ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS PROGRAM FOR EXCHANGES (ASPE) HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN PROGRAM

The United States Department of State (DoS), Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Executive Office (EX), administers the Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) as a self-funded, short-term, limited-duration health benefits policy. The ASPE program is a crucial element in supporting the health, safety, security, and welfare of participants on domestic and international ECA-funded exchange programs, ensuring they have access to necessary medical care, mental health & crisis support services, and medical evacuation and repatriation services for emergent accidents and sicknesses that may present while actively participating in these programs in their host countries. The scope of the ASPE program Third Party Administrator (TPA) role includes health benefits management for emergent healthcare, mental health and crisis management issues, mental health and crisis support hotline and services, global pharmacy services, healthcare consultation, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, provider network management, 24-hour multilingual support, digital engagement tools, serving as an interlocutor between ECA, exchange program participants and healthcare, mental health,  crisis support entities, and medical evacuation and repatriation services, coordination of benefits when participants carry other healthcare coverage, and participant feedback collection. The TPA will be responsible for the effective implementation and administration of these services, ensuring seamless, 24/7/365  health support for over 24,000 participants worldwide.