On Monday, military retirees will begin selecting a new health plan through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

Retirees who have the TRICARE Retiree Dental Plan administered by Delta Dental must enroll during the open season to avoid losing dental coverage Jan. 1. Enrollment, which can be done online or on the phone, ends at midnight Eastern on Dec. 10.

[RELATED: Tips to enroll]

Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, USN, director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), said the new coverage allows beneficiaries to make their own choices, as opposed to the previous plans.

“This gives them a chance to select a plan that meets their needs,” Bono said in a telephone interview. “We would like to see our patients have greater choice and opportunities to select a health care benefit best for them.”

FEDVIP offers retirees 10 choices for dental coverage and four vision carriers. Compare rates using this tool.

Retirees can make a plan selection and enroll online or over the phone (877-888-3337) from Nov. 12 until Dec. 10. The same phone number can be used by retirees to request a plan comparison from a customer service representative, but officials said retirees must contact plan carriers directly for specific details.

A special comparison chart and FEDVIP guide is included in this month's Military Officer magazine, which is delivered to MOAA premium and life members. Members can access their digital edition here.

Information on plans has been mailed to homes of eligible beneficiaries, officials said, with a second letter in transit and set to arrive by the beginning of open season.

“The availability of new choices in dental and vision coverage is truly a culture change for TRICARE beneficiaries,” said Capt. Kathy Beasley, USN (Ret), director of MOAA's government relations health affairs. “Historically, military beneficiaries have always had one plan and one plan only, so there was no choosing between options.”

Another significant change with the new coverage plan is the open enrollment season, Beasley said. The defined period to select plans may be the hardest part of the change, she said, and could result in feelings of anxiety for some beneficiaries.

DHA officials encourage beneficiaries to select plans in a timely manner. They expect the final week of open season to be the busiest.

To deal with the anticipated surge, officials have 1,400 customer service representatives in 11 locations across all time zones. They will monitor peak times for phone calls and adjust staffing as needed.

The new plan replaces DHA's Tricare Retiree Dental Program, which ends Dec. 31. Retired uniformed service members and their families who are eligible for the old Tricare plan are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP.

[RELATED: Register to receive a free PDF with more FEDVIP details]

There are some costs associated with FEDVIP. In exclusive provider organizations (EPO) and health maintenance organizations (HMO), the retiree has a fixed copayment for a specific service. An HMO plan also will have an office visit copayment for each dental visit.

There is also a monthly premium for FEDVIP dental plans. In most cases, depending on eligibility and available funds and/or allotments, FEDVIP will set up an allotment automatically with the pay provider to pay for FEDVIP premiums, post-tax.

Amanda Dolasinski is MOAA's staff writer. She can be reached at amandad@moaa.org. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaMOAA.