Costs to take an (in)eligible partner

GLIFAA hopes to make our colleagues and friends in and outside the Department more aware of the unique challenges facing our families. In an effort to estimate the relative cost of moving to a new overseas post for an MOH as compared to an EFM, GLIFAA has collected the following information. These figures reflect the costs of benefits that EFM's receive as part of their transfer to a new posting. We base these estimates on Dubai as our sample post.

Costs to take an (in)eligible partner:

1) Cost of a one-way outbound business class ticket $3000

2) Cost of a one-way inbound business class ticket $3000

3) Cost of 2 round-trip R/R tickets (economy class) $1200

4) Cost of private health insurance
($2410/year-based on age 40 individual, Clements International) $4820

5) Cost of medical evacuation insurance with safety evacuation advice option
($495/year, SOS Global Traveler) $990

Cost to take an Eligible Family Member spouse:

1) Cost differential for spouse's health insurance ($1326/year) $3071*

*Based on BCBS PPO, semi-monthly payment.

Other inequities:

1) If there is an evacuation for safety reasons, a partner will have to pay the price of the ticket to be evacuated.

2) FSOs taking a spouse to post receive a $1000 Miscellaneous Transfer Allowance; FSOs taking a partner to post receive $500 - the same as all “single” FSOs receive. However, if costs are itemized, the heterosexual FSO with a family can receive up to two week's salary as a Miscellaneous Transfer Allowance; the single FSO who itemizes can receive up to a week's salary.

Some of the other costs that the Department will reimburse as a part of the miscellaneous transfer allowance:

-- transportation charges for domestic pets;
-- cutting and fitting rugs, draperies and curtains moved from one residence to another---not cost of new rugs, etc.;
-- required quarantine of pet(s);
-- removal or re-installation of catalytic converter;
-- required removal or installation by host country law of automobile parts (such as tinted windows or special lights).

The Department will thus pay for me to take my pet to Post, but not my partner!