how do i make open enrollment easier

5 Tips To Make Open Enrollment Easy

Full Answer

How can you make your enrollment process easier?

“Find ways to simplify enrollment,” Marcia advises. He suggests that companies use tech options that: Auto-fill fields. Allow users to easily move from one application to another. Provide a single landing page for all enrollment applications.

What is open enrollment for benefits?

What is open enrollment for benefits? In the U.S., open enrollment season is a period of time when employees may elect or change the benefit options available through their employer, such as health, dental and life insurance, and ancillary or voluntary benefits ranging from legal services to pet insurance.

How can HR managers use open enrollment to engage employees?

As HR representatives address open enrollment meetings, speak with employees one-on-one and send out enrollment reminders, they can use these pointers to help employees make smart decisions.

Is technology changing the open enrollment process?

While technology is changing how employees learn about and choose benefits, remember that open enrollment remains a people-oriented process.

What is the fine print of open enrollment?

How to reach everyone working at your business?

How do I prepare for open enrollment?

10 Tips for a Smooth Open EnrollmentStart Planning Early. ... Be Aware of Benefits and Law Changes. ... Develop Communications That Address All Workers. ... Highlight Major Benefits Changes. ... Develop Scenarios. ... Set a Clear Deadline Early. ... Share Employer Cost Information. ... Take Advantage of Technology.More items...

What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?

If you miss your employer's open enrollment deadline, you could lose coverage for you and your loved ones, and you could be subject to a fine imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Missing this deadline also means that you could be unable to make changes or enroll in benefits until the next open enrollment period.

What questions should I ask during open enrollment?

10 Questions You Should Ask About Open EnrollmentWhat Comes Out of My Pocket? ... Can FSAs and HSAs Save Me Money? ... What Is My Health Like? ... Do I Engage in Health Maintenance? ... Do I Want to See a Specific Provider? ... Does the Plan Cover My Medications? ... Do I Need Life Insurance? ... How Has My Family Life Changed?More items...•

How do you communicate with open enrollment?

To prevent these issues, it's important to get the highest open enrollment participation possible —and the key to success is effective benefits communication....1. Offer Open Enrollment Communication EducationSeminars/webinars.Personal consultations with experts.One-on-one meetings with HR representatives.

Why does open enrollment exist?

Why do we have an open enrollment period? The annual Open Enrollment Period was put into place to discourage adverse selection – which happens when sick people sign up for health insurance and healthy people do not. It greatly skews the amount of financial risk a health plan takes when insuring customers.

Do you have to redo Medicare every year?

In general, once you're enrolled in Medicare, you don't need to take action to renew your coverage every year. This is true whether you are in Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Medicare prescription drug plan.

Which is better PPO or HMO?

HMO plans typically have lower monthly premiums. You can also expect to pay less out of pocket. PPOs tend to have higher monthly premiums in exchange for the flexibility to use providers both in and out of network without a referral. Out-of-pocket medical costs can also run higher with a PPO plan.

What is the Medicare open enrollment period for 2022?

From October 15 – December 7 each year, you can join, switch, or drop a plan. Your coverage will begin on January 1 (as long as the plan gets your request by December 7). Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

Can I drop a dependent from Cobra?

Yes, if a qualifying life event occurs, you can add or drop dependents. You must notify the Plan within 60 days from the date of the event (e.g., birth, marriage, divorce, death, adoption, etc.).

What is a passive enrollment?

Passive enrollment is exactly what it sounds like—passive. Just like passive income is income that you don't need to actively work to acquire, passive enrollment allows employees' benefits to remain the same year after year without them having to participate in the opt-in process.

How often do open enrollment periods usually occur?

The yearly period in the fall when people can enroll in a health insurance plan for the next calendar year. Open Enrollment for 2022 is over, but you may still be able to enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan for 2022 if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

What is the difference between annual enrollment and open enrollment?

Here's the bottom line on AE vs OE: Annual enrollment is for employees who get health insurance as part of their benefits. Open enrollment is for people who get insurance on the individual market. But everyone can make changes to their health insurance at any time of year, if they have a qualifying event.

Can you change your mind during open enrollment?

