The Foreign Service Journal, January 2010

50 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 Web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ fswe/ or by sending an e-mail to fswe- subscribe@yahoogroups.com . FSOA: For those who have passed the FS written exam and are preparing for the oral exam. Join on the Web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fsoa/ or send an e-mail to fsoa-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com . FSSCareers: For anyone interested in pursuing a career as an FS specialist. Join on the Web at http://groups. yahoo.com/group/FSSCareers/ or via e-mail to FSSCareers-subscribe@yahoo groups.com . OMSHopefuls: For people interested in the process of becoming office man- agement specialists. Join on the Web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oms hopefuls/ or by sending an e-mail to omshopefuls-subscribe@yahoogroups. com. FSIraq: A forum for members of the FS community to exchange information about service in Iraq. Join on theWeb at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FSIraq/ or via e-mail at FSIraq-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com . FSAfghanistan: A forum for mem- bers of the FS community to exchange information about service in Afghani- stan. Join on the Web at http://groups. yahoo.com/group/FSAfghanistan/ or via e-mail to FSAfghanistan-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com . HomeFrontUS: A support group for family members of U.S. government employees serving overseas at unac- companied posts. Join on the Web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Home FrontUS/ or via e-mail to Homefront US-subscribe@yahoogroups.com . Statetandems: For State Department tandem couples. Join on the Web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/state tandems/ or by e-mail to statetandems- subscribe@yahoogroups.com . Abroadview: Sponsored by Tales from a Small Planet for all expatriates, not just FS members. Join on the Web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ abroadview/ or via e-mail to abroad view-subscribe@yahoogroups.com . Spousesview: A group for all ac- companying spouses, not limited to the Foreign Service, sponsored by Tales from a Small Planet . Join on the Web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Spouses view/ or via e-mail to spousesview-sub scribe@yahoogroups.com . DSSspouse: For spouses of diplo- matic security agents, sponsored by the Diplomatic Security Agents Spouse As- sociation. Join on the Web at http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/dsspouse/ or by e-mail to dsspouse-subscribe@yahoo groups.com . MOH_Network: For members of household, as defined by the ForeignAf- fairs Manual. Join on theWeb at http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/MOH_Net work/ or via e-mail toMOH_Network- subscribe@yahoogroups.com . FSParent: Discussion and advice group for FS parents. Join on the Web athttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/FS Parent/ or by sending an e-mail message to FSParent-subscribe@yahoogroups. com. FSSpecialneeds: For parents of spe- cial needs children in the Foreign Serv- ice. Join on the Web at http://groups. yahoo.com/group/FSspecialneeds/ or by e-mail to FSspecialneeds-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com . FSHomeschool: For those interested in or already homeschooling their FS children. Join on the Web at http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/fshome school/ or via e-mail to FShomeschool- subscribe@yahoogroups.com . FSGifted: For FS parents of gifted children. Join on the Web at http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/fsgifted/ or send an e-mail to fsgifted-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com . FSAdoptiveParents: For FS commu- nity members who have adopted chil- dren. Join on theWeb at http://groups. yahoo.com/group/FSAdoptiveParents/ or via e-mail to FSAdoptiveParents- subscribe@yahoogroups.com FSPets: A group for FS pet owners, to discuss regulations, procedures and experiences. Join on the Web at http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/FSPets/ or send an e-mail to FSPets-subscribe@ yahoogroups.com . (If you know of an FS-related e-mail group that has been left off this list, please send an e-mail to Kelly@afsa.org .) The author wishes to thank Kelly Midura and Mari O’Connor for their help in researching these groups. ❏ A F S A N E W S FS E-mail Groups • Continued from page 49 “Just knowing that there were others out there desperately trying to cobble together a life that balances a Foreign Service career with a child’s complicated special needs has given me great hope and resolve.” — FSO John Dinkelman Hospital Bills Overseas — Don’t Assume They’ve Been Paid An important reminder from the Labor Management Office: Please remember that if you are hospitalized overseas, you will need to obtain the hospital bill to submit to your insurance company, and then turn over the reimbursement from the insurance company to the embassy cashier. The de- partment will act as a secondary payer, but only when the insurance company is the primary payer. In recent months we have heard from sev- eral members who have discovered they owe the department thousands of dollars in medical bills. This has generally occurred because the hospitalization took place ei- ther at an overseas medevac site, or just be- fore the member left post — perhaps when being evacuated to the United States. In such cases, the bill often does not follow the member back to post or back to the U.S., so you have to take proactive steps to track it down. As a reminder, what should happen is this: Once you are hospitalized, the post’s health unit gets a fund citation from M/MED. Generally the post pays the hospi- tal with this, and will then send you the bill, which you then send to your insurance company. When you get the money back from the insurance company, you owe that money to the department. ❏ AFSA NEWS BRIEFS