Open enrollment is coming — this checklist helps get you ready

Open enrollment can sneak up on you. Get ahead of the game now to avoid scrambling later — your future self thanks you.

Communication

• Contact your agent or broker to discuss your approaching enrollment.
• Discuss with your agent or broker any remote or virtual enrollment needs for employees who are offsite.
• Plan your employee communications strategy, including a timeline.
• Review benefits terminology so that you can explain it to your team.
• Prepare materials that communicate the value of employee benefits in easy-to-understand language.
• Ask your agent or broker what materials they have to assist with open enrollment communications.
• Create a timeline for internal discussions and communications with stakeholders, such as payroll, finance and key decision-makers.

Compliance

• Review the latest federal and state benefits compliance guidelines.
• If the size of your staff has changed: Check whether that changes your status under the Affordable Care Act.
• Create a plan for preparing or accessing the Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
• Identify all enrollment-related materials that employees will need to submit.
• Identify all enrollment-related materials that you will need to submit.

Changes

• Discuss with your agent or broker any changes in how enrollment should be conducted — face-to-face, virtually, by phone, etc.
• Contact carriers about any changes in coverage.
• If using an enrollment platform: Evaluate or test it, even if you did so last year.
• Solicit feedback from employees about the successes and pain points of your current benefits package.
• Explain changes in coverage to your staff.
• Consider how coverage changes made during the Covid-19 pandemic may or may not apply to your business going forward.