Before Open Enrollment Begins, Take a Look Back

Open enrollment season is a good time to look ahead, but it's also an opportunity to reflect on what happened last year. Taking a few minutes to review your previous enrollment experience can help you identify what worked, what didn't, and where you can make improvements this year.

​Here are a few questions to consider before things get busy:

​Which Questions Came Up Most Often?

Think about the questions employees asked during last year's enrollment. Were they confused about the difference between an HSA and an FSA? Did they struggle to understand their benefit options or know where to find important information?

Identifying common questions can help you build clearer communications and give employees the information they need before enrollment begins.

​ What Caused Last-Minute Scrambling?

Were there delays collecting elections, updating employee information, or coordinating with your benefits partners? Take note of the tasks that created the most work for your team and look for ways to make them easier this year.

​Which Communications Worked Well?

Consider which emails, meetings, guides, or other resources employees actually used. If something worked particularly well, there's no need to reinvent it. Build on what already works and look for opportunities to make it even more effective.

​What Would You Do Differently?

Maybe you want to start communicating earlier, simplify your enrollment materials, or give employees more time to ask questions. Even a few small changes can make a difference in the enrollment experience for your team and your employees.

​Open enrollment comes around every year, but that doesn't mean you have to start from scratch. A little reflection now can help you build on last year's experience and make this year's process easier for everyone.