FEDVIP and Grey Zone Retirees

[snake020]

Any grey zone retirees have FEDVIP? Appears we can start using FEDVIP right away in grey zone unlike regular TRICARE? And at the same premiums as everyone else based on what's said below?

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Eligibility

Eligibility information for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Find a list of eligible family members and people who are not eligible to enroll in FEDVIP.

www.opm.gov

"Retired members of the uniformed services and National Guard/Reserve components, including “gray-area” retirees under age 60 and their families are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage."

 

[ChuckMK23]

Any grey zone retirees have FEDVIP? Appears we can start using FEDVIP right away in grey zone unlike regular TRICARE? And at the same premiums as everyone else based on what's said below?

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Eligibility

Eligibility information for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Find a list of eligible family members and people who are not eligible to enroll in FEDVIP.

www.opm.gov

"Retired members of the uniformed services and National Guard/Reserve components, including “gray-area” retirees under age 60 and their families are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage."

I have FEDVIP as a GS and it's pretty decent, especially vision. Dental is just so so but it's widely accepted. $3k out of pocket for dental implant surgery+crown vs $5k without insurance...

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

FEDVIP vision is the best!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

FEDVIP vision is the best!

I agree, my family has had great luck with FEDVIP.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

I will say, on the other hand, that I have been less than happy with dental under Tricare for Life.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I will say, on the other hand, that I have been less than happy with dental under Tricare for Life.

I'll say the same for TRS. Tons of dental practices no longer accept it. Fortunately for us, my primary is not my tricare dental policy. But before, everything was basically free with both a primary and secondary insurance, now we have to often pay the difference

 

[Flash]

Any grey zone retirees have FEDVIP? Appears we can start using FEDVIP right away in grey zone unlike regular TRICARE? And at the same premiums as everyone else based on what's said below?

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Eligibility

Eligibility information for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Find a list of eligible family members and people who are not eligible to enroll in FEDVIP.

www.opm.gov

"Retired members of the uniformed services and National Guard/Reserve components, including “gray-area” retirees under age 60 and their families are eligible for FEDVIP dental coverage."

Unfortunately it looks like you have to be signed up for regular TRICARE to be eligible for the FEDVIP portion too and can't do it standalone from my reading.

These individuals, if enrolled in a TRICARE health plan, are also eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage. In addition, uniformed services active duty family members who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan are eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage.

Best bet is to try and call the BENEFEDS folks themselves and see what they say. https://www.benefeds.gov/contact If they can't answer OPM may be able to.

I remember seeing a figure for the number of Gray Area retirees that utilized TRICARE for Reserves, it was pretty small given the overall population so it is likely an uncommon question but one they should be able to answer eventually.

 

[snake020]

Unfortunately it looks like you have to be signed up for regular TRICARE to be eligible for the FEDVIP portion too and can't do it standalone from my reading.

These individuals, if enrolled in a TRICARE health plan, are also eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage. In addition, uniformed services active duty family members who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan are eligible for FEDVIP vision coverage.

Best bet is to try and call the BENEFEDS folks themselves and see what they say. https://www.benefeds.gov/contact If they can't answer OPM may be able to.

I remember seeing a figure for the number of Gray Area retirees that utilized TRICARE for Reserves, it was pretty small given the overall population so it is likely an uncommon question but one they should be able to answer eventually.

The way I'm reading it is TRICARE is required for the vision coverage for grey area, but not for the dental?

 

[AllAmerican75]

With the talk of Tricare in the Greyzone, is it still worth it for paying for the Tricare Retired Reserve even at the ~$1250 a month or are there better insurance companies out there? I've still got a few years but looking through it, it seems like Tricare almost wants to get rid of us while we're in the Greyzone or maybe it's a retention tool to keep us on SELRES.

 

[MIDNJAC]

With the talk of Tricare in the Greyzone, is it still worth it for paying for the Tricare Retired Reserve even at the ~$1250 a month or are there better insurance companies out there? I've still got a few years but looking through it, it seems like Tricare almost wants to get rid of us while we're in the Greyzone or maybe it's a retention tool to keep us on SELRES.

Can't speak for everywhere, but both of my other employers offer much better plans than the retired reserve plan, though neither are as good as TRS so I'll keep that until I retire. When they screwed up and sent the wrong letters out to everyone last month, mine incorrectly listed me as a Tricare Retired Reserve recipient, and I was shocked at the family premium (think it said closer to $1500/mo with the premium increase this year). But I agree. Tricare is most definitely trying to get rid of us, just like they are trying to make their own providers jump through so many hoops that nobody wants to work with them anymore.

