JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Lackland, Texas –
Beginning Jan. 1, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program will replace the current TRICARE Retiree Dental Program and affect approximately 150,000 beneficiaries in the Joint Base San Antonio area.
FEDVIP 2019 plans and rates will be available online in the fall, allowing beneficiaries to compare plans and rates. This will be beneficiaries’ first chance to enroll in a FEDVIP dental or vision plan for 2019 coverage. The new program offers a choice amongst 10 dental and four vision options.
Enrollment for FEDVIP runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10.
“Beneficiaries will now be able to enjoy the same supplemental coverage that U.S. postal service members and their family members have had for years,” said 2nd Lt. Tyler Boyd, 59th Medical Wing TRICARE operations and patient administration element chief. “This increase in choice means beneficiaries will have more flexibility in choosing the plan that best suits their needs and budgets.”
TRDP-eligible beneficiaries and active duty dependents will have more dental coverage options to choose from as well as the option to choose supplemental vision coverage.
“This change is important for beneficiaries,” Boyd said. “If they are already enrolled in TRDP, and they don’t enroll during open season, their coverage will end Dec. 31 and they will have to wait until the next open season in 2019 to enroll in a plan.”
If a TRICARE beneficiary attempts to enroll after Dec. 10, they will not be able to unless they have undergone a qualifying life event.
“TRICARE open season is also new. Before 2018, enrollees could change their plan or enroll whenever they wanted,” Boyd said. “With this year’s new open season, if a beneficiary wants to enroll or switch plans, they will have to do so during the open seasons. The only exceptions to this are qualifying life events. These events include, but are not limited to, getting married, having or adopting a child, or moving.”
TRICARE and FEDVIP open seasons will take place each year from the Monday of the second full week in November to the Monday of the second full week in December. Enrollment choices made during this period take effect on the following Jan. 1.
For more information, visit the FEDVIP website at http://www.tricare.benefeds.com.