OPM expands slate of FEDVIP carriers

The Office of Personnel Management has announced the list of insurance companies that will offer dental and vision benefits under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) in 2014.

OPM has chosen 14 carriers for 2014, up from the current 10. The number of dental carriers will increase from seven to 10 carriers, and vision carriers will increase from three to four.

“Over the last six and a half years, the FEDVIP program has allowed federal employees, retirees and their families to access quality vision and dental coverage,” said acting OPM Director Elaine Kaplan. “I am pleased that we were able to increase the number of carriers participating in the program, and now we will be offering more choices and flexibility for enrollees to select insurance coverage."

This is the first time since 2006 that OPM has opened the program up for new contracts. Kaplan said OPM will announce rates and coverage for the 14 carriers later this year before the beginning of federal benefits open season.

OPM will award contracts for dental plans to Aetna, MetLife, United Concordia, GEHA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental, Triple S, Dominion Dental, Humana and Emblem Health. Contracts for vision plans will go to Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, VSP and United Healthcare. Coverage under the plans will begin Jan. 1, 2014.