The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) replaced the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) at the end of 2018. Under the 2004 Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act, arrangements were made to give federal retirees, employees and their dependents dental and vision benefits.
The change followed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, which said eligible beneficiaries should have access to the dental and vision plans offered to federal employees.
Program Eligibility
The FEDVIP program is open to:
- Federal and postal employees and retirees
- Retired Reserve and Guard members
- Recipients of the Medal of Honor
- Their dependents, on an enrollee-pay-all basis
If you were eligible for TRDP, you are eligible for the dental and vision benefits under this program, even if you were never enrolled in the TRICARE dental plan.
Annuitants can also enroll if they:
- Retired on a direct annuity from the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), or another retirement system for federal government employees.
- Retired on disability under FERS, CSRS, or another retirement system for federal government employees.
Eligibility for FEDVIP is tied to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB). You need to hold a position that is eligible for FEHB and is not excluded by law or regulation.
You do not have to be enrolled in FEHB. Being eligible for it is enough.
Active-Duty Members and Dependents
Military members on active duty are not eligible for the dental and vision plans under FEDVIP. They receive dental and vision care through military clinics and hospitals instead.
Eligibility for the families of active-duty personnel, and for non-activated Guard and Reserve members, has been extended since the program started, and the rules have changed more than once. Check the current position on the official FEDVIP site rather than relying on an older summary.
Dental Plans Offered
FEDVIP gives you a choice of dental carriers. Some are regional, so what you can pick depends on where you live, and some are national or international. The carriers and the plans they offer change between open seasons, so compare the current line-up for your own ZIP code rather than working from a list.
Most carriers offer two levels of cover. The higher level usually has a lower co-pay on covered services and a higher monthly premium. Each plan comes in three enrollment types: self only, self plus one, and self and family.
TRICARE Program vs. FEDVIP Program
With FEDVIP in place, some members are unsure how it compares with TRICARE. It is worth understanding both so you can make the right choice for you and your family. The main difference is choice.
The TRICARE retiree program offered a single plan for everyone. FEDVIP offers a range of dental plans instead. Costs vary, but FEDVIP plans generally come with a lower premium and better coverage than the old TRICARE retiree plan.
Monthly costs for both vary by location.
FEDVIP has no deductible when you use a dentist from its network. Under the previous TRICARE retiree program, everyone paid a set amount each year.
There is no waiting period for most dental services under FEDVIP, including implants, dentures, bridges and crowns. Under the TRICARE retiree program, those services carried a waiting period of up to 12 months.
Enrolling in the FEDVIP Plan
If you are eligible for dental and vision benefits under FEDVIP, compare the plans and their rates for your ZIP code, then apply for the one that meets your requirements.
Once you are enrolled there is no need to renew each year. Enrollment continues automatically unless you choose to change your plan. Changes are made during open season, which runs once a year.
You can also make a change outside open season after a qualifying life event, for example a death in the family, a new family member, the loss of other dental or vision coverage, or getting married.
Retirees enrolled in FEDVIP dental and vision plans pay their premiums out of their retirement payment. If the retirement pay is not enough to cover it, the premium can be taken by automatic bank withdrawal. Payment by credit card is not an option.
All dental and vision plans look similar at first glance, but the detail differs once you read the fine print. Whichever plan you choose, go through it and work out whether it covers what you need, and whether your preferred dentist is one of the in-network dentists.
FEDVIP is not the only route to cheaper dental care. If you are not eligible for it, compare the discount dental plans available in your area. You get an extra 10% off when you join online.
