Should employees enroll in the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program?

Federal employees and annuitants with dental or vision needs need to decide whether to enroll in a dental and/or vision insurance plan offered through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). You may already have enrolled in a FEDVIP plan for the year 2016, now you might need to decide if you want to change your current dental plan or disenroll from your current dental plan for the current year.

What is dental insurance under FEDVIP?

FEDVIP offers a comprehensive federal dental plan to make sure that you and your family maintain a healthy oral care. You can choose from different dental plans which includes all the basic services, intermediate services and major services. The plan also covers dependants who are under age 19 and subject to a plan's waiting period. FEDVIP also allows group dental insurance, which can have competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations.

How to know if you are eligible?

If you are a Federal employee who is eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and if your position in the office is not excluded by law or regulation, then you are eligible to enroll in the federal dental insurance. Eligibility to enroll in the FEHB program is the key in order to become eligible for FEDVIP. The eligibility of dependants differs under FEDVIP and FEHB program. For example, under FEDVIP program, once a child becomes 22, the child cannot be a dependent of your FEDVIP plan. However, there are few exceptions for disabled children.

Differences between FEHB and FEDVIP plans

Under FEHB, you need to be a participant in the program for at least 5 years of your service time, whereas in FEDVIP plan this is not required. The other main difference is that, the federal government pays nothing towards the premium of a FEDVIP dental or vision plan, whereas the federal government pays 72 to 75 percent of the premium towards FEHB plan for both employees and annuitants.

When can you enroll in FEDVIP?

FEDVIP offers an annual open season during which all the federal employees can enroll. If you are a new employee, you can enroll within the first 60 days of the employment. If you have changed your federal dental insurance plan for the year 2017, then coverage becomes effective from January 1st 2017 with premiums being deducted from your paycheck starting with January 2017.

You can enroll in a FEDVIP plan under three options - self only, self plus a family member and self plus family coverage.

How should you enroll in FEDVIP?

You must enroll in the federal dental insurance through BENEFEDS which is a secure enrollment website sponsored by OPM. You may enroll online through their website or by calling their toll free line.

How much do you need to pay?

The amount of premium you pay depends on three major factors - the location you live in, the plan you choose and the option you choose. Your premium can be paid with pre-tax dollars. The premium for federal dental insurance need to be fully contributed by you. The government does not make any contribution to the premium for such insurance.

How your benefits will be coordinated with your FEHB health plan?

Your FEHB is the first payor. Your dental plan under FEDVIP will facilitate the First Payor process with your FEHB plan. The premiums will not be reduced if you have a dental coverage under the FEHB plan.

Few important things to know about the FEDVIP plan

•  Some of the dental plans don't pay for services provided by doctors with whom they don't have any contract. Therefore, you must be careful in choosing your doctor. You must use an in-network provider to receive the benefits of FEDVIP plan.

• You cannot cancel your dental coverage outside of open season.

• Your FEDVIP enrollment is carried over from year to year automatically. It does not change unless you change your enrollment through BENEFEDS during the open season

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American Marketing Administrators Inc, is a group of insurance agency offering various insurance plans for employees, individual and family. We offer dental PPO plans and vision care plans for American federal employees. You can choose from Type 1, 2 or 3 procedures. No waiting periods. The plan pays 100% for Type 1 procedure for American Federal Employees Group. There are other different plans available at low cost with great benefits.