Military Retiree Dental Insurance

Active-duty servicemembers have likely gotten used to receiving dental care through the Tricare Dental Program. However, once you separate or retire from the armed services, you’ll need to find a new dental insurance plan. 

For those seeking military retiree dental insurance, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is a great option that offers flexible, comprehensive coverage. Of course, if you continue to work after your retirement from the armed services or if you’re not eligible for FEDVIP, employer-sponsored dental insurance or the VA Dental Insurance Program may be more applicable. 

Today, we’ll explore FEDVIP as an option for military retiree dental insurance to help you decide if it’s the best coverage for you. 

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)

The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is a voluntary, enrollee-pay-all program that provides comprehensive dental and vision insurance to eligible federal employees, military retirees and their dependents. FEDVIP offers various plan options, ranging from national to regional availability, enabling military retirees to choose coverage that best fits their needs and budget.

If you are eligible for FEDVIP, note that you can only enroll or make changes to your coverage during two specific scenarios:

1. You can enroll for or make coverage changes during FEDVIP’s “open season,” which starts on the Monday of the second full week of November and ends on the Monday of the second full week of December every year.
   
2. In the incident of a Qualifying Life Event, such as marriage, loss of other coverage or loss of a family member, you may enroll outside of open season.

Who’s eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage?

FEDVIP covers a wide range of military retirees and family members (including survivors). See the following chart to determine if you are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage:

Eligible Person	Conditions of Eligibility
Retired active-duty & Retired Reserve members	– Former servicemembers entitled to retired, retainer or equivalent pay and other benefits – Former servicemembers who retired due to a D.o.D determined medical disability – Retired reserve members age 60 and older – Gray area reservists not yet receiving retired pay
Spouse of an eligible member	Spouse of a retired active-duty member or retired eligible retiree
Unmarried child or dependent of an eligible member*	– Child of an FEDVIP eligible retiree – Child in legal custody of a FEDVIP eligible retiree for more than 12 months
Survivor of an eligible member	– Unmarried surviving spouse of an FEDVIP eligible retiree – Child of an FEDVIP eligible retiree – Dependent of an FEDVIP eligible retiree

*Note that dependents of a retired servicemember/retired reserve member, including spouses and children, may also receive FEDVIP dental coverage even if the FEDVIP eligible retiree isn’t enrolled in in the program. Qualifying situations include:

• The military retiree receives VA dental services.
• The military retiree has dental insurance through their employer that doesn’t cover family members.
• The military retiree cannot receive dental services due to a medical or dental condition.

FEDVIP Dental Programs

FEDVIP offers a variety of dental plans to choose from. While many plans are available nationwide or even internationally, some plans are only available regionally or in certain zip codes. You can visit the BENEFEDS website for a full rundown and comparison of the available options. Here’s a quick overview:

FEDVIP Dental Plan Options
National & International Availability	Regional Availability
Aetna Dental Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental Delta Dental’s Federal Employees Dental Program GEHA Connection Dental Federal The MetLife Federal Dental Plan United Concordia Dental UnitedHealthcare Dental	Dominion National EmblemHealth Dental HealthPartners Dental Humana Dental Triple-S Salud

To help you compare different providers, the following sections will provide an overview of some of the most popular national FEDVIP carrier and plan options, all of which include “Standard” and “High” plan options. Monthly premiums and annual deductibles are dependent on your zip code. You can compare deductibles, copays and lifetime maximums using the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Plan Selection Comparison Tool.

MetLife’s FEDVIP

• 100% coverage for in-network cleanings, X-rays and exams
• Savings of up to 70% for in-network services such as fillings and crowns
• Preventive Services
• Orthodontic coverage for adults and children
• Over 427,000 locations nationwide
• Benefits available on day one of your coverage

Contact MetLife’s FEDVIP:

• MetLife’s Website
• 1-888-865-6854

Delta Dental’s FEDVIP

• 100% coverage for in-network cleanings, X-rays and exams
• Unlimited in-network annual maximum under the High option plan
• No waiting periods
• No deductible on any in-network services
• Additional covered cleaning per year for pregnant individuals, as well as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics
• Over 372,000 in-network providers nationwide

Contact Delta Dental’s FEDVIP:

• Delta Dental’s Website
• 855-410-3255

Blue Cross Blue Shield’s FEDVIP

• Fully-covered, in-network preventive care, including up to three dental cleanings a year
• No deductible for in-network services, like fillings and root canals
• No waiting periods
• A large nationwide network with over 479,000 in-network dentists
• Worldwide coverage with all overseas services at the in-network benefit level

Contact Blue Cross Blue Shield’s FEDVIP:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Website
• 855-504-2583

United Concordia’s FEDVIP

• 100% coverage for in-network cleanings, X-rays and exams
• No annual deductibles 
• No waiting periods
• Coverage for white and silver fillings
• Orthodontia for members, spouses, and children (High Option)

Contact United Concordia’s FEDVIP:

• United Concordia’s Website
• 877-394-8224

Aetna’s FEDVIP

• In and out of network coverage
• 24/7 Virtual care providers 
• No waiting periods
• Orthodontia coverage for children and adults, including Invisalign and SmileDirectClub

Contact Aetna’s FEDVIP:

• Aetna’s Website
• 877-459-6604

Best Dental Insurance for Military Retirement

As you have seen, FEDVIP offers a variety of coverage options for everyone. There is no one single best FEDVIP military retiree dental insurance plan, and every retiree probably has a couple of choices that would make a good fit for them and their families. 

Just remember, the most important thing is that you have to take action during the Federal Benefits Open Season if you want to have FEDVIP dental coverage. Get started researching your options and enroll at BENEFEDS.com. If you have more questions, you can reach a BENEFEDS representative at 1-877-888-FEDS (3337).

About Post Author