While your TRICARE health plan may include eye exam coverage and certain services to diagnose or treat eye conditions, FEDVIP offers more robust vision coverage. It may help you save money on glasses or contact lenses. And good news—you can enroll soon. The Federal Benefits Open Season is just a few days away.
Retired uniformed service members
Yes. If you are retiring or recently retired from the uniformed services, you are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP dental coverage and, if enrolled in a TRICARE health plan, FEDVIP vision coverage.
The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is a voluntary, enrollee-pay-all dental and vision program available to Federal employees and annuitants, certain retired uniformed service members, and active duty family members.
Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
Retired members of the uniformed services and National Guard/Reserve components, including “gray-area” retirees under age 60 and their families are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage. These individuals, if enrolled in a TRICARE health plan, are also eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage.
Federal employees and annuitants in the United States and overseas are eligible to enroll in our Aetna Dental PPO under FEDVIP. If you receive covered dental services while overseas, you will need to submit your claims to Aetna. Upon receipt of the claim, Aetna will translate the claim, and process it.
Frequently Asked Questions Insurance
I want to keep my dental (FEDVIP) plan. Do I have to re-enroll? No, if you make no changes during Open Season your current enrollment will continue into the next year. However, you may want to review the plan brochure for any changes in benefits and premiums for next year.
TriCare on average is far less expensive than traditional FEHB coverage. This is often why Federal employees who are eligible to participate in TriCare choose to keep that coverage in place as their primary insurer. You can enroll in TriCare and suspend your FEHB options.
If you've recently retired from the uniformed services, you have a 91-day enrollment window to enroll in a FEDVIP dental and/or vision plan. You may enroll between 31 days prior to your military retirement date and 60 days following. It's important to remember, enrollment is not automatic.
To be eligible for FEDVIP as a retiree, you must have retired with an immediate annuity (note: a FERS Minimum Retirement Age plus 10 annuity, postponed, counts as an immediate annuity).
One of the best things about being a current or retired fed is the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. The government pays more than 70% of the total premium. Nobody can be turned down because of pre-existing conditions. And there are so many plans to choose from.
But overall, the best dental insurance company is Cigna. Cigna has a broad network of more than 92,000 dentists available nationwide, and all of its dental insurance covers preventive care with no deductibles or copays.
A health insurance plan with a good dental benefit may be an excellent choice for retirees with low to moderate dental or vision expenses, and with heavy anticipated expenses a FEDVIP plan is a sensible choice even without the taxpayer subsidy.
Family members of active duty uniformed service members
A spouse, eligible child, or eligible dependent of a uniformed service member who is currently serving full-time in the uniformed services for more than 30 days is eligible to enroll in FEDVIP vision coverage if they are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan.
You must use BENEFEDS to enroll or change enrollment in a FEDVIP plan. BENEFEDS is a secure enrollment website sponsored by OPM. If you do not have access to a computer, call 1-877-888-FEDS (1-877-888-3337), TTY number 1-877-889-5680 to enroll or change your enrollment.
BENEFEDS administers the enrollment, plan change, and premium payment processes for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).
Once you enroll in a health insurance plan, your enrollment automatically continues each year, as long as you remain eligible for the program. You do not have to reenroll each year.
FEHB coverage in retirement for non-military retirees typically requires having the coverage for at least 5 continuous years immediately prior to separating/retiring. But, if one has Tricare, this coverage is included in the 5 years provided they are also covered by an active FEHB plan when they retire.
Tricare is the U.S. military's health care program and functions as government-managed health insurance. Tricare's various coverage plans provide health care for millions of current and former service members and their families. Tricare is managed by the Pentagon's Defense Health Agency.
TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) is a premium-based health plan available for purchase by qualified members of the Retired Reserve until reaching age 60. TRR provides coverage and costs similar to TRICARE Select, but TRR beneficiaries must also pay monthly premiums in addition to copayments, cost-shares, and deductibles.
TRICARE covers adjunctive dental care. as part of the "medical" benefit. Dental coverage for diagnostic and preventive services, restorative services, orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics and other non-medical services are provided under two different dental plans: TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program.
The Federal Benefits Open Season is your annual opportunity to enroll in, change, or cancel a FEDVIP dental and/or vision plan. Each year, open season runs from the Monday of the second full work week in November through the Monday of the second full work week in December.
You must use BENEFEDS to enroll or change enrollment in a FEDVIP plan. BENEFEDS is a secure enrollment website sponsored by OPM. If you do not have access to a computer, call 1-877-888-FEDS (1-877-888-3337), TTY number 1-877-889-5680 to enroll or change your enrollment.