Colonial Life surveyed employee benefits brokers in June to findwhat brokers felt were the most important qualities in a voluntarybenefits carrier. Brokers were asked to rank which services weremost important to them. The most important quality, the surveyfound, is providing education for employees.

"With increasing health care costs, employers are investing morebudget dollars in their benefits programs," Henry Price, ColonialLife's senior vice president of customer acquisition services, saidin a press release. "When employees understand their benefits andtheir value, they're likely to have a greater appreciation for whattheir employer provides. Consistent and effective benefitseducation during one-to-one benefits counseling sessions can go along way in helping employers get a better return on their benefitsinvestment."

Enrollment featured heavily in brokers' wish lists.

1. Ability to educate employees about their benefitsprograms.
2. Efficient claims processing and payment.
3. Ability to create a consistent enrollment experience for allemployees.
4. Receiving timely, accurate enrollment reports.
5. Enrolling employees in their benefits as quickly as possible tominimize time away from the job.
6. Supporting my clients with ongoing, in-person benefits supportfrom a local team.
7. Assisting with new hire enrollment.
8. Helping with enrollments at little to no cost to myagency.
9. Enrolling employees at multiple locations and/or a variety ofshifts.
10. Coordinating enrollment of multiple carriers in anaccount.