FEDVIP Dental Costs: Using the New 2027 Comparison Tool

You can now compare FEDVIP dental costs before you choose a plan. For plan year 2027, the Compare Dental Service Costs Tool on BENEFEDS lets current and prospective FEDVIP dental enrollees estimate out-of-pocket costs for 75 of the most common dental services across all 11 FEDVIP dental carriers. It is a simple way to see what you might actually pay for a cleaning, filling or crown, not just what the premium is.

Open Season runs November 9 through December 14, 2026, so this is the time to use it.

What the Compare Dental Service Costs Tool does

According to the Office of Personnel Management's 2027 Open Season highlights, the tool:

• Is available to current and prospective FEDVIP dental enrollees who have a FEDVIP account through BENEFEDS.gov.
• Compares estimated out-of-pocket costs for specific procedures across all 11 FEDVIP dental carriers.
• Includes out-of-pocket cost range estimates for 75 of the most common dental services.

OPM says the goal is cost transparency, so enrollees can make informed decisions when choosing a dental carrier and plan option.

Why FEDVIP dental costs go beyond the premium

When people pick a dental plan, they often look only at the premium. That is a mistake. What you pay over a year includes:

• Premiums. The amount taken from your paycheck or annuity each pay period.
• Deductibles. What you pay before the plan starts sharing costs.
• Coinsurance. Your share of the cost for covered services.
• Annual maximums. The most the plan will pay in a year. Costs above that are yours.
• Waiting periods and limits. Some services may be limited, especially major work and orthodontia.

A plan with a low premium can cost more if you need a crown or root canal. A plan with a higher premium can be cheaper if you expect major work. The comparison tool helps you see the out-of-pocket side of that tradeoff.

What is changing in FEDVIP for 2027

OPM's highlights list these FEDVIP facts for 2027:

• Carriers and options: 11 dental and 5 vision carriers offering 31 plan options.
• Dental premiums: overall average increase of 1.0%.
• Vision premiums: overall average increase of 1.6%.
• Dental benefits: several dental carriers are covering additional procedures for preventive, restorative and anesthesia services.
• Vision benefits: a vision carrier increased its Standard and High Option maximums for contact lenses.

Averages can hide big differences between plans, so check your own plan's 2027 rate.

Questions to ask before you switch dental plans

The tool gives you estimates. These questions help you fill in the rest:

• Is my dentist in the network? Call the office and ask which FEDVIP carriers and options they accept for 2027.
• What work do I expect? Routine cleanings, a crown you have been putting off and braces for a teenager lead to very different choices.
• Are there waiting periods? Some services may not be covered right away under a new plan. Check the brochure.
• What is the annual maximum? If you expect major work, a higher maximum can matter more than a lower premium.
• Does the whole family need the same plan? Your enrollment type covers everyone on it, so compare costs for the services your family expects, not just your own.
• Is orthodontia covered for the person who needs it? Check age limits and lifetime maximums in the brochure.

Write your answers down for each plan you are considering. Seeing them side by side makes the decision much easier.

Do not forget vision

Open Season is also the time to review FEDVIP vision coverage. With five vision carriers and an average premium increase of 1.6% for 2027, it is worth a quick look. One vision carrier raised its Standard and High Option maximums for contact lenses, which may matter if you or a family member wears contacts.

As with dental, compare your expected use, such as an annual exam, glasses or contacts, against each plan's premium and coverage.

How to use the tool, step by step

1. 01Log in at [BENEFEDS.gov](https://www.benefeds.gov/). You will need a FEDVIP account. Prospective enrollees can create one.
2. 02List the dental care you expect in 2027. Think about cleanings, X-rays, fillings, crowns, implants, dentures or orthodontia for you and your family.
3. 03Compare carriers for those services. Look at the estimated out-of-pocket ranges for each one.
4. 04Add your premium. Multiply the per-pay-period premium by the number of pay periods, or the monthly premium by 12 if you are retired.
5. 05Check your dentist's network. Lower out-of-pocket costs only help if your dentist is in network.
6. 06Read the plan brochure. Look at waiting periods, frequency limits and annual maximums.

Remember that the tool provides estimates and ranges. Your actual cost depends on your dentist, where you live and the details of your care.

A sample way to think about it

Here is a hypothetical example, not real plan pricing. Say you expect two cleanings and one crown in 2027.

• Plan A has a lower premium but a higher estimated cost for the crown.
• Plan B has a higher premium but a lower estimated cost for the crown.

Add each plan's yearly premium to your estimated out-of-pocket costs. The plan with the lower total is likely the better value for that year. If you expect only routine care, the math may point the other way.

Who can enroll in FEDVIP

FEDVIP is available to eligible federal and postal employees and annuitants and their eligible family members. You can choose Self Only, Self Plus One or Self and Family coverage. Unlike FEHB, there is no government contribution toward FEDVIP premiums, so you pay the full cost.

If you are weighing enrollment types for your health plan too, our guide to Self Plus One vs. Self and Family walks through that decision.

Key dates

• Open Season: November 9 through December 14, 2026.
• Effective date for FEDVIP changes made during Open Season: January 1, 2027.
• If you do nothing: your dental and vision enrollment continues automatically into 2027.

Automatic continuation is convenient, but your premium and benefits may change. A quick check with the comparison tool can confirm whether your current plan is still the right fit.

Fit dental costs into your budget

Dental premiums and out-of-pocket costs are predictable expenses you can plan for. Once you choose, add them to your monthly budget. If you are looking for room in your spending, see our tips to reduce your expenses. For your full Open Season review, use our health, dental and vision checklist.