It's that time of year when many companies are conducting their employee benefits 'open enrollment'.
So often, we hear from HR teams that the most successful initiatives are surrounded with plenty of quality communications.
As an employer, you can assist employees by distributing materials that explain new health options and changes to existing benefits. To help employees select the plan option that best meets their needs, employers should provide information about the following:
- Use a variety of communication methods, such as the Internet, printed materials, multimedia, and face-to-face discussions.
- A general summary of what benefits are covered by the plan.
- Coverage for preventive services, procedures, and medications.
- Prescription drug coverage details.
- Cost-sharing: premium contribution, deductible, copayment, or coinsurance requirements.
- Consumer-directed and high-deductible health plans or other non-traditional plan types.
- Communicate frequently with employees regarding their health coverage options, but avoid overwhelming employees with information. Give them ample time to absorb new information, ask questions, and express concerns.
- Use simple terms to explain changes.
- Thoroughly explain the goals and rationale of health care benefits to managers and business leaders so they can effectively explain health plans to employees.
- Be ready to answer questions and face challenges from employees regarding changes.
- Be honest and direct when discussing health benefits, especially if employees are facing cost increases for their coverage.
- Discuss the "Five Cs" of enrollment with employees: cost, coverage information, changes to plans, comparisons to last year's plans, and current options.
- Provide information to employees about the health care providers or networks that will be available to them in new or revised plan options.
- Provide testimonials from other employees about their experiences with changes in health care coverage.
