Open Enrollment doesn’t really end when the window closes.
Without a clear post-OE process, January can be messy – employees waiting on ID cards, payroll deductions that don’t match, or enrollments missing in the carrier’s system.
The smoothest Januarys we’ve seen come from a strong post-OE checklist. A little coordination up front prevents weeks of backtracking.
WHAT GOES WRONG
- Employees don’t receive ID cards
- OE file elections are overridden by ongoing enrollment files
- Employees show as enrolled in the benefits system, but not in the carrier system
- New year deductions aren’t captured or just repeat last year’s amounts
ROOT CAUSE
- No confirmation of exact ID card mailing dates
- Ongoing EDI file not ended during OE
- No blackout period coordination between carrier, HR, vendor, and payroll teams
- New year deductions not sent to payroll
HOW TO FIX IT
- Confirm ID card production and mailing dates directly with carriers
- Confirm how existing file feeds will be transferred during the enrollment window
- Set and communicate blackout periods with all teams in advance
- Ensure new year deductions are captured and passed to payroll on time
- Run a January payroll and coverage audit to catch anything missed
Want to avoid costly surprises during Open Enrollment? We can help. Let’s connect.
