What you need to know about your dental benefits during open season enrollment

Once a year, retired uniformed military personnel and federal employees have a window in which they can enroll or change their dental plan, known as open season. This year it will be from November 11 through midnight ET on December 9. The changes you make during this period will remain permanent for a year. To help clarify the process, we asked Paul Kingsbury, the director of uniformed service relations for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, to walk us through the key details you need to know.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility is one of the first questions people have about open season, and Kingsbury clarified that retired uniformed military personnel and their family members are all eligible to enroll in Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) FEP Dental, and he added : “Active and retired federal and USPS employees are also eligible, as are uniformed service groups such as surviving spouses and Medal of Honor recipients.” For a full list of eligibility criteria, please check BENEFEDS.gov.

He also pointed out that age makes a difference in assessing the suitability of family members. “When it comes to eligible family members, it is important to note that it also includes your spouse and eligible family members up to the age of 21 if they are not students, or up to the age of 23 years for students,” said Kingsbury.

What should retired uniformed service members know about open season?

There is a lot of information surrounding open season and sometimes the sheer amount of detail can be overwhelming. So we asked Kingsbury what retired military members need to know, and he noted, “The ability to enlist or change plans during open season is a different experience than we are used to on active duty, because we can now take advantage of the flexibility and being able to make changes every year to upgrade or downgrade coverage.”

He also said those who left active duty but missed their initial eligibility period should not worry; they can also take advantage of the open enrollment window. “You can get coverage during the open season, so make sure you take note of the dates so you and your family don’t go without dental coverage until 2026,” Kingsbury said.

What should uniformed service retirees and their families look for in a dental plan?

When asked about the specifics a dental plan should look for, Kingsbury said affordability is always on people’s minds, but it shouldn’t be the first thing on your mind. He outlined three key details that anyone eligible should consider:

1. Going to an in-network dentist can help you save on dental costs. Find out if your current dentist is part of the network or search for dentists or dental specialists in the network near you. For example, BCBS FEP Dental gives its members access to a large, national network with more than half a million dentists in the network and their locations.
2. Assess your family’s needs and decide which dental plan will meet your needs that year. For example, if you know your children will need braces, or you have a history of needing services like dental crowns, look for a plan that covers your family’s dental needs.
3. For routine dental needs, consider what preventative care is covered. For example, with BCBS FEP Dental you get up to three free cleanings each year with a High Option or Standard Option subscription.

Kingsbury said the decision-making process can be streamlined by using tools such as the Ask Blue^SM BCBS FEP Dental Plan Finder and the Find a dentist tool to find dentists in the network near you. You can also look up estimated costs for dental services in your area via the BCBS FEP Dental Care Pricing Tool.

What should those on active duty know before they prepare to retire?

When talking about the changes service members need to think about as they get ready to retire, Kingsbury said, “Make sure your last dental exam is comprehensive; you will give that information to your new dentist when you enter civilian life.

In addition to that final exam, he said you should also focus on administrative tasks, such as “setting up a BENEFEDS account on BENEFEDS.gov. BENEFEDS is the federally authorized, Office of Personnel Management-sponsored benefits portal that eligible participants use to enroll in FEDVIP plans, such as BCBS FEP Dental. FEDVIP is the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, a dental and vision benefits program offered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

It is also important to make sure you know the dates of your initial enrollment period when you retire from the uniformed services. “You can enroll in a dental plan at BENEFEDS.gov as early as 31 days before your retirement date and up to 60 days after,” Kingsbury said. “If you register before your retirement date, the coverage will commence on your retirement date. If you enroll within 60 days of your retirement, coverage will begin on the first of the month after enrollment. If you miss this window, you will have to wait until the next annual open season enrollment period before receiving dental coverage.”

Finally, Kingsbury said that “it is important to understand that now that you are retired, there are costs that become part of your dental care. Consider the premium and out-of-pocket costs for any services and treatments you would normally receive within a year, or that you expect to receive in the future. Make sure you understand the full costs you need to consider in your financial planning.” He also urged users to familiarize themselves with dental coverage terms that you may not know, such as premiums, the annual maximum, deductibles, out-of-pocket costs and copays.

What about people who say, “I have Tricare, so my family and I are covered”?

“That’s not true,” Kingsbury said. “Your Tricare Dental Program will end after you retire. So find out where you can get dental coverage so that you can continue to receive dental care after you retire. FEDVIP is an option that uniformed retirees have, but most military personnel don’t think about it enough because they haven’t had to make these extra elections in the past. By transitioning from active Tricare coverage, service members must understand that this is changing and that they must make choices and take steps to enroll.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job as director of uniformed service relations for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association?

We asked Kingsbury about his own transition to civilian life and he shared, “I retired from the U.S. Navy after 31 years, which was a big adjustment. This job allows me to stay connected to the military community. It allows me to serve in a new and rewarding way.”

He also said his current role allows him to volunteer his time. “With this role, I have the opportunity to make a financial investment and dedicate time to volunteer in areas of need in our community, especially with our military spouses. Through partnerships and relationships I have developed, and others our team has developed, we have been able to contribute advocacy, education, and resources to groups that aim to reduce unemployment among military spouses, end food insecurity, and support provide for mental health care. challenges, and to raise awareness and support the military healthcare provider community.”

To learn more about BCBS FEP Dental and how to register for this open season, visit bcbsfepdental.com.

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