2019 TRICARE Open Season, Federal Benefits Open Season Starts Next Month

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- Defense Health Agency issued the following news release:

Did you know that the TRICARE Open Season and Federal Benefits Open Season happen only once a year? Unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event, open season is your only chance to enroll in or make a change to your enrollment for the participating programs.

TRICARE Open Season applies to anyone enrolled in or eligible for a TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select health plan. Federal Benefits Open Season is for enrollment in a Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) dental and vision plan. Both the TRICARE and FEDVIP open seasons will run from Nov. 11 to Dec. 9. The enrollment choices that you make during this period will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

"Get a head start on open season by reviewing your benefits now and thinking about how much health, dental, or vision coverage you'll need for the 2020 plan year," said Mark Ellis, chief of the Policy and Programs Section of the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency. "You can visit the TRICARE and FEDVIP websites to learn more about your options, specific plans, and costs."

TRICARE Open Season

If you're eligible to participate in TRICARE Open Season, you have three choices for your 2020 health coverage:

* Do nothing. If you want to stay in your current TRICARE health care plan, you don't have to take any action. You'll continue in your current health plan through 2020 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 TRICARE Prime (including the US Family Health Plan) or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans and switch between individual and family enrollment.

TRICARE Open Season doesn't apply to TRICARE For Life (TFL). TFL coverage is automatic if you have Medicare Part A and Part B. It also doesn't apply to premium-based plans:

* TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)

* TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)

* TRICARE Young Adult (TYA)

* Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)

As described in the TRICARE Plans Overview, you can purchase premium-based plans any time.

Federal Benefits Open Season

Eligible TRICARE beneficiaries may purchase dental and vision coverage through FEDVIP during the Federal Benefits Open Season. If you're already enrolled in a FEDVIP dental or vision plan and you don't want to make a change, your enrollment will continue in 2020. If you wish to make changes to your existing plan, you must do so during open season.

You may choose between multiple vision and dental plans and carriers. Compare 2020 plans and rates using the FEDVIP plan comparison tool.

FEDVIP dental coverage is available to:

* Retired service members and their eligible family members

* Retired National Guard and Reserve members and their eligible family members

* Certain survivors

* Medal of Honor recipients and their immediate family members and survivors

FEDVIP vision coverage is available to:

* Active duty family members

* National Guard and Reserve members and their eligible family members enrolled in TRS or TRR

* Retired service members and their eligible family members

* TFL beneficiaries

To enroll in a FEDVIP vision plan, you must be enrolled in a TRICARE health plan or have TFL coverage.

Adult children enrolled in or eligible for TYA aren't eligible for FEDVIP. This also applies to ADSMs and beneficiaries enrolled in the Transitional Assistance Management Program or CHCBP.

Don't miss this important opportunity. Sign up for email updates about open season on the TRICARE website. Take command of your health and prepare now for this year's TRICARE Open Season and Federal Benefits Open Season.

TRICARE will host a webinar about open season on Oct. 24. Register to join the webinar to learn about your 2020 health care, dental, and vision coverage options.