You usually have 60 days from the event to enroll in a new plan, but report the change as soon as possible. If you don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, your next chance to change plans is during 2023 Open Enrollment that runs November 1, 2022–January 15, 2023.

What is a qualifying event for insurance?

A change in your situation — like getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage — that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.

What is a fixed enrollment period?

You can buy health plans during two enrollment periods: open and special. Open enrollment is a fixed time period each year when anyone can buy a plan. It's typically Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.

Can I add my child to my health insurance after open enrollment?

Yes. You may make dependent enrollment changes outside of the Open Enrollment Period if you experience a life event that results in a change in family status.

What is the fine print of open enrollment?

This is the fine print but absolutely a must as you plan for open enrollment. Make sure you stay compliant with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and, if it applies to your business, the Affordable Care Act by filing annual information returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and provide required notices to your employees. Those include a summary plan description, summary of benefits and coverage, and uniform glossary. 2

How to reach everyone working at your business?

Memos and emails might not be the answer. Your employees may prefer face-to-face communication. Try meetings, or lunch-and-learns, or even sessions when family members can attend. After all, sometimes a family’s “chief medical officer” is not the person who’s employed and subscribing to your health plan. Then follow up with emails or mail information to their home addresses.

How to improve engagement in offices with low benefits utilization?

To improve engagement in offices with low benefits utilization, O’Brien is attempting to identify the influencers and tap them to find out why workers are not more engaged. “We would then target communication to that office with the influencer in mind,” she says. She also plans to follow up to find out how these key individuals feel about the process and to determine what other employees are saying about it.

How to get employees' attention?

Easy ways to get their attention include by putting notices in paycheck envelopes and making videos available via YouTube or Facebook or on screens in offices and cafeterias.

What is the purpose of continuous learning?

To grow, evolve and inspire we must engage in continuous learning.

How long does it take to open enrollment?

Open enrollment is not required to be a certain length of time. Most employers have an open enrollment period of at least two to four weeks.

What is open enrollment season?

In the U.S., open enrollment season is a period of time when employees may elect or change the benefit options available through their employer, such as health, dental and life insurance, and ancillary or voluntary benefits ranging from legal services to pet insurance.

What is the purpose of continuous learning?

To grow, evolve and inspire we must engage in continuous learning.

When will Social Security payroll tax increase?

Starting Jan. 1, 2022, the maximum earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase by $4,200, the Social Security Administration announced. By the start of the new year, U.S. employers should adjust their payroll systems to account for the higher taxable wage base and notify affected employees that slightly more of their pay will be subject to payroll withholding.

Is employee data collected during open enrollment a gold mine for cybercriminals?

Employee data collected during open enrollment is a gold mine for cybercriminals. This year, the challenge of keeping this information safe may be greater, as the COVID-19 pandemic has increased data vulnerabilities that criminals can exploit.

Will employers go virtual in 2021?

For the fall 2020 open enrollment period, during which employees will select their benefits for 2021, more employers are expected to "go virtual" by taking benefit fairs online, with cyber equivalents for vendor booths and Q&A opportunities. Helping Employees Navigate Health Benefits During Open Enrollment.

What is the fine print of open enrollment?

This is the fine print but absolutely a must as you plan for open enrollment. Make sure you stay compliant with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and, if it applies to your business, the Affordable Care Act by filing annual information returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and provide required notices to your employees. Those include a summary plan description, summary of benefits and coverage, and uniform glossary. 2

How to reach everyone working at your business?

Memos and emails might not be the answer. Your employees may prefer face-to-face communication. Try meetings, or lunch-and-learns, or even sessions when family members can attend. After all, sometimes a family’s “chief medical officer” is not the person who’s employed and subscribing to your health plan. Then follow up with emails or mail information to their home addresses.

Communicate in Ways That Make Sense to Your employees.

Follow Regulations.

Ask For Help.

Start Planning For Next year.

• Keep talking. We can’t stress this enough. Ask for employee feedback right after open enrollment. And ask your broker for a post-enrollment appointment to get their perspective. Then, consider your organization’s goals and consider if you need to adjust your offerings and employee education. After all, a successful benefits program can pay dividend...

See more on connecticare.com