Facts, Figures & Tips for a Successful Enrollment Process
The following infographic provides an overview of facts, figures and tips for employers to have a successful open enrollment process.
Open Enrollment Checklist – Facts, Figures & Tips for a Successful Enrollment Process
More than half of employees dislike or are indifferent to the open enrollment process:
- Indifferent: 30%
- Thoughtful: 29%
- Eager: 15%
- Confused: 10%
- Annoyed: 8%
- Overwhelmed: 8%
Employer approaches to the enrollment process
- Passive – lets employees continue with their previous plans
- Active – asks employees to review their plans and make changes if needed
EMPLOYERS SHOULD TAKE THE ACTIVE APPROACH
Benefits of active approach
- Good time to re-evaluate workforce benefits needs
- More engaged employees
- Ensures employers have up-to-date info on employees
- Builds employee loyalty
- Improves retention by reinforcing value of the benefits package
- Employees become better educated about their healthcare options
- Employees are more likely to participate in voluntary benefit plans
- Prompts employees to opt out of coverages they no longer need
Engaging employees in the benefit election process
- Launch an effective communications campaign
- Offer one-on-one personal support throughout the enrollment process
- Make it fun with engagement programs like Captain Contributor
- Track every employee to make sure no one gets left behind
Overcoming employee inertia
- Send weekly reminders of election deadlines
- Send forceful emails that say “No Election = No Benefits”
- Contact all employees to verify whether they plan to participate
- If employees don’t respond, ask manager to intervene
Communicate often and effectively
- Give employees information in small, digestible bites
- Make sure the information is relevant to them
- Use short messages to encourage employees to seek out more details
- Ask employees to think about changes in their lives since last election
Target Open Enrollment Messages to Different Segments
| AUDIENCE | SOLUTION |
| In-office, tech-savvy employees | Create an open enrollment “wiki” page with hyperlinks to additional info |
| Satellite office employees | Live stream your benefits presentations to ensure all offices can participate. Archive for those who miss the live streams. |
| Work from home; remote field employees | Communicate in easily digestible emails that can be read anywhere |
| Employees with young children or family caregiving responsibilities | Host one-on-one office hours to help with complex family issues |
Employee Questions
“What’s in it for me?” (WIIFM) – by Age Group
- Stress the value of your employee benefits plan
- Message should resonate with specific needs of each group
- Messages should lead employees to their next steps
Millennials
- Key concern: Setting up a path to financial success
- WIIFM messages: Growing savings in a 401(k) and Health Savings Account
- Preferred communication channels: Text, social media, short videos, intranet
Parents with Dependent Children
- Key concern: Taking care of a growing family
- WIIFM messages: Consider a Dependent Care FSA to cover child care expenses
- Preferred communication channels: Email, direct mail, text, social media
Approaching Retirement
- Key concern: Having enough savings for post-employment healthcare
- WIIFM messages: Final push for retirement and healthcare savings
- Preferred communication channels: Email, direct mail, face-to-face
Are you a benefits administrator? Check out these enrollment season tips.
DataPath, Inc. is a leading provider of cloud-based administrative solutions for employer-sponsored benefits, including FSAs, DCAPs, HSAs, COBRA and more.