Federal Benefits FastFacts for Vision Insurance

Federal Benefits

FastFacts

for Vision

Insurance

The Federal Employees

Dental and Vision Insurance

Program (FEDVIP)

* What is vision insurance under

FEDVIP?

FEDVIP provides a comprehensive

vision insurance plan to ensure that

you and your family maintain healthy

eye care.

You can choose from 4 nationwide

vision plans that cover routine eye

exams and glasses (frames and lenses)

or contact lenses in lieu of glasses.

Plans vary in the other types of vision

services they cover such as discounts

on Lasik surgery, low vision therapy,

prosthetic eyes, etc.

Please see each plan’s brochure for

details on what’s covered.

* Am I eligible?

If you are a Federal or U.S. Postal

Service employee who is eligible to

enroll in the Federal Employees Health

Benefits (FEHB) Program or the Health

Insurance Marketplace (Exchange) and

your position is not excluded by law or

regulation, you are eligible to enroll in

vision insurance. However, you do not

have to be enrolled in an FEHB or

Exchange plan to enroll in a vision

plan. There is no FEHB or Exchange

requirement for annuitants. If you are

uncertain about your eligibility, contact

your Human Resources (HR) office or

Retirement System.

* When can I enroll?

FEDVIP is offered under an annual

Open Season during which eligible

individuals may enroll. New employees

may enroll within the first 60 days of

employment. There are limited

opportunities to enroll outside of open

season with a qualifying life event

(QLE). Find a summary of QLEs at

http://www.benefeds.com/BenefedHelp

/FEDVIP/qualifying_life_events.htm

* How do I enroll?

You must enroll through BENEFEDS, a

secure enrollment website sponsored

by OPM. You may enroll online at

www.BENEFEDS.com or by calling

877-888-FEDS (1-877-888-3337),

TTY

number 1-877-889-5680.

* How much do I pay?

What you pay is based on the plan and

option you choose. Employees’

premiums are paid with pre-tax dollars.

Premiums are paid entirely by the

enrollee; there is no Government

contribution.

You can find the vision insurance

premiums on our website at

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-

insurance/dental-vision/

* How will benefits be coordinated

with my FEHB health plan?

Your FEHB plan is the First Payor..

Your

FEDVIP vision plan will facilitate

the First

Payor process with your FEHB

plan.

Your vision premiums are not

reduced if you have vision coverage

under your FEHB plan.

* When can I change my vision

insurance enrollment?

You may make certain changes to your

plan during Open Season or if you

experience a FEDVIP-specific QLE. Find

a summary of the FEDVIP QLEs at

www.benefeds.com/BenefedHelp/FEDV

IP/qualifying_life_events.htm

* What are some important things

I should know?

 The plans provide both in and

out-of-network benefits. Each

Plan has a separate provider

network.

 The plan’s providers are available

on the plan’s website. Links to the

plans’ individual websites are

available at

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-

insurance/dental-vision/

 You cannot cancel your vision

coverage outside of Open Season.

Your provider leaving the network,

your retirement, or your inability

to afford the premiums are not

qualifying life events permitting

cancellation.

 Your FEDVIP enrollment

automatically carries over from

year to year. You do not need to

reenroll. If you wish to cancel or

change enrollment

you must do

so with BENEFEDS

during the

Open Season.

 Your FEDVIP coverage will

continue into retirement.

 There is no eligibility

requirement that you are

covered for 5 years

prior to

retirement.

 You must make any changes to

your name, address,

dependents, etc. through

BENEFEDS. Your HR office

cannot report these changes for

you.

 If you are enrolled in the

Federal Flexible Spending

Account Program, you may

submit your vision

copayments and out–of-

pocket eligible expenses to

your

FSA account for

reimbursement.

* Are there resources I can use to

help me find the right vision plan?

Yes, the list of resources below can

help you. You can find these on our

website at

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-

insurance/dental-vision/

 Vision plan brochures

 A Compare Plans Tool that allows

comparison of up to four plans

For information on enrollment, effective

dates and premiums, please visit