To prepare, use these three open enrollment tips for employers to effectively communicate your employee benefits .  1. Communicate early and often Make sure employees know that open enrollment is coming, when it starts and ends. Varied communication like posters, videos and printed enrollment guides can help grab employees’ attention. 2. Don’t overlook the basics Some employees struggle to define important benefit terms like deductible, copay and out-of-pocket max. Help offset this by including open enrollment education before the enrollment period. 3. Ask employees to evaluate their healthcare needs It’s important that employees review previous coverage, thinking about key factors including: how it worked for them; how it compares to current offerings; and if any life events will affect them in the short and long term. As the employer, you can help them think about these items while providing support along the way. Want additional tips? Contact us today! To learn more about additi...

Getting employees informed, engaged and enrolled in their benefits can seem like an insurmountable feat. Employees sometimes ignore important emails regarding their benefits and wait until the enrollment deadline to ask questions. These 11 guiding employee benefits communication and enrollment questions can help you gauge your current communication efforts to find areas of improvement. 11 Employee benefits questions employers should ask themselves When thinking about your communication efforts, know that not every organization is the same. Some organizations may have more bandwidth than others, making it easier to generate materials or assist employees with their questions. Take a moment to reflect on your communication efforts and answer the following questions: Does your organization regularly send benefits descriptions to employees at least one month before open enrollment? Does your organization conduct in-person or online benefits meetings with employees prior to enrollment? Do yo...

Open enrollment can be an extremely positive and rewarding experience for you and your employees, providing you plan for it well in advance. It’s important to review and modify your benefits offerings to enhance your employees’ physical, mental and financial health. Use this 2024 open enrollment checklist to help your organization prepare for a successful open enrollment period, from early planning to follow-up. Then, check out our eight- to 12-week timeline below to see what you need to do in the following months. 8-12 weeks before open enrollment The 2024 open enrollment period starts Nov. 1, 2023, and ends Jan. 15, 2024. While it may seem far away, you’ll want to start preparing now. By giving yourself plenty of time to gather and develop essential materials, you’ll better overcome end-of-year hurdles, including: more people out of the office due to holidays, vacations or illness; major end-of-year deadlines, such as annual reports; and slower reply rates and project turnarounds. ...

Today’s multigenerational workforce is the most age-diverse in modern history. It spans four, or sometimes even five, generations. A person’s age influences many of their characteristics over time, including their preferred benefits. One of the biggest challenges for employers is finding benefits that suit employees of all generations. A benefit valued by millennials might not be useful for a baby boomer. People in different generational segments have varying expectations about what a benefits program should entail shaped by their own experiences, culture and lifestyle situations.  If employers want to provide benefits that their employees will actually use, they must take their varying preferences into account.   Use our multigenerational workforce benefits toolkit  to see which benefits are most valued across different cohorts. How employers can use this toolkit This toolkit will help employers understand employees’ shared concerns and distinct needs. Employers can then...

A 2021 CDC study found that 8.2% of Americans aged 18 to 64 skipped, delayed or reduced the amount of their prescription medications because of cost concerns. The National Health Interview Survey revealed that to reduce expenses, 9.2 million adults were not taking medication as prescribed. According to the report, about 60% of adults age 18 and older took at least one prescription medication, with 36% taking three or more. Out-of-pocket costs on retail drugs rose 4.8% to $63 billion. Since high costs limit many Americans’ ability to take their medications as prescribed, these patients may require additional treatment. 6 prescription drug cost key takeaways While this study was conducted in 2021, key takeaways are still applicable today due to rising prescription drug costs. Consider the following findings: Women (9.1%) were likelier than men (7%) not to take medication as prescribed. The percentage of adults not taking medication as prescribed due to cost varied by race and origin: n...

Self-discipline is an important skill that can help you reach your personal and professional goals. It can enable you to push forward, stay motivated and take action, regardless of how you feel physically or emotionally. It also allows you to focus on your goals and control yourself and your reactions. So, what steps can you take to learn how to improve your self-discipline? Like any skill, self-discipline can be refined with practice, and you may only sometimes be successful. Persevering, even when you fail, is crucial to reaching your goals. 6 simple steps you can take to improve self-discipline Habit building is essential when improving self-discipline. Consider integrating these simple habits to improve your self-discipline: Start with small goals and outline a strategy or plan to achieve them. Put your goals in a place where you can see them every day. Practice prioritization and eliminate distractions or temptations that may take you off course. Hold yourself accountable and enl...

The link between health and happiness In the pursuit of a fulfilling life, happiness is a common goal. However, happiness is not an isolated concept; it’s complex and connected to your overall physical and mental health. By understanding and nurturing the links between your health and happiness, you can be on your way to an enriched and balanced life. Physical health forms the foundation upon which happiness thrives. When your body functions optimally, so can your overall sense of well-being. As such, prioritizing physical health through regular exercise, a balanced diet and adequate sleep sets the stage for a happier mood and healthy life. Mental health is equally important to your happiness. When you nurture your mind, happiness can flourish. Supporting your mental health through self-care, stress management and relationship-building can improve your emotional resilience and a positive mindset. By embracing a holistic approach to health, you can unlock the potential for a life filled...

2024 Open Enrollment: 3 Preparation Strategies With the 2024 open enrollment season fast approaching, employers have an opportunity to develop attractive benefits offerings and proactively communicate with employees. Early preparation can help show employees they’re valued, convince top performers to stay in their current positions and attract new talent. Consider these three strategies to prepare for 2024 open enrollment: 1. Tailor benefits offerings Benefits offerings are one of the top reasons employees join companies and stay at their jobs. That’s why it’s critical for employers to speak with employees about which perks provide the most value. Adding or tweaking a few benefits options could be the difference between retaining and losing top performers. 2. Determine key messaging Benefits communications should account for employees’ desire to feel safe. Thus, key messaging should demonstrate how workplace offerings can protect employees. Outlining different benefits offerings can he...