Open enrollment is underway and will continue through the end of the year. And while this is a key time for employees as they enroll in benefits that will protect their health and finances and keep their families secure for the coming year, it is also a crucial opportunity for brokers and their clients to positively position companies with top talent. Increasingly, companies are using their benefits package as a tool and differentiator for talent acquisition and retention.

Consider a recent MetLife survey that explores what the insurer describes as “a new age of benefits.” The survey found that:

• 61 percent of employees say they are more likely to accept a job that offers health and well-being benefits,

• 59 percent say health benefits would make them more loyal,

• 51 percent say they are more likely to accept an offer that comes with financial benefits, and

• 53 percent say they would be more loyal to a job that has benefits that help them get their finances in order.

The growth of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) is contributing to an increase in popularity for flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA). In fact, HSA enrollment was up 53.7 percent in 2016, and there were 27.4 million FSAs in use last year, a number that is expected to grow to 32.3 million by 2020.

These tax-advantaged accounts can help cushion the financial burden of HDHP coverage for individuals and families by allowing account holders to set aside pre-tax money to pay for current health expenses while, in the case of HSAs, saving for expenses in retirement.