Dental Insurance for Retired Military Benefits

Retired military personnel and their families may be eligible for dental insurance benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the TRICARE program.

The VA offers a range of dental insurance options, including the VA Dental Insurance Program (VA-DIP), which provides coverage for routine cleanings, fillings, and extractions.

Some retired military personnel may be eligible for TRICARE dental insurance, which offers more comprehensive coverage, including orthodontia, oral surgery, and crowns.

Eligible individuals must apply for these benefits and meet specific requirements to qualify.

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Dental insurance can be a lifesaver for retired military personnel, covering a significant portion of dental expenses for routine cleanings, fillings, and even major procedures. Many dental insurance plans offer a 80/20 split, where the insurance company pays 80% of the cost and the patient pays 20%.

Retired military personnel can choose from various dental insurance plans that cater to their specific needs, such as TRICARE Dental Program, which offers a range of options for active and retired military personnel. Some plans even offer discounted rates for preventive care services like cleanings and X-rays.

For example, the TRICARE Dental Program offers a maximum annual benefit of $1,300 for dental services, which can be a significant help for retirees on a fixed income.

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If you have a dentist and you want to stay with them, then the first thing to do is ask your dentist which plans they accept.

You can also go to the website of the plan you are considering, and check their “find a dentist” database to verify the dentist’s participation.

To find a dentist, give your dentist a call, or print out the options and stop by the office.

You should be able to verify the dentist’s participation in both directions, both through the dentist and through the insurance carrier.

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Military families are facing uncertainty due to a White House funding freeze, which has put a raft of programs under review.

This freeze is affecting the lives of many military personnel and their families, who rely on these programs for support.

GOP Chairmen have launched an effort to expand veterans' access to private doctors, which could be a game-changer for those in need of specialized care.

However, the purge of inspectors general across the federal government has raised concerns about accountability and oversight at the Pentagon and VA.

VA Secretary nominee has pledged to modernize hospital infrastructure and promote community care, which could improve healthcare outcomes for veterans.

Here are some key updates on military benefits:

There are several insurance providers to choose from when it comes to dental insurance for retired military. You can visit the BENEFEDS website for a full rundown and comparison of the available options.

Aetna Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental, and Delta Dental’s Federal Employees Dental Program are some of the national FEDVIP carrier and plan options available. GEHA Connection Dental Federal, The MetLife Federal Dental Plan, United Concordia Dental, and UnitedHealthcare Dental are also part of this category.

Here's a brief overview of the regional availability options: Dominion National, EmblemHealth Dental, HealthPartners Dental, Humana Dental, and Triple-S Salud are some of the providers with regional availability. Keep in mind that monthly premiums and annual deductibles are dependent on your zip code.

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Association plans can be a viable option for those looking for dental insurance. Many military-related or federal government-related organizations offer dental plans to their members.

Some organizations, like the Government Employees Benefits Association, offer dental plans with costs and benefits that may be comparable to FEDVIP. Our family has experience with the Government Employees Benefits Association plan and is happy with it.

You may be eligible to join an organization that offers a dental plan, so it's worth checking out.

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As a military retiree, it's essential to have reliable dental insurance to cover your family's needs. You have the option to enroll in a dental plan through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), also known as Benefeds.

FEDVIP offers 12 dental plan choices from well-known commercial carriers, which are generally priced slightly more competitively than if you purchased the same coverage commercially. However, the plans are not subsidized by the federal government, so they can be a bit pricey.

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If you're eligible for FEDVIP, you can only enroll or make changes to your coverage during two specific scenarios: 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, or in the event of a Qualifying Life Event, such as marriage, loss of other coverage, or loss of a family member.

MetLife's FEDVIP plan offers 100% coverage for in-network cleanings, X-rays, and exams, and savings of up to 70% for in-network services such as fillings and crowns. You can also get orthodontic coverage for adults and children, and benefits are available on day one of your coverage.

Here are some popular FEDVIP carrier and plan options, including "Standard" and "High" plan options:

To compare different providers and find the best fit for your family, you can visit the BENEFEDS website or use the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Plan Selection Comparison Tool. This tool will help you compare deductibles, copays, and lifetime maximums, and find a plan that suits your needs and budget.

Vision insurance changes in retirement can be a bit of a surprise. Your premiums won't go up just because you retire, you'll have access to the same prices as active employees.

However, a benefit that active employees enjoy called Premium Conversion goes away in retirement. This means you'll pay the premiums with after-tax dollars instead of pre-tax dollars.

As a result, the after-tax cost of your vision insurance will increase in retirement. For example, if you're paying $1,000/year in premiums, you'll be taxed on that amount in addition to your other income.

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If you're a retired military member, you're likely eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage. This program covers a wide range of military retirees and family members, including survivors.

You can determine if you're eligible by checking the chart in the FEDVIP chart, which outlines the conditions of eligibility for different types of individuals, such as retired active-duty and Reserve members, spouses, and children.

To enroll in FEDVIP, you can only begin or change your coverage during the open enrollment season, which normally runs from mid-November to mid-December every year. However, you can also enroll or make changes at any time if you have a "qualifying life event", such as marriage, loss of other dental coverage, or the birth of a new family member.

Here's a breakdown of the different types of individuals who are eligible for FEDVIP:

Note that dependents of a retired servicemember or Reserve member, including spouses and children, may also receive FEDVIP dental coverage even if the eligible retiree isn't enrolled in the program, in certain situations such as receiving VA dental services or having dental insurance through their employer that doesn't cover family members.

Employer-Sponsored Coverage can be a great option for dental coverage. If you or your spouse has access to dental coverage through employment, it's worth investigating.

Employer-sponsored dental coverage may be less expensive than other options if the employer is paying a portion of the cost.

Premiums are typically paid via payroll deduction, making it a convenient option.

If you're lucky, your employer offers dental coverage through their benefits package. Consider yourself lucky if you have access to this perk!

You're probably wondering who's eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage. Well, let's break it down. Military retirees and family members are covered, including survivors.

To be eligible, you must be a retired active-duty or Retired Reserve member, or a spouse, child, or dependent of one. You can check the chart to see if you fit into one of these categories.

Retired active-duty and Retired Reserve members are eligible if they're entitled to retired pay, or if they retired due to a medical disability. They must also be 60 or older, unless they're a gray area reservist.

Spouses of eligible members can also get FEDVIP dental coverage. This includes spouses of retired active-duty members or eligible retirees.

Children and dependents of eligible members are also eligible, including children in legal custody for more than 12 months.

Survivors of eligible members can also get FEDVIP dental coverage, including unmarried surviving spouses, children, and dependents.

Here are some specific situations where dependents may be eligible even if the retiree isn't enrolled:

In summary, FEDVIP dental coverage is available to a wide range of military retirees and family members, including survivors.

You can enroll in FEDVIP dental coverage during the open enrollment season, which runs from mid-November to mid-December every year.

You can also make changes to your coverage at any time if you experience a qualifying life event, such as marriage, loss of other dental coverage, or the birth of a new family member.

Here are some examples of qualifying life events:

Dependent children are covered until age 22, and if you pass away, your family members can continue their coverage.

You're eligible to enroll in FEDVIP if you meet certain requirements, but the text doesn't specify what those are, so for more information, you should check out the FEDVIP website.