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BY WILL COMPTON CAPITAL BENEFIT SERVICES Health Care Corner Open Enrollment Season L et's face it; the annual open enrollment process for selecting benefi ts is a tedious and often laborious one, not only for the HR team, but also for employees. Making benefi t decisions is important and the selections made aff ect employees and families in a personal and fi nancial way throughout the year. As employers across the country brace for open enrollment season, there are a few lessons learned that are worth sharing to make the process as seamless as possible. MAKE IT ACTIVE Instead of simply allowing employees to passively enroll in the same benefi t plan they currently have, consider making the enrollment an "active" process. This means making sure each employee actively selects the plan they want. This allows you to educate employees on the benefi ts you are off ering, even if no changes are being made. SHOW EXAMPLES One of the best ways to explain the benefi t plans to employees is by illustrating diff erent scenarios that may play out. Specifi cally demonstrating how the benefi t plan works if someone goes to the doctor, needs a prescription fi lled, or has a more catastrophic issue can be more informative for employees than simply looking at numbers on a page. Changes Bring Opportunities Changes Bring Opportunities INSURANCE 101 Employers often take for granted that their employees understand the insurance lingo that is so commonly used. Take the time to explain what deductible, copay, and coinsurance mean. It may sound simple, but many employees are unaware of even the most basic terminology. COMMUNICATION IS KEY This is the one time each year where communicating to your employees on their benefi ts package can't be overdone. Employers who engage, over-communicate, and actively seek out questions from their employees face far fewer concerns throughout the year. START EARLY Starting the communication process as early as possible gives the HR team, as well as employees and their families, enough time to make educated decisions. No one likes to feel rushed and yearlong benefi t decisions shouldn't be made in a hurry. GET HELP The MBA Health Trust has a team of professionals dedicated to making the open enrollment process as smooth as possible. We are available for phone calls, questions, in-person meetings, and strategy sessions to address any concerns you or your employees may have. As employers across the country brace for open enrollment season, there are a few lessons learned that are worth sharing to make the process as seamless as possible. Get active at mbahealthtrust.com 33 WINTER 2017 master builder ¬"¬®"•—¯'° "±²˜"