Despite how important benefits are to the workforce, many employees have a hard time understanding them. The complexities of benefits overwhelm employees, so they often opt for a plan that doesn't align with their needs — usually, the lowest-cost plan. They then become frustrated down the line when they're hit with unexpected co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

This is why improving benefits literacy is so important to incorporate into a benefits strategy. But it's not easy, as benefits communication poses a significant challenge for employers.

Understanding the challenges of benefits communication

Traditional methods of benefits communication seldom provide any value to employees. According to MetLife's Employee Benefit Trends Study, only 4 in 10 employees believe their employers' benefits communication is simple to understand.