Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
The Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 provided the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the opportunity to establish arrangements under which supplemental dental and vision benefits are made available to Federal employees, retirees, and their dependents.
FEDVIP supplemental insurance covers a comprehensive range of dental and vision expenses. The enrollee pays the entire FEDVIP premium with no government contribution. If you are an active employee, premiums for FEDVIP are withheld before federal taxes are calculated so gross income for tax purposes is reduced.
You must be eligible to participate in the FEHB Program in order to be eligible to enroll in FEDVIP. It does not matter if you are actually enrolled in FEHB - eligibility is the key. Your FEDVIP enrollment automatically continues into retirement. There is no requirement to have the FEDVIP coverage for 5 years preceding retirement. Premiums are withheld on an after-tax basis from your retirement annuity.
Enrollment takes place during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season in November and December. New and newly eligible employees can enroll within the 60 days after they become eligible.
Eligible individuals can enroll in a dental and/or vision plan. They may enroll in a plan for Self Only, Self plus one, or Self and Family coverage. Eligible family members include your spouse and unmarried dependent children under age 22. This includes legally adopted children and recognized natural children who meet certain dependency requirements. This also includes stepchildren and foster children who live with you in a regular parent-child relationship. Under certain circumstances, you may also continue coverage for a disabled child 22 years of age or older who is incapable of self-support.
FEDVIP rules and FEHB rules for family member eligibility are NOT the same.
Changes in dependent eligibility under healthcare reform (Affordable Care Act) do not affect eligibility for children under FEDVIP.
FEDVIP is also administered by a third party administrator. For additional information and/or enrollment questions pertaining to FEDVIP contact BENEFEDS at 1(877)888-3337. To enroll in FEDVIP, please visit www.BENEFEDS.com
Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) are available Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time including the day after Thanksgiving. The call center is closed during weekends and on Thanksgiving Day. The TTY number for the deaf and hard of hearing is 1-877-889-5680.
