2024 Open Enrollment: 10 Tips for HR Professionals

It's time to step up our game.

Give it our all.

Bring in the best.

It's time to get pumped for open enrollment season.

The mere mention of "open enrollment" probably won't keep the average employee up at night or give them nightmares. However, only HR professionals truly grasp the full scope of what "open enrollment" entails.

In the spirit of sports, open enrollment is not just about the game itself. It's about all the training and preparation that happens before and after the game.

As HR professionals, we’ll never be as well-known as the LaBron’s or Sarena’s of the sports world, but open enrollment can be likened to what these professional athletes must do to be successful.

Just like any team sport, HR professionals understand the importance of being well-prepared in the pre-season; they know the pressures of a long regular season, and they also understand that evaluating their progress during the off-season is just as crucial as what they do when everyone's eyes are on HR.

Each season also requires us to play a specific role. From being a talent scout to a consultant, a personal trainer to a coach. Open enrollment is a year-round process aimed at ensuring that every employee is fully informed about their benefits package and all it offers them throughout the year, regardless of the season.

But hey, it doesn’t have to be a stress-fest. Instead of carrying that heavy burden alone, HR professionals can lighten their load by becoming catalysts instead of gatekeepers. By empowering employees to take charge of their own decisions, not only will it make your life easier, but it will also turn them into savvy benefits consumers in the long run.

Of course, it won’t be a walk in the park. It will require some serious preparation. But if you do it right, open enrollment can be an awesome opportunity to connect with your employees and strengthen that employer/employee bond.

10 Open Enrollment Tips for HR Professionals

Setting the stage with meticulous planning and a well-thought-out strategy is key to ensuring a seamless open enrollment process. Let's dive into some brilliant ideas to kickstart your journey.

1. Communicate, communicate, and communicate some more.

No matter how many times you think you've explained it, there's always that one employee who is completely clueless about what "open enrollment" means. Just like employees have different roles in the organization, they also have different communication preferences. So, to avoid any confusion, make sure you use various channels to spread the word. You could:

• • • Shoot emails or snail mail communication pieces straight to their homes.
    • Gather your team for in-person information sessions.
    • Ping them with texts.
    • Shoot short and snappy videos on internal social networks.
    • Whip up an open enrollment podcast for them to tune into.

2. Don't just communicate. Educate.

It's not just about telling employees that they have to pick their open enrollment options. They need to grasp what these choices actually mean. Shockingly, only 6% of respondents in a recent United Healthcare survey could define essential health insurance terms like plan premium, deductible, co-insurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.

So, it's crucial to educate employees on the meaning of these terms. This way, they can make more informed decisions when it comes to selecting their plans. Not only will this make them smarter healthcare consumers, but it will also enable them to make better choices throughout the year.

You could also consider launching a pre-enrollment email campaign that includes important information about benefit terms and the differences between plan options. It can be a helpful resource to get them up to speed.

3. Spice things up with real-life examples

How about diving into some real-life examples to help employees understand how to make the most of their benefits?

We all learn best through stories, so create a "sample" employee with specific healthcare issues. By walking through different scenarios, we can show them how to find the right providers and get the most appropriate care for their situations. Not only will this help control costs, but it will also demonstrate the impact of unnecessary emergency room visits and out-of-network procedures on everyone's rates. This knowledge will go a long way in helping to keep next year's premium increases in check.

4. Require active enrollment.

Instead of passive enrollment where selections roll over from the previous year, require employees to actively choose their benefits coverage. This not only engages them better with the company but reinforces the value of their benefits.

After educating your employees, it's time to step back and let them take the lead. Provide helpful information and empower them to make an informed decision about which plan will be the best fit for their circumstances.

It's their turn to make the call!

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5. Set crystal clear deadlines.

