If you are in a position that conveys eligibility for Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), you are eligible to enroll in a dental and/or vision plan with FEDVIP. It does not matter whether you are actually enrolled in FEHB—eligibility is the key. FEDVIP is not the same as FEHB. It is a separate and different program. Participation in FEDVIP is voluntary and you must elect to be covered.

If you are on a temporary not-to-exceed appointment, you are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP after you have completed 1 year of continuous employment.

RI 70-1, Guide to Federal Benefits for Federal Civilian Employees gives an overview of FEDVIP. Before you select a dental or vision plan, you should review the individual brochures that explain the plans you are considering. Dental premiums/plan information and vision premiums/plan information are available on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.

Once you enroll in a dental and/or vision plan, your enrollment automatically continues each year, as long as you remain eligible for the program. You do not have to reenroll each year. However, if you would like to make a change in your enrollment, you may do so during the Benefits Open Season or in conjunction with a qualifying life event.

1. You have 60 days from the effective date of your appointment (or eligibility date) to elect a dental and/or vision plan.
2. You must make your election on the BENEFEDS web site or by contacting BENEFEDS. You cannot enroll in a dental and/or vision plan using the Employee Benefits Information System.
3. Your dental and/or vision enrollment will be effective the first day of the first pay period following the date in which you submit your enrollment.
4. Within 15 days after your coverage effective date, you should receive enrollment confirmation and information on how to access your benefits (which may or may not include an identification card; it depends on your plan) from your selected dental and/or vision plan. If you do not hear from your dental and/or vision plan within that time period, you should contact the plan directly. BENEFEDS does not provide plan identification cards.
5. You should review the biweekly Leave and Earnings Statement you receive from your payroll office to ensure correct deductions have been withheld for your election and to avoid errors for which you could be indebted. Refer to the Effective Date Chart to determine when your election should be reflected in your pay check.

• BENEFEDS Web Site
• OPM Dental Web Site
• OPM Vision Web Site
• Dental/Vision Frequently Asked Questions