HR teams should arrange for educators well in advance of open enrollment so they are equipped to best explain the employer's benefits plan options. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Open enrollment season is on its way, which means that HR's already full plate just got a bit fuller. In addition to developing competitive health plans that attract and retain top talent – talent of all ages and with varying needs – HR pros are also responsible for effectively communicating plan options to employees to ensure that individuals make informed, cost-conscious decisions about their coverage and care.

As the health care landscape becomes more complex, so do employee questions around their health care benefits. Many health care consumers today don't feel comfortable navigating the health care system – which is why most roll over the same plan year after year. While HR teams want to manage the influx of employee questions around their benefits options, they struggle to provide the necessary guidance given their current bandwidth. Covering health plans in a large townhall meeting won't provide the personalized information that employees need to make educated decisions. To deliver a more personal, empowering experience, organizations can look to benefits educators to supplement strapped HR teams.

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