Open Enrollment: Promoting the Value of Your Company Benefits
By Micha Hagans
It's that time of year again! No, I'm not talking pumpkin spice lattes and sweater weather; it's time for open enrollment for employee benefits!
During this time, your employees may be overwhelmed, scratching their heads at coverage options and paperwork, unsure of the right choice. Some may tune out at the annual benefits meeting displaying the same old slide deck, failing to learn about new or untapped benefits.
Don't miss this opportunity to engage and support your employees. Help ensure a successful enrollment period and promote the value of your benefits with these communication tips:
Explainer Video
Consider recording a video explaining the overall benefits offered. According to Insivia, viewers retain 95% of a message when watching it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in text. Use simple messaging with exact information. Yes, the cost may have gone up, or a new carrier selected. Be open, and explain those change's positives. A video is also a great place to promote any incentive programs or unique benefits offered. Remember, keep it short and concise; you don't want to lose your audience!
Decision Support Tools
Information on benefits should be targeted based on an employee's life stage and situation. One way to provide targeted information is with decision-support technology. This technology could be an app or artificial intelligence (AI). Employees enter various life factors, and the tool ranks their plan options based on the information entered. Another option is to incorporate scenario-based examples with your benefit information. These examples should showcase each option and the possible challenges and opportunities based on different life stages. Scenario analysis can aid decision making and help employees feel confident when choosing.
Online Registration System
There are many benefits to moving from paper to digital registration for enrollment. The first is less paperwork! Not only is it environmentally friendly, but the time and cost saved on distributing, collecting, and filing forms can be drastic. Another benefit is digital signatures; they are a type of electronic signature encrypted and time-stamped for security. This means tracking down forms "lost in transit" or over deadline will be a thing of the past.
Streamline Delivery
Having one online space with enrollment information is imperative to streamline communication. Whether you call it a hub, a digital postcard, or a landing page, the concept is the same, 24/7 access to everything an employee needs to enroll, letting them use any device anytime, and allowing family members to help make decisions. Your business may opt to hire an outside source to build your space or utilize websites and tools already available. Either way, there are some key elements your business will want to include in the online space:
Overview of all benefits
Details on each plan option
Decision support tools
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Explainer video
Open enrollment deadlines
Digital registration and waiver forms
Incentive programs
Qualifying life events for outside enrollment
Having one online space for your enrollment will still allow you to get the word out over many mediums such as email, print, and social media by using the space's link. This streamline delivery method will allow your business to change information as needed without reprinting materials or resending emails!
Check out this example of a digital postcard from Flimp Communications.
By implementing these tips, your business and employees can spend more time watching the leaves change color and less time stressing about open enrollment!
Resources:
https://biteable.com/blog/video-marketing-statistics/
https://www.onedigital.com/blog/6-ways-tech-improves-the-open-enrollment-process/
https://blog.pandadoc.com/do-esignatures-have-a-legal-leg-to-stand-on/