Open enrollment is over.

You experienced record participation rates, due to awell-informed and engaged employee population who received regular communications about importantdeadlines, details of the coverage offered to them and instructionson how to enroll.

Life is good. But the fun is not over yet! One of the most vitalparts of benefits communications comes after your open enrollment period has concluded.

In our open enrollment series, we have covered three of thephases of communications: planning, informing and creating awareness beforeenrollment, and driving employees to action once it begins. Inour final installment, we’ll cover an important, but oftenoverlooked, phase: the follow up.

Do a post-OE evaluation and start planning for next year

One of the most useful things you can do after open enrollmentwraps up is to reflect on how things went. What went well? What doyou need to improve upon?

Review the plan you made prior to open enrollment and makeadjustments to it while the memories are still fresh.

But perhaps more importantly, ask your employees forfeedback.

What may have seemed like a nightmare to you may have been apleasant dream for employees. A post-enrollment survey can beespecially helpful, but you can also learn a lot through focusgroups or selecting a few employees and asking their opinionsinformally.

Armed with this information, you can start planning for nextyear. After all, open enrollment is now less than a year away! Andthe sooner you get started on your plan, the better OE will be foreverybody involved.

Go mobile

Many benefits technology providers offer a mobile app thatemployees can use to view their benefits, receive ongoingcommunications, store insurance cards and important contactinfo.

If available, encourage employees to download the app andexplain why it is useful.

Using technology like mobile apps makes it much easier for youand your employees to manage benefits throughout the year and takessome of the pressure off during open enrollment.

Send regular updates and reminders throughout the year

Similar to the daily emails and/or texts you sent during openenrollment, regular benefits updates and reminders will helpemployees understand how to use the benefits they’ve signed up forand what to do if they have a life event that requires a change intheir benefits.

You can link to informative videos that explain complex benefitsterms and concepts, like this one that covers qualifying lifeevents.

Unlike your communications during open enrollment, you will wantto space these out over the course of the year, so employees don’tget overloaded. An email every month or so is probably a goodcadence.

Let the good times roll!

Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate!

You’ve had a successful open enrollment and gotthrough to the other side unscathed. Pat yourself on the back andtake a much-needed break. You deserve it!