Open Enrollment Q&A with Hank Steen
It's that time of year where Benefits Open Enrollment is upon us. This is the only opportunity to elect your benefits during the year unless you experience a qualifying life event such as marriage or childbirth. This year, the 2023 benefits open enrollment will begin on October 18 and last through November 1. Benefits elected during this open enrollment period will be effective on January 1, 2023. Read more below.
Transcript of interview between Lauren Vorderkunz, HR Communication Specialist - Human Resources and Hank Steen, Director of Benefits - Human Resources.
Lauren Vorderkunz: Hi Hank! Thanks for meeting today to discuss more about Benefits Open Enrollment.
Hank Steen: My pleasure. I'm really interested to discuss what managers can do to help their team members during the Open Enrollment period.
Lauren: Great! Let's get started then. First of all, when will this year's Benefits Open Enrollment take place?
Hank: This year's Benefits Open Enrollment will take place from October 18 through November 1. Employees who wish to enroll in Baylor insurance coverages for the 2023 year need to actively login to Benefitfocus and make their benefit elections for 2023. Benefits elected during open enrollment will be effective January 1, 2023.
Lauren: Thank you for those dates, Hank. Does everyone have to enroll?
Hank: Yes, even if you are not making any changes to your benefit elections for 2023, you still need to login to Benefitfocus and elect your benefits. Remember, this is the only chance you have to elect benefits for the year, unless of course you have a qualifying life event that allows for a change. It is very important that everyone reviews their covered dependents and beneficiary elections as well as make their benefit elections during the open enrollment election window.
Lauren: Thank you for sharing those details. What can managers do to help their team during the Benefits Open Enrollment period?
Hank: Managers can encourage and allow their team members time to attend our Benefits Open Enrollment educational opportunities. We try to schedule these around the lunch hour, however, there will be options for employees to visit one-on-one with a Benefits Counselor. There will be after hours opportunities to schedule a one-on-one appointment, but they will also be available during the workday. Being flexible with team members and allowing them 30-45 minutes to focus on their benefit elections and speak to a benefits counselor is time well spent, even if it is during normal working hours.
Lauren: Good manager tip there! What's a good way for managers to bring up the topic of Benefits Open Enrollment to their team?
Hank: Good question. I would suggest that managers include the topic of Benefits Open Enrollment in one of their team or staff meetings. Just reminding your team that Benefits Open Enrollment is coming up and reminding everyone to make their elections is such a huge help. We send open enrollment communications to homes and via email, but word of mouth is also a great way to make sure everyone is aware of this important time of year.
Lauren: Reminders are always helpful! What if a team member is out of the office during Benefits Open Enrollment?
Hank: Great question. If a manager knows that a team member will be out of the office during open enrollment, it is helpful for them to just remind them not to forget to make their elections if their absence is during open enrollment. The Benefitfocus mobile app allows for easy access for employees to make their elections while away from work.
Lauren: As we wrap up our discussion today, are there any last words you'd like to share for managers regarding this year's Benefits Open Enrollment?
Hank: Yes. What makes our Benefits Open Enrollment successful is to have a high level of engagement amongst our population. There will be various resources and education opportunities for our faculty and staff prior to and during Benefits Open Enrollment. At Baylor, we would like our managers to use the tips I mentioned to help make this a successful Benefits Open Enrollment.
Lauren: Thank again so much for meeting with me today and for sharing all this great information for Benefits Open Enrollment and how managers can help team members during this process.
If you have any questions about Benefits Open Enrollment, please email benefitenrollment@baylor.edu.
