FALLS CHURCH, Va., Nov. 13, 2023 —
TRICARE Open Season begins Nov. 13. For many TRICARE beneficiaries, this is your chance to enroll in a health plan or change health plans for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2024. You can make these changes through Tuesday, Dec. 12.
TRICARE Open Season applies to you if you’re enrolled in or eligible for the following TRICARE health plans:
“For some families, open season may be your only chance to enroll in a TRICARE health plan or change plans for 2024,” said Jeremy Schneider, a management analyst with TRICARE Policy and Programs at the Defense Health Agency. “It’s important to research your options so that you can choose the best plan for each of your family members. Family members don’t all need to be enrolled in the same plan.”
Open season doesn’t apply to active duty service members. It also doesn’t apply to
TRICARE For Life—coverage is automatic if you have Medicare Part A and Part B. Open season also doesn’t apply to premium-based plans. If you’re eligible, you can purchase the following plans at any time throughout the year:
Your Open Season Options
If you’re eligible for open season, you have three options: stay in the same plan, enroll in a plan, or change plans.
Stay in your plan
If you don’t want to change your current TRICARE health plan, you don’t have to re-enroll. Your current health plan will continue as long as you stay eligible.
Enroll in or change plans
Before you make changes to your health plan, make sure your family’s information is up to date in the
Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. If you have questions about eligibility, ask your service’s personnel office.
Then use one of these options to enroll in a plan or change your plan:
If you have enrollment questions, call your
TRICARE regional contractor.
Helpful Tools
TRICARE has many tools to help you learn about your health plan options:
After Open Season
Changes you make during TRICARE Open Season will start Jan. 1, 2024.
If you miss the open season period, you can only make enroll in or make changes to TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select plans after a
Qualifying Life Event (QLE). A QLE makes you eligible for a special enrollment period, as outlined in the
TRICARE Qualifying Life Events Fact Sheet. Remember, without a TRICARE health plan, you can only get care at military hospitals and clinics when space is available.
Dental and Vision Coverage
Need dental or vision coverage? You may be eligible for this coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). FEDVIP dental and vision plans are separate. Your
eligibility depends on your beneficiary category. To enroll in FEDVIP vision coverage, you must have coverage in a TRICARE health plan.
If you’re eligible for FEDVIP, you can enroll in or change your coverage during Federal Benefits Open Season. Federal Benefits Open Season also starts Nov. 13. But keep in mind that it ends Monday, Dec. 11. This is one day before TRICARE Open Season ends.
Questions about FEDVIP? Visit the
BENEFEDS website to check your eligibility, enroll in a plan, and more.
Remember, you have only a few weeks until the end of
open season. So, don’t wait. Review your current plan, consider your plan options, and make sure you and your family choose the best health plan for your needs.
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