FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- FALLS CHURCH, Va. – People who have TRICARE Retiree Dental Program coverage now need to know that the program is ending Dec. 31, 2018. Anyone with TRDP this year or those people who would have been eligible for the plan will be able to choose a dental plan from among 10 dental carriers in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, or FEDVIP.
Beneficiaries can begin reviewing program options now at www.opm.gov/fedvip. People will be able to enroll in FEDVIP during the 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season, which runs Nov. 12 to Dec. 10, 2018. Coverage begins Jan. 1, 2019.
Previously, FEDVIP wasn’t available to Department of Defense beneficiaries, but it will now be available to those who would have been eligible for TRDP. As an added bonus, beneficiaries will also be able to enroll in FEDVIP vision coverage, said TRICARE officials.
More than 3.3 million people are currently covered by FEDVIP. To enroll in FEDVIP Vision, people must be enrolled in a TRICARE health plan. Beneficiairies can decide if one of four vision plans meets their needs.
People may only enroll in a FEDVIP plan outside of open season if they experience a qualifying life event that allows them to do so. Any election in a FEDVIP plan remains in effect for the entire calendar year.
For more information, visit the FEDVIP website at https://tricare.benefeds.com and sign up for email notifications. Beneficiaries get an email when new information is available and key dates approach. Future updates will include eligibility information, plans, carriers, rates, educational webinars and more, said DFAS officials. (Courtesy of TRICARE)