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While many employers have recently wrapped up open enrollment efforts for 2025 plans, some may still be working to finalize benefits enrollment. December is crunch time before benefits coverage for most group health plans begins Jan. 1 for employees and their dependents. This article outlines ten year-end steps for employers to complete their open enrollment efforts.
Open Enrollment Checklist
Organizations are especially busy in December preparing for a new calendar year. In addition to payroll and HR efforts, employers are closing up open enrollment and finalizing benefit plans for the new year.
Here are ten year-end open enrollment tasks for employers to complete before Dec. 31:
✔ Verify that employees have completed their enrollment forms and review them for errors.
✔ Submit enrollment forms and information to insurance carriers, where applicable.
✔ Confirm that the organization and carriers have correctly copied and transferred all employee enrollment and election information.
✔ Update payroll to reflect any changes to employees’ deductions based on employee benefits changes, such as new plans or premiums.
✔ Confirm employees received their new ID cards. If they don’t have them by Jan. 1, provide employees with steps to access their benefits.
✔ Make certain all proper notices, such as Summary Plan Descriptions and Summaries of Benefits and Coverage, have been or will be distributed.
✔ Ensure employees understand the details of their health care coverage and benefits.
✔ Provide employees with opportunities to ask about their healthcare coverage and benefits.
✔ Ensure compliance with new laws, regulations, or provisions affecting employee benefit plans or employees.
✔ Audit billing invoices for insurance carriers and payroll deductions for accuracy and correct any errors, if necessary.
The post-open enrollment period is critical for organizations to review their open enrollment process and identify areas for improvement. Once open enrollment is finalized, employers can focus on the next open enrollment season and make thoughtful decisions throughout the year to streamline and speed up the process to avoid any end-of-year pressure.
Summary
Employers are in the final stretch of finalizing their open enrollment efforts before plan coverage begins on Jan. 1. Search our blog for more open enrollment strategies, guidance, and employee deliverables.
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Stress-free Open Enrollment Planning
If you find open enrollment for employee benefits a struggle, there is a better way. The GTM Insurance Agency’s employee benefits design skills, cutting-edge technology, and expert HR support can help you streamline and automate processes, reduce administrative costs, and relieve HR burdens, all while delivering benefits that will delight your workforce.
Skip the hassles by managing your employee benefits through GTM Payroll & HR and our affiliate GTM Insurance Agency, including open enrollment. We offer the same great rates – with no admin fees – from the local carriers you know and trust, like Anthem, Aetna, Blue Cross, CDPHP, Highmark, MVP, and many others. If you let us be your broker, we’ll work with you to automate your employee benefits enrollment so you can eliminate complicated, manual processes.
A complimentary integration with Employee Navigator or direct integration into GTM’s payroll and human capital management (HCM) platform means you’ll enjoy an efficient online process with access at any time from any device.
With GTM’s HR consulting team at the ready, you’ll have access to experts who can assist with designing a benefits plan, understanding your employee needs, and transitioning your benefits administration. Or, we can take other HR administrative tasks off your plate so you don’t fall behind while focusing on benefits management.
To explore stress-free employee benefits administration, contact GTM Insurance Agency at (518) 373-4111 or [email protected]. Or schedule time with an insurance team member at your convenience.
