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November Retiree Appreciation Days (RADs)!
Join us at a RAD in November to receive information updates important to the retiree community and learn more about your benefits.
6 Nov: Fort Benning, GA
7 Nov: Ft. Polk, LA
7 Nov: JBSA-Ft Sam Houston, TX
Connect with other retirees and various installation services. Go to the RAD Calendar for more information.
Open Season is coming! Are you ready for 2027?
Mark your calendars for the TRICARE and Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Open Seasons starting November 9, 2026.
Same start date but different end dates, here’s what you need to know:
TRICARE Open Season: November 9–December 8, 2026
FEDVIP Open Season: November 9–December 14, 2026
New coverage takes effect: January 1, 2027
Need to change your plan? Now’s the time. If you are currently enrolled for 2026 and don’t make any changes during Open Season, your current coverage choices will be maintained into 2027.
DFAS: Direct remittance changes coming August 2025
By DFAS Cleveland August 2025
Starting in August 2025, DFAS will change the payment process for retirees who pay their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums directly through the U.S. Treasury Department’s Centralized Receivables Service (CRS). Retirees will be billed by DFAS and pay SBP premiums through Pay.gov, instead of through Treasury CRS. Originally this change was scheduled to take place in June 2025; however, Treasury CRS will continue sending the direct remittance bills until further notice.
Direct remittance is only for retirees who do not receive retired pay from DFAS or who do not receive sufficient retired pay and/or Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) to satisfy the monthly SBP premium. Direct remittance members who choose not to have their SBP payments deducted from their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pay must remit SBP premium payments.
In the future, when retirees pay their SBP monthly premiums directly to DFAS they will have several payment options, including paying online via Pay.gov, or requesting their payment be deducted from VA disability compensation.
It’s important that DFAS has your current mailing address so you receive the billing statement with new payment instructions. If your address has changed, DFAS has several convenient options for updating the mailing address on your retired pay account. DFAS will notify you when the direct remittance implementation goes into effect. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/payforsbp to read more about the direct remittance switchover.
