Open season for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) closed Dec. 10. But if you missed the deadline, you still have a chance to sign up.

Enrollment via the BENEFEDS website, as of Dec. 11, was still operational. It was unclear how long it would remain so, however.

“Beneficiaries who intended to enroll in Open Season but were unable to do so for reasons that were beyond their control, will be able to visit BENEFEDS.com to find out what options will be available to them,” said Army Col. James Honey, chief of TRICARE Dental, in prepared answers to MOAA.

As of Dec. 11, beneficiaries could still sign up without giving a reason for missing the deadline.

[RELATED: FEDVIP: Choosing the Right Dental Plan]

Enrollees in the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program are required to sign up for FEDVIP if they wish to maintain dental insurance. FEDVIP provides 10 choices for dental coverage. As of early December, only 600,000 beneficiaries had signed up for FEDVIP, leaving an estimated 1.2 million retirees at risk of losing coverage Jan. 1. Though Open Season was not formally extended, the present grace period is undoubtedly aimed at those 1.2 million people.

It's not just about dental. Vision coverage is also offered, through four carriers. FEDVIP vision plans help pay for routine vision appointments and frames, lens and contacts.

The process is separate from TRICARE's Open Season. TRICARE beneficiaries can make changes until Dec. 31.

In addition to the website, you may call BENEFEDS, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, at 1-877-888-3337. The phone line, while noting the Dec. 10 deadline, also was fielding enrollment requests as of Dec. 11.