Every year from mid-November to mid-December, all federal health insurance plans offer open enrollment, also known as open season. This open season gives beneficiaries enrolled in these insurance plans a chance to make changes to their annual contracted coverage.
The 2023 open season for coverage in 2024 runs from Nov. 13 – Dec. 11.
During open season military retirees, active duty family members and those enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select may purchase or make changes to their dental and vision insurance, with the Federal Employee Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).
FEDVIP allows military retirees to purchase dental coverage and active-duty families and those enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select to purchase vision coverage.
Tricare also offers an open season about the same time, when those covered by the military's insurance plan are eligible to change their coverage.
Related: Tricare Open Season
Outside of open season, you can make health insurance changes only if you experience a qualifying life event such as moving to a new area or changing your number of dependents.
FEDVIP in 2024
In 2024, FEDVIP enrollees will see increases or decreases in premiums for dental and vision insurance from the current year's rates depending on their chosen plans.
Military families and retirees will be able to choose from between 12 dental and five vision insurance carriers, depending on their location. Carriers usually offer both standard- and high-coverage plans, giving beneficiaries numerous options. Most plans have different reimbursement levels as well as coverage options available for single, married with one dependent, or family coverage levels.
Changes in dental premiums for 2024 range from decreases in the 3% range for both Dominion National's standard- and high-coverage plans and United Healthcare's high-coverage option to EmblemHealth's 11.4% increase for high coverage. Several carriers raised premiums for standard dental coverage 3% or more, including Aetna (about 7.3%), Blue Cross Blue Shield (7.4%), Delta Dental (3.0%), EmblemHealth (5.5%), GEHA (3.0%), HealthPartners (6.9%), and United Healthcare (4.7%).
In vision coverage, only United Healthcare's high-coverage plan went up substantially (8.3%). MetLife's high option dropped 5.5%, while the rest stayed closer to the same.
In 2023, by contrast, most plans increased by an average of 1.1%, meaning premiums went up by less than $1 a month.
If you're currently enrolled in a FEDVIP plan and don't want to make any changes to your coverage, there is nothing you need to do to remain in your current plan. Your coverage will remain the same in the upcoming year.
You can compare available plans on the Federal Employee Benefit portal, BENEFEDS.
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