1. Introducing TRICARE Open Season
Updated July 2018
MHS
Introducing TRICARE Open Season
Thank you for having me with you today.
This brief provides an overview of upcoming TRICARE changes that affect your medical benefits. For some retirees, these changes will also affect your dental benefits.
TRICARE is a registered trademark of the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency. All rights reserved.

2. TODAY’S AGENDA TRICARE IS CHANGING ARE YOU READY?
Introducing TRICARE Open Season
Choices During TRICARE Open Season
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Qualifying Life Events
Introducing FEDVIP
ARE YOU READY?
Prepare today!
Today you will learn about two changes to TRICARE that affect you.
The first change affect most TRICARE beneficiaries: TRICARE Open Season.
The second change affects some TRICARE beneficiaries: FEDVIP, or the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program.

3. Introducing TRICARE Open Season
Open season is an annual period when you can enroll in or change a health insurance plan for the next year.
TRICARE beneficiaries will experience TRICARE Open Season for the first time Nov. 12–Dec 10, 2018.
Enrollment changes made during TRICARE Open Season will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
Open season is an annual period when you can enroll in or change your health care coverage plan for the next year.
TRICARE beneficiaries will experience open season for the first time Nov. 12–Dec 10, 2018.
TRICARE Open Season will happen each year from the Monday of the second full week in November to the Monday of the second full week in December. Enrollment choices made during this period take effect on Jan. 1.
During TRICARE Open Season, you may enroll in or change your TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select plan.
Any changes you make will take effect on Jan. 1, 2019.
Note: If you remain eligible and make no changes during TRICARE Open Season, you’ll stay in the same plan for 2019.

4. Choices During TRICARE Open Season
During TRICARE Open Season you can:
Do nothing. You’ll keep the same coverage through or as long as you remain eligible.
Enroll in a plan. You’re eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select and want to enroll for 2019 coverage.
Change plans. You’re already enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, but you want to switch plans for 2019 coverage.
You may also change your type of enrollment (for example switching from individual to family enrollment). 1 2 3
During TRICARE Open Season you have three choices:
You can do nothing. You’ll keep the same coverage through 2019 or as long as you remain eligible. If you are happy with your current coverage, this may be the best option for you.
You can choose to enroll in a plan. Do this if you’re eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select and want to enroll for 2019 coverage. This applies to you if you’re not currently enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select but want to have coverage in 2019.
Or you can change plans. Do this if you’re already enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, but you want to switch plans for 2019 coverage. You can also change your type of enrollment (for example, switching from individual to family enrollment.

5. Who is Eligible to Participate?
TRICARE Open Season is open to anyone eligible to enroll in or continue enrollment in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.
TRICARE Open Season doesn’t apply to beneficiaries using TRICARE For Life or those enrolled in the following premium-based plans:
TRICARE Retired Reserve
TRICARE Reserve Select
TRICARE Young Adult
Continued Health Care Benefit Program
Who can participate in TRICARE Open Season?
TRICARE Open Season is open to anyone eligible to enroll in or continue enrollment in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.
TRICARE Open Season doesn’t apply to TRICARE For Life. TRICARE For Life doesn’t require enrollment.
Also, TRICARE Open Season doesn’t apply to the premium-based plans. These plans offer continuous open enrollment throughout the year:
TRICARE Retired Reserve
TRICARE Reserve Select
TRICARE Young Adult
Continued Health Care Benefit Program

6. Qualifying Life Events
If you want to enroll in or change enrollment in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select outside of the TRICARE Open Season period, you may only do so within 90 days after you or a family member experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).
The following are TRICARE QLEs:
Military Changes
Activating, Deactivating, Deploying , Moving, Injured on Active Duty, Separating from Active Duty, or Retiring
Family Changes
Getting Married, Getting Divorced, Having a Baby or Adopting, Moving, Children Going to College, Children Becoming Adults, Gaining/Losing Other Health Insurance, Becoming Medicare-Eligible, or Death in Family
What happens if you want to enroll or change your enrollment outside of TRICARE Open Season?
If you want to enroll in or change enrollment in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select outside of the TRICARE Open Season period, you may only do so within 90 days after you or a family member experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).
With TRICARE, a QLE is a certain life changes, like moving, getting married or divorced, becoming Medicare-eligible, and more. These changes may trigger a change in your TRICARE eligibility and options.
The following are TRICARE QLEs:
Military Changes: Activating, Deactivating, Deploying , Moving, Injured on Active Duty, Separating from Active Duty, or Retiring
Family Changes: Getting Married, Getting Divorced, Having a Baby or Adopting, Moving, Children Going to College, Children Becoming Adults, Gaining/Losing Other Health Insurance, Becoming Medicare-Eligible, or Death in Family

7. Introducing FEDVIP
The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) is ending Dec. 31, 2018.
With FEDVIP, some TRICARE beneficiaries are now eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage.
Eligible TRICARE beneficiaries can:
Enroll in FEDVIP during Federal Benefits Open Season for dental and/or vision coverage starting Jan. 1, 2019.
Federal Benefits Open Season runs from Nov. 12–Dec. 10, 2018.
Choose from 10 dental carriers and four vision carriers.
Visit for more information.
Eligible beneficiaries must take action to enroll in FEDVIP to continue dental coverage. There is no automatic enrollment for current TRDP enrollees.
The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) ends on Dec. 31, 2018.
For coverage in 2019, retiree dental plans will be available through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).
Note: Eligible beneficiaries must take action to enroll in FEDVIP. There is no automatic enrollment for current TRDP enrollees.
Additionally, some TRICARE beneficiaries are now eligible for vision coverage under FEDVIP.
This fall will be your first chance to enroll in a FEDVIP dental or vision plan for 2019 coverage.
If you’re eligible, you can enroll in FEDVIP during the 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season. This runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10.
FEDVIP offers a choice between 10 dental and 4 vision options.
Note: Federal Benefits Open Season is separate from TRICARE Open Season. Federal Benefits Open Season only applies to FEDVIP coverage.
For more information, visit the FEDVIP website at You can see if you’re eligible for FEDVIP in You can also compare FEDVIP plans, look up frequently asked questions, and sign up for updates.

8. PREPARE TODAY! Prepare for the changes now by:
Updating your contact information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) for you and your family
Go to
Call (TTY/TDD: )
Fax updates to
Visiting the TRICARE website or FEDVIP website and signing up for updates:
TRICARE Open Season: Go to
Federal Benefits Open Season: Go to
To have more control over your health care, prepare for the upcoming changes to TRICARE by taking the following actions:
Updating your contact information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) for you and your family
Go to
Call (TTY/TDD: )
Fax updates to
Visiting the TRICARE website or FEDVIP website and signing up for updates:
TRICARE Open Season: Go to
Federal Benefits Open Season: Go to