What is open enrollment? What do I have to do?
If you have recently graduated from high school or college and are on your way into the workforce, you've got a lot of important decisions to make — including figuring out your health benefits options — to keep you feeling and looking your best. allaboutthebenefits.com gives you the information you need to make better health benefits choices.
New to your company or not loving the health benefits you chose last year? Take control of your health benefits by participating in Open Enrollment, a period of time, typically from October to December, when you can make choices regarding your benefits for the following year.
The challenge is to actually read and understand the materials provided. The Glossary in the Health Benefits Essentials or your HR department will help you make sense of terms and information that you might not understand. And here are some important things to consider when re-evaluating your health benefits:
The Four "C's" of Open Enrollment
- Cost of premiums and co-payments
- Coverage information including in-network doctors
- Current plan options; these may change from year to year
- Choices such as Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), long-term care and life insurance
Eligibility
If you're new to a plan, make sure to confirm when you will be eligible for benefits, and when your coverage will begin.
