This article is the first of my Adulting Series. In my experience as a teacher of high school and community college young adults, I've been asked many questions about general life stuff we all need to know about. I decided to write a series of articles to address these questions, as well as other information that is worth sharing, even if no one specifically asked.
Open Enrollment is a time of year that many young employees aren't quite sure about it. What is it? What do I need to do? Why does it happen every year? It can be stressful to keep getting emails from Human Resources about this (apparently) important event when you don't know what it all means. Fear not, I got you on this.
In this episode of Adulting Series, we'll talk about Open Enrollment, what it means, and what you should do.
What is Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment, or some employers call it Open Season, is the one time of year when you are allowed to make changes to the benefits your employer provides for you. After the open enrollment period ends, you won't be able to make any changes until next year, unless you have a significant life event, such as you get married, get divorced, give birth or adopt a child, etc. If any of those events happen, you have 30 days to make changes, such as adding your child or spouse to your health insurance. But during Open Enrollment, you may make changes for any reason. That's why Human Resources makes such a big deal (or they should be) about letting employees know it's open enrollment time.
Do I Need to Change Anything During Open Enrollment?
The answer to this question is a definite...maybe. It just depends on your situation. But you should definitely look at all your options and think about whether you could benefit from changing any of your benefits.
I made a short video to explain some of the choices you might need to think about during Open Enrollment. These are basically the same choices you faced when you were first hired, but maybe the hiring process was overwhelming and you didn't understand all the benefits choices you had to make in that moment. Or maybe you made good choices at the time, but your situation has changed now.
Check out the video below, but please be don't judge the production quality too harshly. This is my first attempt, and since the open enrollment season is already here, I didn't have much time to spend in editing. There's also a PDF of the slide show at the bottom of the page.
Ask Human Resources for Information
This article can't replace information from your Human Resources department. Your employer might offer benefits that you aren't even be aware of. If your HR department is offering one-on-one sessions for employees, I recommend making an appointment so they can explain everything to you and answer your questions.
At the very least, be sure to read through all the information HR sends out during the open enrollment period. It's best to read through it after work, in a place where you can focus without interruptions. If you have questions after reading the information and you don't want to meet with HR in person, then you should at least send them a message or an email with your questions.
Advocate for Yourself
The information provided here is just to help you understand the basics, so you’ll know what you don’t know. Only your employer’s Human Resources (HR) department can tell you about your employer’s benefits and answer questions for you. If you have questions, please contact your employer's HR department. They will have all the information you need to make an informed decision! If you don’t know the contact information for HR, your manager should be able to provide it to you.
Be sure to read all the information your employer provides, and ask all the questions. Remember, time is critical because you only have a short amount of time to make changes!
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