot of Supplemental Health Program for DOD Civilian Employees in Japan

PENTAGON –

The Department of Defense (DOD) today announced a one-year program to provide health support services to DOD civilian employees serving in Japan following a year-long effort to identify and solving problems related to getting medical care.

“The Department recognizes the valuable contributions of our DoD personnel around the world,” said Ashish Vazirani, acting Defense Officer for Personnel and Intelligence. “Following Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s commitment to care for all of our people, we have a responsibility to our citizens to make it easier for them to access health care no matter where they are. Support from this program of airlines will help improve the patient experience for the approximately 11,000 residents of Japan with the new aircraft.

The pilot is called the Pilot Health Insurance Enhancement for DOD Civil Employees in Japan, and it will help civil servants manage their health insurance and the upfront costs associated with obtaining health care services. Japan.

To be eligible, an employee must be enrolled in a health plan that participates in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. The enrollment window for eligible workers will be the Federal Benefits Open Season, which will begin this Nov. 11 to Dec. 9. Federal Benefits Open Season allows federal residents to enroll or change health care options.

Services provided under this trial will begin on January 1, 2025, when participants can use the services and receive support through a call center. The call center will be open 24/7 and staffed with bilingual service representatives who will assist callers in identifying their needs, making appointments with provider offices, and providing assurances. of advance payment. Dependents are not eligible for services during the trial period, which runs until September 29, 2025.

Employees working in Japan and the following military departments, defense agencies and DoD field operations are eligible for this additional service:

• Department of the Air Force
• Department of the Army
• Department of the Navy
• Defense Information Management Agency
• Defense Management Agency
• Department of Defense Education Work
• Defense Commission Agency
• Defense Contract Management Agency
• Financial Security and Accounting Service
• Defense Health Center
• Operation of Security Systems
• Security Risk Reduction Agency
• National Defense Agency
• Defense Intelligence Agency
• National Center for Geospatial Intelligence

“We are pleased to offer this program,” said Seileen Mullen, who is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. “This is a free complementary service, and we encourage Japanese public servants to use it.”

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs will oversee the pilot program and awarded a $4.2 million contract to International SOS Government Services Inc., which is also the prime contractor for the TRICARE Overseas Program. . The aircraft contract is funded by the military departments, defense agencies and key DoD missions with civilian employees working in Japan.

Active duty service members and primary TRICARE beneficiaries have priority access to health care at military hospitals and clinics in accordance with current federal law and DoD policy. DoD citizens who are not TRICARE beneficiaries may use military health services at an available location.

Agreements with FEHB insurance companies that currently provide coverage for Japanese DoD national employees will be established to provide direct indemnity agreements. Employees of the Provident Fund (NAF) are eligible for this program if they are enrolled in an Aetna International plan.

More details on this pilot program will be announced before the Federal Benefits Open Season begins. This information will be posted on the websites of Japanese military hospitals and clinics in their “Getting Care” section.