Staying Fit, Happy, and Healthy

The health of US Government employees and families assigned abroad is taken seriously.  Healthy employees makes productive employees and knowing that your health is being watched over by the government can be beneficial and not always an intrusion or burden.

The Foreign Service requires a certain standard of health before employment is offered and, throughout one's career, the health of the employee and their family is considered as they take assignments abroad.  The State Department manages the medical clearance process for USAID.  When switching to a new assignment to another country, the employee must again be medically cleared to be able to work in that country.  It is important that the employee's family be medically fit for the country, as well, or they wouldn't be able to safely accompany the employee.  This is very different than working in the United States where an individual's health cannot be a consideration for employment.

Many larger posts have a Medical Unit at the embassy staffed with doctors and medical staff assigned to take care of the health needs of embassy employees.  This includes basic medical checkups and medical evacuation (medivacs) for employees to locations where necessary medical treatment can be obtained.  We experienced the medical evacuation process recently when a necessary operation was required and the medical care in Indonesia not sufficient for the procedure. 

After diagnosis and consultations with the Med Unit and external specialists, if the condition warrants it, the Med Unit will authorize the employee or family member to seek treatment in a neighboring country with high standards of medical care.  In Indonesia, the primary destination for operations is Singapore; however, we elected to have the operation done in Thailand and the Med Unit was able to accommodate.  With this authorization, the USG (one's respective agency) will then cover costs for the patient to travel for the operation and then act as secondary payer for the operation.  So after one's insurance covers the costs per the individual policy, the USG will then step in and help pay for the remainder.  

This is a really great benefit we've been able to utilize working abroad with USAID and highlights the commitment the government has to keeping its employees healthy abroad.  Here's to good health.