Choosing the perfect amount of time for open enrollment is like finding the holy grail. Most organizations give their employees a window of about two to four weeks to make their selections. Smaller companies need only a week or so. But the shorter the better to maintain a sense of urgency. But be sure to give your globe-trotters or those who are swamped with work ample time to fully understand the plans, so they can familiarize themselves with any changes and make informed decisions.

Make sure to shout these deadlines from the rooftops (or maybe just send some emails) to ensure everyone is on the same page and that all employees get their selections in on time.

6. Hold Q&A sessions.

Depending on the size of your organization, it's a smart move to start with a company-wide meeting to cover the main points and introduce any changes. Then, follow up with a series of smaller, optional sessions where employees can ask questions and dive deeper into the benefits. Make sure representatives from each plan are available for specific coverage inquiries.

And keep your door wide open. Some employees might prefer one-on-one advice or feel more comfortable asking questions privately. Don't hesitate to invite spouses and family members to your open enrollment orientation sessions so everyone has the tools and resources they need to make the best decision for their situation.

Additionally, many plan advisers offer the option for employees to schedule individual appointments. This can be a fantastic opportunity for those seeking extra guidance and understanding.

7. Show them you're on their side.

This is all about the employees and their benefits. The main goal of providing health insurance, or any other benefit, is to genuinely add value to their lives. Unfortunately, it doesn't always feel that way, especially with those pesky rising costs year after year.

So, take the time to listen to your employees and find out what matters most to them. Use that insight to prioritize the benefits you offer. After all, employees often don't realize the immense effort that goes into selecting their benefits. They don't see the countless hours you've spent comparing plans and negotiating rates on their behalf. It's up to you to show them the thoughtfulness behind these decisions because no one else will. Plus, since they don't sign the check for the company's portion of their premium, they often don't realize just how much it costs. When employees know that you have their back and genuinely want what's best for them, they'll complain a little less.

8. Let's make this party a little more exciting!

Let's face it, when we hear "health insurance," we don't exactly jump up and down with excitement. It's pricey and can be a bit overwhelming. And even though it's necessary, we often get tired of discussing it. (Did I just say that out loud?)

So, it's up to HR to add some pizzazz to open enrollment – and show off the value of all their employee benefits.

Why not treat employees to a delicious lunch during the information sessions or reward them when they submit their selections by a certain date? You could even splurge on a few super cool prizes that really get your employees excited. Have them enter a drawing for a chance to win these awesome rewards when they attend the information sessions.

In other words, give them a little incentive to care. It might sound a bit silly, but it'll make the whole process easier when employees have a reason to get involved.

9. Simplify it, like you'd explain things to a ten-year-old.

Employee benefits and open enrollment can be a confusing maze for your employees. They don't live and breathe this stuff like you do. So, it's important to break things down in simple terms that even a five-year-old could understand. Start with the basics and then provide more detailed resources for those who want a deeper dive. No need to overwhelm them with a firehose when all they're asking for is a sip of water.

To make it easier for them, prepare simple summary snapshots, individual cost sheets, lists of in-network locations, and handy how-to sheets. These can be distributed as needed, so employees have all the information at their fingertips. And if you can't always be there to answer their questions, consider creating a central location, like an internal wiki, where they can find all the resources they need.

Remember, simplicity is key when it comes to helping your employees navigate the world of benefits and open enrollment.

10. Give them the whole shebang.

Don't just focus on health insurance during open enrollment - make sure you don't overlook the other awesome benefits available to your employees. They also need to select their voluntary benefits.

And here's a little secret: you should also promote your other employee perks even if they don't require re-enrollment.

There's also a way to combat those rising health coverage costs by offering less-pricey perks and lifestyle benefits that can help your employees save their hard-earned cash. As you can imagine, we absolutely adore employee discount programs because they have the power to save employees hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars each year on their everyday expenses and travel costs. (If you want to witness the incredible impact these programs can have, take a look at this case study: What Can Employee Discount Programs Do?)

By offering these perks, you're showing your employees that you're not just focused on health insurance - you care about their overall well-being and financial security too. Talk about a win-win!