U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan, seen here in 2022. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The Department of Defense has scheduled “listening sessions” at three U.S. military bases in Japan next week to collect feedback on a pilot program designed to connect DOD civilians with Japanese health care providers.
Anyone who has used the program — the Health Insurance Enhancement for DOD Civilian Employees in Japan — is encouraged to participate at sessions at Misawa Air Base, Camp Foster and Yokosuka Naval Base, according to a March 28 email distributed by the Defense Health Agency’s National Capital Region.
Interested parties must register to attend at dha.ncr.Exec-Svcs.mbx.pilot-listening-sessions@health.mil and indicate their location and preferred time.
“Spots are limited and only open to those who have used the service,” the DHA wrote in the email. A calendar invite will be available for those who RSVP to confirm their spot and provide updates.
DOD on Jan. 1 launched the pilot program, which features a 24/7 call center that connects DOD civilian employees with Japanese providers.
The health agency in December 2022 limited DOD employees to space-available appointments only at military health care facilities while encouraging them to seek care from local providers.
Alexandra Cummings, the spouse of a civilian employee at Yokosuka Naval Base and an advocate for DOD employee health care in Japan, said she’s “hopeful our community members will give DHA feedback.”
Cummings, a volunteer with the Japan Civilian Medical Advocacy group but speaking on her own behalf, said the group has heard consistently that the program can be helpful but needs improvement.
“Many civilians have expressed frustration that dependents are not covered, particularly because pediatric care is especially difficult to obtain,” she said. “I’m also aware it can take days for the program to make a referral, meaning that this tool still does not help address our lack of emergency care.”
Each base has two 50-minute listening sessions scheduled.
A DHA spokeswoman in Hawaii referred further questions to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, which did not respond after close of business Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan scheduled its sessions on Monday from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. and again from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
Camp Foster, on Okinawa, will host its sessions during the same two periods on Wednesday.
Yokosuka Naval Base scheduled its sessions April 11, first from 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
The pilot program concludes Sept. 29; dependents and contractors are not eligible.
So far, it “has helped hundreds of DOD civilians navigate the Japanese health system, to include alleviating up-front financial burdens by issuing on average, $500-$1000 in payment guarantees,” according to the email announcing the listening sessions.
The $4.2 million, DOD-funded program is administered by International SOS Government Services Inc., the primary contractor for the Tricare Overseas Program, the DOD health care plan for service members, their dependents and retirees.
Federal employees enrolled in the following health plans may participate in the pilot program: Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield; Foreign Service Benefit Plan; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Government Employees Health Association; and Mail Handlers Benefit Plan.
Non-appropriated fund employees in Japan are also eligible if they are covered by Aetna International, but they must first contact Aetna International directly, according to an updated fact sheet included in the email.
