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5 Things to Do After Open Enrollment Is Over

So you survived open enrollment, here are 5 things to do after.

Now that most of your employees have reviewed their plan documents, carefully weighed coverage options and have made all the necessary changes, as a plan administrator it’s safe to celebrate the completion of yet another successful open enrollment period, right? Not just yet.

Before you start throwing confetti, it wouldn’t hurt to consider a few tips to ensure your employees have a smooth post-open enrollment experience that will carry them through the next year.

Share the following list with your employees to make sure they are fully equipped to benefit from their plan elections:

    1. Be on the Lookout for New ID Cards

      If your employer changed insurance providers or if you made changes to your plan elections, you can expect insurance carriers to issue new ID cards a few weeks after all required documents are received and processed. Most employees report receiving their new cards a few weeks after the effective date of their new plan.

      If your employees need proof of insurance sooner, they can usually download a temporary ID card online and can easily store it on most mobile devices.

    2. Set up Your User Account

      With all the technology available, registering through each carrier’s website might be the best thing you can do with your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. It can save you time when looking for specific information about your coverage and can even take the hassle out of finding in-network providers. Most carriers have smartphone apps with all the resources you could possibly need right in the palm of your hand.

      And while you’re on your medical insurer’s website, research the cost of care for any procedures you may need in the upcoming year. Most websites include generic information about the costs of MRIs, knee surgeries, lab work, prescription drugs and more.

    3. Schedule Your Annual Exams

      Just about every healthcare plan covers specific annual preventive care services without imposing cost-sharing requirements—meaning no pesky out-of-pocket expenses. As you peruse the insurer’s website, look for what is covered and set up your appointments today. Annual physicals, well-woman checkups, cancer screenings, dental cleanings and vision check-ups are what most tend to check off the list first. Remember, taking care of yourself, and encouraging your family members who are covered under the plan to do the same, is a top priority.

    4. Double-Check Your First Paystub

      After your effective date, check the amount deducted from your paycheck, specifically for your insurance coverage.

      Be sure the amounts correctly match the total for you and your family members currently enrolled in the plans you selected. If there are any discrepancies, now is the time to check with your human resources team to resolve the issue.

      The last thing you want is to be halfway into the new year and have to pay back hundreds of dollars for deduction shortage.

    5. Lastly, Track All Health-Related Expenses

      Pay attention to how much you spend on health-related expenses over the course of the year. That way, you’ll be prepared for next year’s open enrollment period ahead of time and will be ready to make an educated choice on plan changes, perhaps looking into an FSA or HSA to put money back in your pocket.

Open Enrollment can be a stressful time of year for many. Figuring out what to do next can be even more of a headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Putting aside extra time to organize next steps is all that it takes. If you aren’t sure, have questions or just need clarity, it is never too late to reach out to your benefits manager or plan administrator for answers.

Contact your OneDigital consultant for more tips to support your employees through Open Enrollment or visit the OneDigital Open Enrollment Hub.

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