Perhaps you've thought of upgrading your health care coverage or changing your carrier but you just haven't gotten around to it—the time is now. Both TRICARE and Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) are hosting their open seasons. TRICARE’s season is one day longer than FEDVIP’s and all changes made during this period will be effective Jan. 1, 2023.
Federal Long Term Care Insurance provides insurance options for long-term care due to illness, injury or aging.
Federal Employees Health Benefits provides health plan options. As stated in the first paragraph on the FEHB homepage:
The FEHB Program can help you and your family meet your health care needs. Federal employees, retirees, and their survivors enjoy the widest selection of health plans in the country. You can choose from among Consumer-Driven and High Deductible plans that offer catastrophic risk protection with higher deductibles, health savings/reimbursable accounts and lower premiums, or Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans, and their Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) if you live (or sometimes if you work) within the area serviced by the plan.
Here are the season dates:
TRICARE Open Season - Nov. 14 - Dec. 13
FEDVIP Open Season - Nov. 14 - Dec. 12
TRICARE
For TRICARE, members and your families can participate in open season if you’re currently enrolled in, or eligible for a TRICARE Prime option, including a United States Family Health Plan (USFHP), or TRICARE Select. If you aren't currently enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select and would like to enroll in one of those plans, you can visit the eligibility page to learn more. You can also enroll online through milConnect or by contacting your regional contractor or designated provider at the following numbers:
Also, check the TRICARE Plan Finder tool to see which plans you may be eligible to enroll in. If you need to determine what region you're in, you can visit the TRICARE Regions page. Also, remember if you are not already in a plan and you do not enroll during open season, you will only be eligible for care at military hospitals or clinics depending on space. Review TRICARE’s website for more information.
FEDVIP
Civilians, retired members (both active or reserve) and their families, may opt for supplemental dental and vision care through FEDVIP. A representative said that, “typically FEDVIP will pickup what TRICARE doesn't cover.” However, there are many carrier options within their program and so care, coverage and cost will vary. For example, their dental program includes Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and MetLife, to name a few.
If you want to compare which vision and dental plans are best for you, there is also a FEDVIP tool on the BENEFEDS site that will help you compare the various plans and carrier providers. Visit the site here for more information on the programs, or visit the Office of Personnel Management's site to address any additional questions.
To assist with this important decision, a series of one-hour informational webinars are available throughout open season. Click on the “register” link as each registration page includes an overview of that particular session along with special guests that will join.
Webinar Schedule:
- Making the Most of the Federal Benefits Open Season – Nov. 10, 2 p.m. Eastern. Register
- FEDVIP: Shop, Enroll, and Manage Your Dental and Vision Insurance – Nov. 16, 2 p.m. Eastern Register
- Military Families: Shop, Enroll, and Manage Your Dental and Vision Insurance with the FEDVIP - November 17, 2 p.m. Eastern Register
- FEDVIP Vision Coverage for Active Duty Families – Now. 28, 2 p.m. Eastern Register
- Annual Eye Exams Can Tell You a Lot About Your Overall Health – Nov. 30, 2 p.m. Eastern Register
- FSAFEDS: The Benefit that Saves You Money - December 2, 2 p.m. Eastern Register
- Good Dental Health Improves Overall Health - December 6, 2 p.m. Eastern Register
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