Open Season
If you are an eligible employee, annuitant, or TRICARE-eligible individual, you may enroll in a dental and/or vision plan during the November 13, through midnight EST December 11, 2023, Open Season. Coverage is effective January 1, 2024.
During future annual Open Seasons, you may enroll in a plan, or change or cancel your dental and/or vision coverage. The effective date of these Open Season enrollments and changes will be set by OPM. If you want to continue your current enrollment, do nothing. Your enrollment carries over from year to year, unless you change it.
New hire/Newly eligible
You may enroll within 60 days after you become eligible as:
- a new employee;
- a previously ineligible employee who transferred to a covered position;
- a survivor annuitant if not already covered under FEDVIP; or
- an employee returning to service following a break in service of at least 31 days.
- a TRICARE-eligible individual
Your enrollment will be effective the first day of the pay period following the one in which BENEFEDS receives and confirms your enrollment.
Qualifying Life Event A qualifying life event (QLE) is an event that allows you to enroll, or if you are already enrolled, allows you to change your enrollment outside of an open season.
The following chart lists the QLE’s and the enrollment actions you may take:
Qualifying Life Event: Marriage From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes Increase Enrollment Type: Yes Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: Yes
Qualifying Life Event: Acquiring an eligible family member (non-spouse) From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No Increase Enrollment Type: Yes Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Losing a covered family member From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No Increase Enrollment Type: No Decrease Enrollment Type: Yes Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Losing other dental/vision coverage (eligible or covered person) From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes Increase Enrollment Type: Yes Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Moving out of regional plan's service area From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No Increase Enrollment Type: No Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: Yes
Qualifying Life Event: Going on active military duty, non- pay status (enrollee or spouse) From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No Increase Enrollment Type: No Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: Yes Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Returning to pay status from active military duty (enrollee or spouse) From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes Increase Enrollment Type: No Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Returning to pay status from Leave without pay From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes (if enrollment cancelled during LWOP) Increase Enrollment Type: No Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: Yes (if enrollment cancelled during LWOP)
Qualifying Life Event: Annuity/ compensation restored From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes Increase Enrollment Type: No Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: No Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Transferring to an eligible position* From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No Increase Enrollment Type: No Decrease Enrollment Type: No Cancel: Yes Change from One Plan to Another: No
Opportunities to Enroll or Change Enrollment
Open Season
If you are an eligible employee, annuitant, or TRICARE-eligible individual (TEI), you may enroll in a dental and/or vision plan during the November 13, through midnight EST December 11, 2023, Open Season. Coverage is effective January 1, 2024.
During future annual Open Seasons, you may enroll in a plan, or change or cancel your dental and/or vision coverage. The effective date of these Open Season enrollments and changes will be set by OPM. If you want to continue your current enrollment, do nothing. Your enrollment carries over from year to year, unless you change it.
New hire/Newly eligible
You may enroll within 60 days after you become eligible as:
- a new employee;
- a previously ineligible employee who transferred to a covered position;
- a survivor annuitant if not already covered under FEDVIP; or
- an employee returning to service following a break in service of at least 31 days.
- a TRICARE-eligible individual
Your enrollment will be effective the first day of the pay period following the one in which BENEFEDS receives and confirms your enrollment.
Qualifying Life Event
A qualifying life event (QLE) is an event that allows you to enroll, or if you are already enrolled, allows you to change your enrollment outside of an Open Season.
The following chart lists the QLEs and the enrollment actions you may take.
From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes
Increase Enrollment Type: Yes
Decrease Enrollment Type: No
Cancel: No
Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Moving out of regional plan's service area
From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No
Increase Enrollment Type: No
Decrease Enrollment Type: No
Cancel: No
Change from One Plan to Another: Yes
Qualifying Life Event: Going on active military duty, non- pay status (enrollee or spouse)
From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No
Increase Enrollment Type: No
Decrease Enrollment Type: No
Cancel: Yes
Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Returning to pay status from active military duty (enrollee or spouse)
From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes
Increase Enrollment Type: No
Decrease Enrollment Type: No
Cancel: No
Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Returning to pay status from Leave without pay
From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes (if enrollment cancelled during LWOP)
Increase Enrollment Type: No
Decrease Enrollment Type: No
Cancel: No
Change from One Plan to Another: Yes (if enrollment cancelled during LWOP)
Qualifying Life Event: Annuity/ compensation restored
From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: Yes
Increase Enrollment Type: No
Decrease Enrollment Type: No
Cancel: No
Change from One Plan to Another: No
Qualifying Life Event: Transferring to an eligible position*
From Not Enrolled to Enrolled: No
Increase Enrollment Type: No
Decrease Enrollment Type: No
Cancel: Yes
Change from One Plan to Another: No
*Position must be in a Federal agency that provides dental and/or vision coverage with 50 percent or more employer-paid premium and you elect to enroll.
The timeframe for requesting a QLE change is from 31 days before to 60 days after the event. There are two exceptions:
- There is no time limit for a change based on moving from a regional plan’s service area; and
- You cannot request a new enrollment based on a QLE before the QLE occurs, except for enrollment because of a loss of dental or vision insurance. You must make the change no later than 60 days after the event.
Enrollments and enrollment changes made based on a QLE are effective on the first day of the pay period following the one in which BENEFEDS receives the enrollment or change. BENEFEDS will send you confirmation of your new coverage effective date.
Once you enroll in a plan, your 60-day window for that type of plan ends, even if 60 calendar days have not yet elapsed. That means once you have enrolled in either plan, you cannot change or cancel that particular enrollment until the next Open Season, unless you experience a QLE that allows such a change or cancellation.
VA Exception for Cancellation
Generally, you may cancel your enrollment only during the annual Open Season. However, if you are a FEDVIP enrollee paying premiums on a post-tax basis, and you, your family member, or TEI family member becomes eligible for VA dental or vision benefits, then you may change your enrollment type or cancel your enrollment within 60 days of receiving notification of VA dental or vision eligibility. This 60-day period may fall outside of open season. VA dental or vision eligibility documentation must be submitted to OPM via the BENEFEDS mailbox (benefedsportal@opm.gov) within 60 days of notification to support the FEDVIP enrollment change or cancellation.
Your cancellation is effective at the end of the day before the date OPM sets as the Open Season effective date. An eligible family member’s coverage also ends upon the effective date of the cancellation.
If you are a FEDVIP enrollee paying premiums on a pre-tax basis, and you, your family member, or TEI family member becomes eligible for VA dental or vision benefits, then you may not change or cancel your FEDVIP enrollment until the next open season.
FEDVIP enrollees can verify if they are paying their premiums on a pre- or post- tax basis by contacting BENEFEDS at 1-877-888-3337, TTY number 1-877-889-5680. |