Open enrollment may be complete, but employers’ work to help employees understand and use their benefits is just beginning. A strong post-open enrollment benefits strategy can help bridge the gap between selecting coverage and successfully accessing care, managing costs and resolving benefits issues throughout the year.
Employers should begin by confirming that benefit elections have been accurately transmitted across enrollment platforms, carrier systems, payroll and applicable vendor accounts. From there, employees need one reliable place to access plan documents, identification cards, provider-search tools, pharmacy information and support contacts. Year-round benefits education can further help employees understand fundamental benefits concepts. It can also assist as they navigate healthcare decisions, so employees know what to do when claims or coverage questions arise.
Clear escalation and employee advocacy processes are equally important when employees encounter eligibility errors, billing discrepancies, denied claims, prescription access problems or other challenges. Employers can also periodically reintroduce benefits and resources based on recurring employee questions.
Ultimately, an effective post-open enrollment benefits strategy extends well beyond the first weeks of the plan year. Ongoing education, communication, advocacy and monitoring can help turn benefit elections into coverage employees understand, value and confidently use all year.
