FEDVIP: Dental and Vision for TRICARE Beneficiaries | TRICARE.com

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## Definition FEDVIP (Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program) is a voluntary, enrollee-pay-all insurance program that provides supplemental dental and vision coverage to eligible military retirees, their families, and certain active-duty family members.

## What it means in practice For the TRICARE community, FEDVIP is effectively the "upgrade" or replacement for previous military-specific dental plans. While active-duty service members receive dental care through military clinics or the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP), **retirees and their families** do not have a built-in dental benefit. Instead, they must purchase a dental plan through FEDVIP during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season (typically mid-November to mid-December).

In practice, FEDVIP offers a choice between multiple private insurance carriers (such as Delta Dental, MetLife, or Blue Cross Blue Shield). Because it is "enrollee-pay-all," the government does not subsidize the premiums; however, beneficiaries benefit from the group domestic rates negotiated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). For 2026, premiums vary significantly based on your zip code and the specific plan chosen (Standard vs. High options), but monthly rates for a family dental plan typically range from $70 to $150.

Vision coverage through FEDVIP is available to a broader group, including the families of active-duty service members who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan. While TRICARE covers medically necessary eye exams (such as for diabetes or glaucoma), it rarely covers routine glasses or contacts for dependents. FEDVIP vision plans fill this gap, providing allowances for frames and lenses.

It is important to note that FEDVIP is managed by the OPM, not the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Enrollment does not happen through milConnect or a TRICARE regional contractor; instead, beneficiaries must use the **BENEFEDS** portal to select and manage their plans.

## Related terms * **BENEFEDS:** The central enrollment portal and payment system used to manage FEDVIP dental and vision coverage. * **TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP):** The former dental program for retirees that was deactivated and replaced by FEDVIP in 2019. * **TRICARE Dental Program (TDP):** The separate dental insurance plan specifically for active-duty family members and Reserve components, managed by United Concordia. * **Open Season:** The annual period (usually November–December) when TRICARE and FEDVIP enrollees can change their plan selections for the following year. * **Premium:** The monthly amount paid to the insurance carrier to keep the FEDVIP policy active, usually deducted from military retired pay.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Dental Care Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/Dental) * **OPM.gov:** [FEDVIP Program Information](https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/dental-vision/) * **BENEFEDS.com:** [Enrollment and Eligibility](https://www.benefeds.com/)