5 steps to a successful fall 2015 open enrollment

As benefit advisers and administrators, it’s easy to understand that open enrollment entails far more than the exercise of actually enrolling employees in their benefits. The most successful open enrollments are the result of year-round continuous improvement through planning, monitoring, and communicating with employees. Here are five ways benefit advisers and professionals can help ensure a successful 2015 open enrollment, according to the HR tech firm Benefitfocus:

Employers and their advisers can analyze past years’ claims data and identify the percentage of their workforce that is driving costs. It’s important to understand the demographics of an employer’s workforce in order to design a plan that balances needs with budget and retention goals, says Benefitfocus. Then employers can benchmark their data to industry averages and design a plan that will help achieve their desired future state, the firm adds.