How to Make Open Enrollment Easier
Open enrollment comes around once a year, but for HR leaders it can feel like it takes all year to prepare. From compliance requirements to employee communication, a successful enrollment period requires careful planning and execution.
Employees depend on HR to guide them through complex benefit decisions that affect their health, finances, and families. Without a clear plan in place, it’s easy for important details to get lost, deadlines to be missed, or employees to make uninformed choices. That’s why we’ve created this open enrollment checklist to help you simplify the process, cover your bases, and deliver a better experience for your workforce.
What is an Open Enrollment checklist?
An open enrollment checklist is a structured outline of tasks and deadlines that help employers and HR teams successfully manage the open enrollment period for employee benefits.
What’s Inside the Open Enrollment Checklist?
This free download breaks the open enrollment process into clear, manageable steps:
- 6–10 Weeks Out: Collect employee feedback, audit benefits offerings, and map out your communications strategy.
- 3–4 Weeks Out: Train HR and managers, finalize educational resources, and launch early reminders.
- During Enrollment: Provide benefits summaries, host education sessions, and send regular reminders.
- After Enrollment: Verify elections, distribute ID cards, and capture lessons learned for next year.
With this roadmap, you can run a smoother, more engaging, and compliant enrollment period from start to finish.
Why Do You Need a Checklist for Open Enrollment?
Even seasoned HR professionals can find open enrollment overwhelming. Multiple moving parts—carrier updates, compliance requirements, employee questions, and technology testing—all need to be managed at once. A checklist keeps everything organized and helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
How to Use the Open Enrollment Checklist
Here’s how to use the open enrollment checklist effectively:
- Start Early. Begin 90–120 days before enrollment starts to allow time for vendor negotiations, material preparation, and issue resolution.
- Assign Ownership. Designate specific team members to each task so everyone knows their responsibilities and stays accountable.
- Set Deadlines. Work backward from your enrollment date to establish realistic deadlines with buffer time for unexpected delays.
- Track Progress. Review your checklist weekly during team meetings. Update task status, identify roadblocks, and adjust resources as needed.
- Plan for Issues. Include contingency plans for common problems like technology glitches, vendor delays, or employee questions.
Open Enrollment Checklist FAQs
Have more questions about the checklist? Read on.
Is the Open Enrollment Checklist Free to Download?
Yes, the open enrollment checklist is completely free to download!
Who Should Use the Open Enrollment Checklist?
Business owners, HR teams, and brokers who want to share the checklist with their clients can all benefit from using this checklist for open enrollment.
When Should I Start Reviewing the Open Enrollment Checklist?
Start reviewing the tasks on the checklist 90–120 days before enrollment starts.
How Paycor Helps with your Open Enrollment Needs
Paycor’s Benefits Advisor software makes open enrollment easier for everyone. HR teams can automate enrollment workflows, stay compliant with ACA and other regulations, and give employees an intuitive self-service experience with Ask Emma. With less manual work, you’ll have more time to focus on strategy and employee engagement.