Dear Retiree,

Congress provided for a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Open Season in the
2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The SBP Open Season
began on December 23, 2022 and ends on January 1, 2024.

As part of the SBP Open Season, eligible members and former members who
are currently enrolled in either SBP or RCSBP may choose to permanently
discontinue their SBP coverage.

Previously paid premiums will NOT be refunded. For Reserve Component
Retirees: If you previously elected reserve component coverage and are
already receiving retired pay, the Reserve Component Premium deductions
(for the coverage already provided to you while you awaited the
requisite age of entitlement to retired pay), sometimes referred to as
"add-on" cost, will continue. Reserve Component Premium deductions
generally continue until your retired pay has been reduced for a total
of 360 months, or until the death of the RCSBP beneficiary.

The law generally requires that any currently covered spouse, former
spouse or child aged 18-22 must concur under the 2023 NDAA Open Season.
The covered party's signature must either be notarized or witnessed by
an SBP counselor. Discontinuance requests will not be considered valid
without these signatures.

What you need to do:

Before submitting a request to discontinue SBP coverage, we recommend
you and your adult beneficiaries review the DFAS webpage on the
advantages and disadvantages of the Plan at
https://www.dfas.mil/sbpadvantages.

The SBP Open Season 2023 Discontinuance Form - Provisional is available
for download from the DFAS SBP Open Season special focus webpage at
https://www.dfas.mil/sbpopenseason23. Once downloaded, fill out the
form, sign and date, and ensure all adult covered beneficiaries have
their signature signed, dated and notarized or witnessed by an SBP
counselor.

Completed and signed forms can be submitted either by uploading through
our askDFAS online upload tool, via fax or through the mail. Specific
instructions are on the 2023 SBP Open Season special focus webpage.

If you have questions:

Please see the information and FAQs on our special focus webpage:
https://www.dfas.mil/sbpopenseason23.

It is important to note, any valid request to discontinue coverage
generally cannot be reversed - you will not be allowed to reenroll in
the Plan once you submit the Discontinuation Form.

Sincerely,
DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay

___________________________________________________
Delivered by Defense Finance and Accounting Service

--
The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character
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