As Open Enrollment (OE) season approaches, HR teams brace for a surge of employee questions. Throughout the year, HR departments field a wide array of benefits-related inquiries, but the weeks surrounding OE see a dramatic spike in volume. Common questions include, "When is the 2024 Open Enrollment deadline?" "Will health plan options change?" and "How much can I contribute to my HSA?"

To help alleviate the influx of inquiries, we’ve put together a streamlined list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for both active and passive scenarios. Keep reading for essential resources designed to simplify OE for everyone involved.

Active Open Enrollment FAQs

Let's go over some active enrollment FAQs that HR teams can expect during the OE period.

Can I Make Changes to my health insurance outside of OE? In general, changes to health insurance can only be made during the OE period. However, qualifying life events like having a baby, getting married, or losing other health coverage may qualify an employee for a special enrollment outside of the regular OE period.

What Is a Qualifying Event? A qualifying event is an event that allows individuals to make changes to their health insurance outside of the OE window. Under these circumstances, an individual qualifies to buy or make changes to their health plan outside of the OE window. Examples of qualifying events include marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, loss of other coverage, or permanent relocation to an area where different health plans are available.

What if I miss the enrollment period? If an employee misses an enrollment period, they won't be able to enroll or make changes until the next annual OE — unless they experience a qualifying life event that allows them to make benefits changes under IRS rules.

Passive Open Enrollment FAQs

For those groups who opt for passive open enrollment, here are some relevant FAQs HR teams can expect during this OE period.

What actions do I need to take to keep my current benefits? If an employee is satisfied with their current benefits and doesn't want to make any changes, no action is needed on their part. Their existing selections will remain in place.

Can I change my benefits during OE if I want something different for the upcoming year? Employees are encouraged to review their benefits plan from time to time to learn about new offerings and changes to existing benefits or costs for the upcoming year. If employees want something different for the upcoming year, they can make changes to their existing benefits during OE. The employer's designated benefits administration platform should guide them through the process.

Are there changes to benefits offerings or costs for the upcoming year? While passive enrollment means employees are automatically re-enrolled in benefits based on selections they made in the past, it's essential to check for updates to benefits offering for the upcoming year.

Conclusion

With these resources at the ready, HR teams can handle Open Enrollment with greater ease, ensuring employees feel confident and supported in making the best benefits decisions for themselves and their families. Here's to a smoother, more manageable OE season.