FEDVIP Dental and Vision for TRICARE: 2026 Guide | TRICARE.com

## Quick answer Active duty family members, retirees, and their families do not get dental or vision coverage through TRICARE medical plans. Instead, most beneficiaries are eligible to purchase supplemental coverage through the **Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)**, which is managed by OPM rather than the Department of Defense.

## Details FEDVIP is a voluntary, enrollee-pay-all insurance program. While TRICARE provides the medical platform, FEDVIP provides the specialized dental and vision benefits. *Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site; visit TRICARE.mil or BENEFEDS.com for official enrollment.*

### Dental Coverage via FEDVIP Since the sunset of the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP), FEDVIP is the primary dental vehicle for the military community. * **Eligible Groups:** Retired service members and their families, survivors, and certain Medal of Honor recipients. * **What about Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs)?** They are **not** eligible for FEDVIP dental. They must use the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP), which is currently administered by United Concordia. * **Providers:** You can choose from several nationwide and regional carriers (e.g., Delta Dental, MetLife, BCBS FEP Dental). * **2026 Costs:** Monthly premiums vary significantly by zip code and the specific plan chosen (Standard vs. High). There are no government subsidies for these premiums.

### Vision Coverage via FEDVIP TRICARE medical plans (like Prime or Select) generally only cover vision "maintenance" like one annual eye exam for active duty families. They do not cover the cost of glasses or contact lenses. * **Eligible Groups:** Active duty family members, retirees and their families, TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) members, and TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) members. * **Wait Periods:** Most FEDVIP vision plans have no waiting periods for covered services, including frames or lenses. * **Providers:** Options typically include VSP, FEP BlueVision, UnitedHealthcare Vision, and others.

### Enrollment Cycles You can generally only enroll in or change a FEDVIP plan during the **Federal Benefits Open Season**, which typically runs from mid-November to mid-December. Outside of Open Season, you may only enroll if you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), such as retirement from active duty, marriage, or losing other dental/vision coverage.

## Who this affects * **Retirees and their families:** Eligible for both FEDVIP Dental and FEDVIP Vision. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Eligible for FEDVIP Vision **only** (Dental is through TRICARE Dental Program). * **Guard/Reserve Members:** Those on TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) are eligible for FEDVIP Vision. * **Active Duty Service Members:** **Not eligible.** Their dental and vision care is provided directly by military treatment facilities (MTFs) or via specific TRICARE active-duty programs.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Dental Options](https://www.tricare.mil/Dental) * **BENEFEDS (Main Portal):** [FEDVIP Eligibility](https://www.benefeds.com/) * **Office of Personnel Management (OPM):** [Dental & Vision Overview](https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/dental-vision/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Benefits](https://www.triwest.com/)