2.      Tailor benefits to ensure they match employee "wants."  

Benefits professionals should urge clients to survey their workers to find out which benefits are truly important to them. Staples' Advantage Workplace Index revealed that 35 percent of employees want more flexible schedules and 46 percent of employees say that flexibility is the most important aspect when looking for a new job. 

Additionally, as health care costs continue to rise, consumer expectations and needs are expanding to nontraditional benefits offerings, such as fraud protection services, telemedicine and bill negotiation services. With employee wages remaining stagnant and health care costs increasing, the 2016 open enrollment season is a great time to introduce products and services that meet customer needs more comprehensively. In particular, highlight to clients the types of products and services that help ease employees' concerns and stress related to medical bills. 

3.      Despite a desire to be involved in choosing benefits options, employees spend little time on research. 

Most employees (89 percent) at least somewhat agree that increased responsibility for their health care costs has resulted in higher expectations. Still, 90 percent choose the same benefits year after year, with 79 percent spending less than an hour researching their benefits. Benefits pros should help employers make the selection process easier by providing streamlined, practical decision-making tools. Communication about benefits should also take place throughout the year, instead of in a single "information dump" just prior to enrollment. 

4.      Provide benefits information in a way that makes sense to workers. 

Benefits experts should work with clients to ensure they're providing benefits information in a way that corresponds with workers' demands for ease and convenience. For example, the Aflac study revealed that 65 percent or workers or more find these strategies helpful: brochures or other printed information, websites or other online information, and summaries of their previous year's medical claims and expenses. 

Remember: Employers often put off thinking about their benefits options until just before open enrollment begins. Now is the time for benefits professionals to reach out. By doing so, they'll help ensure that plan changes — including product additions — are in place well before the employee sign-up period begins. 

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a solicitation.  

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