Do you ever wish you could change your health insurance benefits provided by your employer? Well, group open enrollment might be the solution. Here’s what you need to know about group open enrollment and how to take full advantage of the enrollment period for you and your family.
What is group open enrollment for employees?
Group open enrollment is a specific period during which employees can sign up for, cancel, or make changes to their employer-provided health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and/or retirement plans.
This change period happens only once per year, so it’s important to be ready if you want to make any changes to your current benefits. However, you might be able the make changes to your benefits at other times throughout the year if you experience a qualifying life event.
The different benefits typically offered by employers
Workplace benefits vary between employers. However, these are the most common benefits offered by employers in the United States:
- Medical – Health insurance that covers standard medical expenses, such as doctor’s visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions.
- Dental – Insurance that covers routine dental checkups, cleanings, fillings, and in some cases orthodontics.
- Vision – Helps to cover the cost of eye exams and purchasing contact lenses and glasses.
- Additional ancillary benefits – Employers may offer additional benefits, including life insurance, disability insurance, accident insurance, and other wellness programs. These benefits can complement your primary health coverage.
If you ever decide you want to add, remove, or change any of these benefits offered by your employer, the group open enrollment period is the time to do it.
The dos and don’ts of group open enrollment
Making changes to benefits during group open enrollment isn’t for everyone. That’s why it’s important to know what’s coming and be prepared. Here are some of the Health Benefits Associates-approved dos and don’ts of group open enrollment to make sure you’re prepared:
Do:
- Review your current coverage and compare it with new plan options.
- Consider your family’s healthcare needs for the upcoming year.
- Double-check deadlines and ensure forms are submitted on time.
- Check and update your personal information as needed, like address or dependents.
- Use available resources like benefits counselors or online tools to make informed decisions.
Don’t:
- Assume your current plan with automatically carry over. Many plans require re-enrollment.
- Skip reading the fine print. Know for certain what’s covered and what’s not.
- Wait until the last minute. Rushed decisions lead to potential errors.
- Ignore wellness programs and discounts. They’re great ways to save money and improve your coverage.
At the end of the day, it’s all about being prepared. Review your options early and consider what changes or coverage you and your family may need in the upcoming year. It’s never too early to start researching!
The group open enrollment checklist
Before group open enrollment rolls around, there are several items that you need to address in order to be prepared:
- Gather the proper paperwork, including enrollment forms, online submissions, and proof of eligibility documents (e.g., marriage certificates, birth certificates for dependents, etc.).
- Review and compare plan options.
- Ensure all personal information for yourself and dependents is up to date.
- Discuss options with your spouse and family, keeping in mind coordination of benefits, your family’s coverage needs, and budget.
- Submit all forms and documentation by the deadline.
If you’ve completed everything on the group open enrollment checklist, you can feel confident that you’re ready to take full advantage of the next open enrollment period and get the proper benefits you and your family need.
Have questions about group open enrollment?
Health insurance can be tricky. With the variety of benefits and fine print, it’s not always easy to know which coverage best fits your family’s needs or budget.
Before the next group open enrollment period, contact a Health Benefits Associates advisor at 775-828-1216. Our team of experts keep up with the latest changes in the healthcare landscape to ensure we can find a plan that fits your family’s unique needs. Contact us today to answer any questions and find your perfect plan.
