TRICARE Beneficiaries May Be Eligible for FEDVIP Vision

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Nov. 6 -- Defense Health Agency issued the following news release:

When's the last time you and your family members had their eyes checked? Maintaining good health and wellness includes eye health. "Even if your eyes feel healthy, you could have a problem and not know it," according to the National Eye Institute. But a comprehensive eye exam can help your eye doctor check for common eye problems and detect diseases that can cause vision loss. Did you know that a Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) plan may help you get the eye care you need?

While your TRICARE health plan (https://tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans) may include eye exam coverage (https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Vision) and certain services to diagnose or treat eye conditions, FEDVIP offers more robust vision coverage. It may help you save money on glasses or contact lenses. And good news--you can enroll soon. The Federal Benefits Open Season is just a few days away.

Who's Eligible for FEDVIP?

Your eligibility for FEDVIP vision coverage depends on your beneficiary status. You must also be enrolled in a TRICARE health plan (https://tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans). Those who may be eligible include:

* Active duty family members

* National Guard and Reserve members and their family members

* Retired service members and their eligible family members

* TRICARE For Life beneficiaries

Keep in mind, adult children enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Young Adult aren't eligible for FEDVIP. Active duty service members as well as service members and family members covered by the Transitional Assistance Management Program are also ineligible. You can learn more about eligibility on the BENEFEDS website.

What Does FEDVIP Cover?

FEDVIP provides voluntary vision and dental coverage to eligible TRICARE beneficiaries and offers a choice among a number of FEDVIP dental and vision carriers. If you're eligible, you may choose from 23 dental plan options and 10 vision plan options. The FEDVIP plans vary in coverage and premium amounts. You may review your plan options using the Plan Compare Tool. The Plan Compare Tool supports side-by-side comparison of plan option features including premiums, coinsurance, deductibles, and annual maximums. You may also review plan details in the plan's Official Statement of Benefits.

With a FEDVIP vison plan, covered services may include:

* Routine eye exams

* Contact lenses

* Eyeglass frames and lenses

* Discounts on laser eye surgery

How Do I Enroll?

You may enroll during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season (https://www.benefeds.com/general/prepare-for-open-season). This is your chance to enroll in, change, or cancel a FEDVIP plan. This year, open season begins Nov. 9 and ends Dec. 14, midnight EST. If you enroll during this time, your FEDVIP coverage will be effective on Jan. 1, 2021.

Outside of open season, you can only enroll in or make changes to your existing coverage if you experience a FEDVIP qualifying life event (https://www.benefeds.com/education-support/enroll-plan-year) (QLE). As stated in the TRICARE Qualifying Life Events Fact Sheet (https://www.tricare.mil/publications), FEDVIP QLEs may be different from TRICARE QLEs and follow different timelines for enrollment. For a list of FEDVIP QLEs, visit the FEDVIP QLEs (https://www.benefeds.com/education-support/qles) page.

As you explore health plan options this fall, make sure to keep in mind your and your family's eye health. For more information about vision coverage, visit TRICARE Covered Services (https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Vision) or go to the BENEFEDS (https://www.benefeds.com/) website. Take command of your eye health by staying informed about your vision coverage options.