MetLife recently released a free online tool, the Employee Benefits Simplifier, for employees who need help making decisions regarding benefits. The tool addresses employees responses to the 2008 Open Enrollment survey, which showed employees with access to more information were more likely to be satisfied with their benefit offerings.

The survey also showed that although three-quarters of employees didn't change their benefits selection in 2008, approximately one-third did so to take advantage of new offerings or better information.

The tool delivers different benefit options broken out by category, including medical, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, retirement and employee-paid or "voluntary" benefits. Each category offers suggestions based on a short profile entered by the employee; it also offers suggestions on less traditional benefits like pet insurance and legal plans.