 

[Flash]

With the talk of Tricare in the Greyzone, is it still worth it for paying for the Tricare Retired Reserve even at the ~$1250 a month or are there better insurance companies out there? I've still got a few years but looking through it, it seems like Tricare almost wants to get rid of us while we're in the Greyzone or maybe it's a retention tool to keep us on SELRES.

I don't know the official reason but that is a more reasonable explanation than anything else I've heard. I do know for one guy in my reserve unit who was a government contractor his insurance cost was more than Tricare Retired Reserve, I think close to $1500 IIRC, he got a GS job before he retired from the reserves partly because of that.

As for other insurance, the healthcare marketplace at HealthCare.gov (Obamacare) is probably your best bet for finding coverage if you aren't covered through your employer though the cost will vary depending on what coverage you choose, the state you live in, your income, age and the size of your household.

The way I'm reading it is TRICARE is required for the vision coverage for grey area, but not for the dental?

That is a unique enough question you'll probably have to call them to find out.

 

[AllAmerican75]

Can't speak for everywhere, but both of my other employers offer much better plans than the retired reserve plan, though neither are as good as TRS so I'll keep that until I retire. When they screwed up and sent the wrong letters out to everyone last month, mine incorrectly listed me as a Tricare Retired Reserve recipient, and I was shocked at the family premium (think it said closer to $1500/mo with the premium increase this year). But I agree. Tricare is most definitely trying to get rid of us, just like they are trying to make their own providers jump through so many hoops that nobody wants to work with them anymore.

Yeah, I'm happy I'm on TRS. Tricare Retired Reserve still beats my current employer's high end plan with similar/better coverage by a few hundred a month. That said, I'm definitely going to be shopping around when the time comes.

I don't know the official reason but that is a more reasonable explanation than anything else I've heard. I do know for one guy in my reserve unit who was a government contractor his insurance cost was more than Tricare Retired Reserve, I think close to $1500 IIRC, he got a GS job before he retired from the reserves partly because of that.

As for other insurance, the healthcare marketplace at HealthCare.gov (Obamacare) is probably your best bet for finding coverage if you aren't covered through your employer though the cost will vary depending on what coverage you choose, the state you live in, your income, age and the size of your household.



That is a unique enough question you'll probably have to call them to find out.

I'm fortunate to have coverage through work available but it's still slightly more expensive than Tricare Retired Reserve. I was just wondering if others found TRR to be worth the money. I'm very new to this paying for my own civilian healthcare thing so I'm trying to learn as much as I can.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Yeah, I'm happy I'm on TRS. Tricare Retired Reserve still beats my current employer's high end plan with similar/better coverage by a few hundred a month. That said, I'm definitely going to be shopping around when the time comes.

Yeah I guess it is probably on par with the same such high end plans from my other employers, I just haven't seriously considered those. It doesn't give you 12 massage therapy and chiropractic visits a year paid though.

 

[Flash]

Yeah, I'm happy I'm on TRS. Tricare Retired Reserve still beats my current employer's high end plan with similar/better coverage by a few hundred a month. That said, I'm definitely going to be shopping around when the time comes.

I'm fortunate to have coverage through work available but it's still slightly more expensive than Tricare Retired Reserve. I was just wondering if others found TRR to be worth the money. I'm very new to this paying for my own civilian healthcare thing so I'm trying to learn as much as I can.

I was unable to use Tricare because I am a federal civil servant and it cost me a chunk of money over the years. Our health insurance is somewhat similar to Obamacare where you have a lot of choices that cover less or more with the attendant cost differences, so shopping around may be worth it depending on all those factors I mentioned.

There is a 45 day window to sign up for insurance through the marketplace at the end of every year but if you have a qualifying life event (QLE) you can sign up year round. I'm not sure if retiring form the reserves is a QLE, so something to keep in mind when you leave the reserves as you want to make sure you don't leave any gaps in coverage 'cause Murphy has a nasty tendency to show up at times like those. Depending on where you live you could inquire about the various plans in the marketplace now, some may compare well to your employer's plan dependent on several factors.

Yeah I guess it is probably on par with the same such high end plans from my other employers, I just haven't seriously considered those. It doesn't give you 12 massage therapy and chiropractic visits a year paid though.

How about 50?! I know of a plan that does, it has pretty narrow eligibility though.