Point of View:
It's Annual Enrollment Time!

Despite years encouraging employees to get actively involved in benefits enrollment decisions, most still show little interest. Hewitt's research shows that 70 percent of participants defaulted into their current plans last year. However, it's not entirely their fault. Many organizations have been so focused on providing their employees and families with choice and flexibility, they've forgotten about helping people navigate all those complicated choices to make smart decisions. And that's costing you and your employees money. With health care premiums rising every year, the price of employee apathy (and the wrong enrollment decisions — think "over-insuring") gets higher. In today's climate of lower profits, workforce reductions, and economic uncertainty, it's critical to help your employees make the right benefit choices.

Changing the Enrollment Experience = Powerful Results

If we're going to get people to do something different — or at least evaluate their choices — we need to make a pretty good case for what's in it for them. That means changing the enrollment experience. Wouldn't it be great if you could actually tell them what benefit choices to make? There are a number of proven, cost-effective ways to do this:

• Answer the question: "What should I do?" 
• Make it personal. 
• Meet your people where they are. 
• Use print like an ad agency.

Answer the question: "What should I do?"

It used to be the only way to answer this question was a one-to-one meeting in HR's office. Not anymore! Data and technology offer simple, effective ways to answer the two most common employee questions: "What should I do?" and "Why should I care?" The solution starts by examining your data: What plans are your people enrolled in today? How are employees using their coverage? What tools are they using to make decisions? Review your data and decide what people are doing well and what two or three things you'd like to see them do differently during enrollment that will have a positive impact on your business and employees.

Make it personal.

Showing employees a personalized statement of how much they really spend (or overspend) on health care enables them to clearly see how they can make smarter enrollment decisions that will save money. Use the employee's personal data to show which option is most cost-efficient.

Meet your people where they are.

Creative communication that captures people's attention will result in more people actively enrolling — online in much less time and in the best plan for them. This could include:

• Edu-tainment. If the goal is to guide people to the right benefit choices quickly, a tedious printed enrollment guide isn't going to cut it. Solutions like Flash presentations, podcasts, and even text messages can help you reduce print costs while sharing information in a simple, engaging, and convenient way.
• High-impact e-mails. E-mails give you the opportunity make a big splash — and get the attention you need — at a good price. You can also track the results of how many people open the e-mail and take the steps you promote.
• Online solutions. Web tools provide a powerful way to give employees the guidance they're looking for. Options range from solutions that show how others "like me" made their decisions, to simple and fast quizzes that ask employees a few questions about their needs and preferences and provide enrollment recommendations.

Use print like an ad agency.

You don't have to go paperless, but use less paper — and use it like a pro. We all know that most people don't (and won't) read volumes. So — remember that less is more! When you use print, use marketing techniques and a clear call to action, directing people to additional tools and resources. Print can be especially effective for reaching the often forgotten audience — family members.

Change your enrollment experience and get the results you need. Develop strategies and solutions that get your employees' attention, simplify decision making, and give employees the choices and coverage they need while saving them and your company money.