Once a year, retired uniformed service members and federal employees have a window during which they can enroll in or change their dental plan, known as open season. This year, it’s Nov. 11 through midnight ET on Dec. 9. The changes you make during this time are locked in for one year, so to help demystify the process, we’ve asked Paul Kingsbury, the director of uniformed service relations for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, to help walk us through the most important 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 service members 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 services groups like surviving spouses and Medal of Honor recipients.” For a full listing of eligibility, the best place to check is BENEFEDS.gov.

He also pointed out that age makes a difference when addressing the eligibility of family members. “When talking about eligible family members, it’s important to note that it includes your spouse and eligible dependents until age 21 if they are not students or until age 23 for students,” Kingsbury said.

What Do Retired Uniformed Service Members Need to Know About Open Season?

There is a lot of information around open season and sometimes the sheer volume of details can be overwhelming, so we asked Kingsbury what retired military members need to know, and he pointed out, “The opportunity to enroll in or change plans during open season is a different experience than we’re used to on active duty, because now we’re able to take advantage of flexibility and make changes to upgrade or downgrade coverage each year.”

He also said those who left active duty but missed their initial eligibility period don’t have to worry; they can also take advantage of the open enrollment window. “You can pick up coverage during open season, so make sure to note the dates so that 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 to look for in a dental plan, Kingsbury said affordability is always on people’s minds, but it shouldn’t be the first thing you think about. He laid out three key specifics everyone who is eligible should consider:

1. Going to an in-network dentist helps you save on dental costs. Find out whether your current dentist is in-network or look for in-network dentists or dental specialists in your area. For example, BCBS FEP Dental gives its members access to a large, nationwide network with more than half a million in-network dentists and their locations.
2. Assess your family’s needs and think about which dental plan aligns with what you will need that year. For example, if you know your kids will need braces, or you have a history of needing services such as dental crowns, look for a plan that will cover your family’s dental needs.
3. For routine dental needs, consider what preventive care is covered. For example, with BCBS FEP Dental, you get up to three free cleanings each year with either High Option or Standard Option plans.

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

What Should Those on Active Duty Know Before They Get Ready to Retire?

When talking about what changes service members should 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 “get set up with a BENEFEDS account at BENEFEDS.gov. BENEFEDS is the government-authorized, Office of Personnel Management-sponsored benefits portal that eligible participants use to enroll in FEDVIP plans, like BCBS FEP Dental. FEDVIP is the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, which is a dental and vision benefits program offered by the Office of Personnel Management [OPM].”

Making sure you know the dates of your initial enrollment window upon retiring from the uniformed services is also important. “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 enroll before your retirement date, coverage starts on your retirement date. If you enroll within 60 days after your retirement, coverage starts 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 to pick up dental coverage.”

Finally, Kingsbury said that “it’s important to understand that now that you’re retired, there are costs that are going to be part of your dental care. Consider the premium and out-of-pocket costs for any services and treatment you typically get in a year, or that you expect to get in the future. Make sure you understand the full cost to consider in your financial planning.” He also urged users to get familiar with dental coverage terms that you might not know, such as premiums, the annual maximum, deductible, out-of-pocket costs and copays. 

What About People Who Say, ‘I’ve Got Tricare so My Family and I Are Covered’?

“That’s not true,” Kingsbury said. “Your Tricare Dental Program stops after you retire. So figure out where to get dental coverage so you can receive dental care in retirement. FEDVIP is one option that uniformed service retirees have, but most service members don’t think enough about it, because they haven’t had to make these additional elections in the past. Transitioning away from the active-duty Tricare coverage requires service members to understand that this is changing and they need to make choices and take steps to enroll.”

What’s 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. Through this job, I’m able to stay connected to the military community. It allows me to serve in a new and rewarding way.”

He also mentioned that because of his current role, he can volunteer his time. “With this role, I have the opportunity to put a financial investment and volunteer time into areas of need in our community, specifically with our military spouses. Through partnerships and relationships that I’ve developed, and others which our team has developed, we’ve been able to contribute advocacy, education and resources to groups that aim to mitigate military spouse unemployment to end food insecurity, to provide support for mental health challenges, and to highlight and support the military caregiver community.”

To learn more about BCBS FEP Dental and how you can enroll this open season, visit bcbsfepdental.com. 

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