American Foreign Service Protective Association

03/05/2026

An International Emergency has been issued in Middle East/Western Asia due to War. There are provisions being made for affected members. Aetna (the Plan’s Administrator) waives precertification/prior approval requirements for members identified as potentially being affected. If you are impacted by the emergency or have questions regarding precertification/prior approval, please call us at 1-800-593-2354.

Learn more here: https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/international-emergency-issued-in-middle-east-western-asia-due-to-war-2/

03/04/2026

An International Emergency has been issued in Middle East/Western Asia due to War. There are provisions being made for affected members. Aetna (the Plan’s Administrator) waives precertification/prior approval requirements for members identified as potentially being affected. If you are impacted by the emergency or have questions regarding precertification/prior approval, please call us at 1-800-593-2354.

Learn more here: https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/international-emergency-issued-in-middle-east-western-asia-due-to-war/

02/25/2026

"There's lots of fun in exploring the unknown. There's no greater thrill than in having an experiment turn out in such a way that you make a positive contribution" - Jane C. Wright

02/25/2026

📢 EncircleRx Update: Action Required for GLP-1 Coverage for Weight Management

Beginning March 1, 2026, participation requirements for the EncircleRx program will resume for members prescribed a GLP-1 medication for weight management and filling that prescription in the United States.

EncircleRx, launched earlier this year through a collaboration between FSBP, Evernorth/Express Scripts, and Teladoc Health, mandates enrollment in either the Teladoc Advanced Weight Management Program or the Teladoc Advanced Pre-Diabetes Program. These programs offer structured support, coaching, and resources to assist you in achieving your health goals.

We understand that the initial rollout earlier this year posed challenges for some members, especially with enrollment verification and prior authorization. As a result, participation requirements were temporarily suspended while system improvements were implemented. If you were affected, please accept our heartfelt apologies. Thanks to ongoing corrective efforts and close monitoring, we’re happy to share that these issues have now been fully resolved. Beginning March 1, 2026, program requirements will resume.

What You Need to Know:

✔ You must be enrolled in a Teladoc program before your first 2026 GLP-1 fill.
✔ For refills, complete at least 4 monthly weigh-ins using the Teladoc scale and 4 app interactions per month.
✔ Your provider must submit an updated prior authorization through EviCore (online) or by calling 800-417-1764 (members cannot submit this themselves). Your provider must include documentation of baseline BMI and any comorbidities.

If you are currently using or planning to use a GLP-1 for weight management, please review your enrollment and prior authorization status to avoid delays in medication access.

For more information, visit https://www.afspa.org/newsitems/encirclerx-program-requirements-to-resume-march-1-2026/ and continue to follow us for more updates.

The Foreign Service Benefit Plan (FSBP) will reinstate participation requirements for the EncircleRx program beginning March 1, 2026, following corrective action to address earlier implementation issues.

02/24/2026

Have you registered for Thursday’s AFSPA Live Q&A?

Twanisha Johnson, AFSPA's COO, and Greg from GEBA will be available to answer your questions about Financial Wellness and !

Join us live, February 26, @ 11:00 AM ET to learn more. Do you have questions? Ask your questions live or ask them through this form: https://forms.office.com/r/ePv8DKMtvd

02/23/2026

A State of Emergency has been issued in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts due to a winter storm. If you are impacted by the emergency or have questions regarding precertification/prior approval, please call us at 1-800-593-2354.

Learn more here: https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-new-york-due-to-winter-storm/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-rhode-island-due-to-winter-storm-2/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-connecticut-due-to-winter-storm/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-massachusetts-due-to-winter-storm/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-delaware-due-to-winter-storm/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-pennsylvania-due-to-winter-storm/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-maryland-due-to-winter-storm/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergency-issued-in-new-jersey-due-to-winter-storm-3/

02/23/2026

‼NEW BLOG‼

We're celebrating Children's Dental Health Month to highlight the importance of children’s dental health. Check them out online at afspa.org/blogs.

02/20/2026

💬 EncircleRx Program Update - February 20, 2026

🩺 If you are facing an imminent refill and are having trouble doing so, please contact our office by email at presentation@afspa.org or by phone at (202) 833-4910.

🔗 You can find the full message here: https://www.afspa.org/newsitems/encirclerx-program-update-february-20-2026/

02/20/2026

On March 6, 2026, AFSPA will hold the Annual Member Meeting, where you'll have the chance to discover the latest updates for 2026, get answers to your questions, and meet AFSPA staff and partners. You'll also hear from AFSPA leadership and keynote speaker Claire Morrow, DPT and Head of Clinical Consulting at Hinge Health will deliver an informative presentation.

This event is hybrid, so make sure to join us online or in person at AFSPA HQ in Washington DC. In person spaces are limited. Register by visiting afspa.org/events.

02/18/2026

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 38.9% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes. Check out 5 tips to help with cancer prevention.

02/17/2026

A State of Emergency has been issued in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Florida. If you are impacted by the emergency or have questions regarding precertification/prior approval, please call us at 1-800-593-2354.

Learn more here: https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergen…ue-to-wild-fires/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergen…and-cold-weather/
https://www.afspa.org/soeitems/state-of-emergen…e-to-wildfires-2/