The Dreaded Open Enrollment

You dread the open enrollment process, but why?

Every year, sometimes twice a year, you go through an Employee Benefits Open Enrollment Process. It’s no secret, this isn’t a process you look forward to each year.  You don’t jump up and down with excitement when your employer sends out the communication that provides a heads-up your enrollment is just around the corner, right?  Marketing research company “Engine” did a survey of 1004 employees and found that one third of respondents said they’d rather talk about their weight than employee benefits.  What?  They also found that 45% dreaded open enrollment as much as asking for a raise.

But why?  What is it about this process that employer’s value, but employees dread?  You see, it’s quite simply and easily understood.  They are afraid to engage in conversation because of their lack of knowledge. So, what needs to change?  How can employees overcome this fear…this dreaded process?

Responsibility falls on three different parties.  First and foremost, it’s the employee’s responsibility to ask questions about the benefits offered.  They shouldn’t cheat themselves by moving forward without a good understanding.  Next, employers should seek to better communicate these various benefit options or, most importantly, they should partner with the third responsible party, the employee benefit broker. This would allow them to put together a robust communication and education plan. Some take the workload off of the employer by creating open enrollment videos, creating very detailed open enrollment print communications and even summarizing benefits to help employees navigate all of the marketing efforts used by carriers in a traditional product brochure.

If you are one of those who hides during open enrollment or walks in clicking two pens because you just want to get it over and sign off on making no changes…STOP!  You may be missing out on an awesome opportunity to protect yourself and your family.