Here’s How Military Retirees Can Prepare for FEDVIP Open Season

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news:

Have you visited the BENEFEDS website (https://www.benefeds.com/) to explore your options for the upcoming open season (Nov. 12 through Dec. 10) for selecting dental and vision plans? TRICARE's Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) ends Dec. 31, 2018. MOAA recommends you start familiarizing yourself now with the numerous options for dental and vision plans you must select from and enroll in during the open season.

The BENEFEDS website is easy to navigate and provides a plethora of information on each plan. There are three main pages: Enroll in a Plan, Education & Support, and Contact Us. On the Education and Support page (https://benefeds.com/Portal/EducationSupport?EnsSubmit=EducationSupportMainCnt&ctoken=Uup0IFKO), you can find information about the dental and vision plans, long term care, flexible spending accounts, plan tools, FAQs, and information about BENEFEDS itself. This page also has a popular links tab.

By selecting Dental and Vision (https://benefeds.com/Portal/EducationSupport?EnsSubmit=topics&ctoken=Uup0IFKO), you'll find a list of numerous links, including to FEDVIP Tools (https://benefeds.com/Portal/EducationSupport?EnsSubmit=fedvip_tools&ctoken=Uup0IFKO), where you'll have access to the FEDVIP Plan Comparison Tool (https://benefeds.com/Portal/PlanSearch?submit=planSearch&ctoken=Uup0IFKO).

You'll open the plan comparison tool and select which program type you want to compare (dental or vision), enter your ZIP code (yes, just like TRDP, where you live determines premium structure) and how frequently you will make payments. A retiree with a spouse, in Alexandria, Va., for example, has a choice of 13 plans ranging from a low of $36.14 a month up to $107.92 a month. That's quite a disparity in premiums! Well, you're not done. Each plan has a "View Details" link that provides you with some of that plan's finer points, plus there is a link to a .pdf file with the actual plan brochure from the provider - the "small print."

As a comparison, the cheaper plan (Dominion Dental, HMO) has $0 deductible per person, covers 100 percent for Class A (basic) services with a $10 per patient copayment, 56 percent for Class B (intermediate) services plus a $10 per patient copayment, and 40 percent copayment for Class C (major) services plus a $10 per patient copayment. There is no annual maximum benefit under this plan. Finally, you can only use this plan in network.

At the high end (Delta Dental, PPO), there's a $50 deductible per person, but 100 percent/90 percent coverage (in network/out of network) for Class A services, 70 percent/60 percent for Class B services, and 50 percent/40 percent for Class C services. The annual maximum benefit per person is $30,000/$3,000 (in/out).

Comparing dental options for someone in Jacksonville, Fla., for example, would have 11 dental plans ranging from $42.79 to $92.80 a month.

With the Alexandria, Va., example, you would have to choose from eight vision plans ranging from $12.76 to $28.90 a month.

Sign up today for your BENEFEDS accounts, and use their comparison tool to determine the best plan(s) for you and your family. Read OPM's fact sheets on FEDVIP Dental and Vision coverage (https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/dental-vision/).