For all military retirees and dependents, your new Benefeds (TRICARE)vision and dental plans must be purchased between November 12 and December 10, 2018. The old TRICARE Retiree Dental Program is passing out of existence on December 31, 2018, so you must choose a new plan during the enrollment period. You may also add on vision coverage. You can search by zip code to compare plans. Some important things to consider: If you want to keep your dentist, call and ask them if they are an “IN-NETWORK PROVIDER” on the plan you want. If you ask them if they accept the plan, they may tell you, yes, but then be out of network so you pay more out of pocket. It is important to make sure that they are an “IN-NETWORK PROVIDER” for the plan you choose. (You may want to start the search by calling your dentist’s office and asking which plans they are “IN-NETWORK PROVIDERS”.) You have a wide variety of cost options. If you are already enrolled in TRDP, you will not have a waiting period for dental/orthodontia. If you are not enrolled in TRDP, you will have a waiting period for intermediate and major dental work and orthodontia. Follow the same steps for your vision plan by making sure your eye doctor is an “IN-NETWORK PROVIDER” for the plan you want to select. Remember, because TRICARE has gone to annual elections of coverage, you must add your plan during the enrollment period, or you will be locked out until next year. Coverage in this plan will run Jan 1-Dec 31, 2019. https://benefeds.com
This is also the time to switch your TRICARE healthcare plan if you wish to do so. You may switch between TRICARE Prime and Select between Nov 12 – Dec 10, 2018, for coverage running Jan 1- Dec 31, 2019. This will be the only time to make changes to your healthcare plan, barring a qualifying life event in 2019. If you are satisfied with your TRICARE plan, then you do nothing to stay enrolled in your current healthcare plan. If you want to switch between plans, then you need to contact TRICARE to change plans during the enrollment window. Please make sure that your doctor is an “IN-NETWORK PROVIDER”. In terms of TRICARE Select, in order for a provider to be considered an “in-network provider”, they must also accept TRICARE Prime. If your doctor is an out of network provider, you may have higher copays/cost shares. (This is dependent upon the cost of healthcare in your local healthcare market.) https://www.tricare.mil/About/Changes/OpenSeason