TRICARE Open Season
TRICARE Open Season is the annual period when you can enroll in or change your health care coverage for the next year. In 2021, TRICARE Open Season begins Nov. 8 and ends Dec. 13. Any enrollment changes you make will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Open season applies to anyone enrolled in or eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select.
If you’re eligible to participate in TRICARE Open Season, you have three options:
- Stay in your plan. If you want to stay in your current TRICARE health plan, you don’t have to re-enroll. You’ll continue in your current health plan through 2022 or as long as you’re eligible.
- Enroll in a plan. If you’re eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select but not enrolled, you can enroll in a plan now.
- Change plans. If you’re already enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans and switch between individual and family enrollment.
What Happens if I Don’t Take Any Action?
If you aren’t already in a plan and don’t enroll in a plan during open season, you’ll only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available.
Federal Benefits Open Season
TRICARE beneficiaries may also be eligible for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Your eligibility depends on your beneficiary status. You’ll need to be enrolled in a TRICARE health plan to be eligible for vision coverage.
Federal Benefits Open Season also runs from Nov. 8 – Dec. 13, 2021. Visit www.benefeds.com to check eligibility, compare FEDVIP plans and rates, enroll in a plan, and more. Plans and rates for 2022 are now available.
Making Enrollment Changes Outside of Open Season
Outside of TRICARE Open Season, you can enroll in or change enrollment to TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select following a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).
A QLE is a certain change in your life, such as marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty, which may mean different TRICARE health plans are available to you and your family members. A TRICARE QLE opens a 90-day period for you to make eligible enrollment changes. A QLE for one family member creates a chance for all eligible family members to make enrollment changes. To learn more, visit www.tricare.mil/lifeevents.
Outside of the Federal Benefits Open Season, you can only enroll in FEDVIP or make changes to your existing FEDVIP plan if you experience a FEDVIP QLE. Remember, FEDVIP QLEs may be different from the TRICARE QLEs. To learn more, visit BENEFEDS.com.