Fedweek

Newly eligible for FEDVIP will be certain firefighters and USPS employees. Image: 279photo Studio/Shutterstock.com

OPM has finalized rules expanding eligibility for the Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program to include the categories of executive branch and Postal Service employees on temporary appointments or on seasonal and intermittent schedules who became eligible for the FEHB health insurance program in 2015.

Also newly eligible for FEDVIP will be certain firefighters on temporary appointments and intermittent emergency response personnel who became eligible for FEHB coverage in 2012, says a July 25 Federal Register notice.

While eligibility rules for FEHB and FEDVIP generally parallel each other, the latter was not included in those two expansions of the former.

The rules also clarify eligibility rules for military retirees who were included in the program under the 2017 defense budget law, and allows enrollees who become eligible for dental and/or vision services from the VA to decrease a FEDVIP enrollment type or cancel an enrollment if certain conditions are met.

“Employing offices must determine eligibility of new and current employees and upon determining eligibility, promptly offer employees made eligible by this rule an opportunity to enroll in FEDVIP,” OPM said, adding that it “cannot estimate the impact on premium rates as we cannot predict the uptake of the eligible population.”

Senate Eyes Vote to Pay Federal Employees Working Unpaid

Series of Bills Offered to Address Shutdown’s Impact on Employees

Public Starting to Feel Impact of Shutdown, Survey Shows

OPM Details Coverage Changes, Plan Dropouts for FEHB/PSHB in 2026

Does My FEHB/PSHB Plan Stack Up? Here’s How to Tell

2025 TSP Rollercoaster and the G Fund Merry-go-Round

See also,

TSP Takes Step toward Upcoming In-Plan Roth Conversions

5 Steps to Protect Your Federal Job During the Shutdown

Over 30K TSP Accounts Have Crossed the Million Mark in 2025

The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire

Best States to Retire for Federal Retirees: 2025

2023 Federal Employees Handbook