The Next Big Thing for Open Enrollment

In the middle of a global health crisis, understanding your benefits is crucial. The enrollment process can be confusing, and face-to-face communication with an account manager may not be an option this year. But, while an in-person enrollment isn’t always possible, getting the individualized attention needed to completely understand your benefits is.

Virtual enrollments are increasing in popularity as they provide employees with a comprehensive and personal enrollment experience, without the need for an in-person gathering.

Considering switching to a virtual enrollment process or curious about what it entails? Here’s some information to help get you prepared.

Why should you choose a Virtual Enrollment process?

Virtual enrollments offer many advantages that help keep the process running smoothly and effectively. Below are some benefits to enrolling virtually with AF:

Individualized Attention

• Online video conferencing allows employees to have one-on-one, confidential conversations with an account manager to ensure they are getting their questions answered.
• Our account managers are available year-round, in-person or virtually, to answer questions and provide customized education material to employees.

Access to Information

• Important enrollment details can be easily published online, reducing the risk of misplacing documents and increasing the ease at which employees can access information.
• Employees may review the exact documents and benefits that interest them whenever and wherever they please.

Convenience

• Employees can make important decisions regarding their enrollment from the comfort of their own home and collaborate with loved ones if the potential benefits may impact their lives as well.  
• Employees can work at independent paces to understand their benefits, instead of having to wait on or go ahead of the whole group.

Security

• Permission-based access on uploaded files and documents ensures that information is only being viewed by authorized users/employees.
• Permission-based access may also be used to share documents only with members of a certain title, geographic region etc., aiding in team collaboration and unity.

How does Virtual Enrollment work?

The methods used throughout virtual enrollments focus on creating a highly collaborative and supportive experience for all employees. Below are some examples of what to expect from your virtual enrollment process with American Fidelity:

• We utilize co-browsing technology during guided sessions to ensure employees have a tailored enrollment with their account manager from start to finish.
• Employees may meet one-on-one to enroll alongside an American Fidelity representative.
• Employees may learn about their benefits through emails and sites provided by American Fidelity and their employer, or by participating in virtual group meetings with their coworkers and one of our account managers.
• When time to join a guided enrollment session, account managers communicate with each employee directly to ensure they have all details needed for their enrollment.
• Employees are educated on all their benefit options, not just those offered to them from American Fidelity.
• With enhanced safety protocols including face masks, privacy shields, and electronic communications, we can seamlessly enroll employees in a safe and efficient way given the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more details on how the process works watch the video below:  

Is a guided enrollment process more effective than self-enrolling?

While both enrollment processes are successful, enrolling virtually with an account manager has proven to be extremely effective. Below are some reasons why you may consider a switch from allowing your employees to self-enroll to a guided option:

• One-on-one sessions allow employees to ask questions specific to their benefit plans and receive personalized recommendations, while self-led education typically doesn’t provide the opportunity to ask questions.
• One-on-one sessions are especially helpful when employers make plan changes year-to-year and our account managers can walk through them with your employees.
• 84% of employees prefer individual support when enrolling in their benefits.¹

Click here for more information regarding the downsides of self-enrollment.

For a more in depth look at the benefits to guided support, watch the video below:

Will Virtual Enrollment still be an option after the pandemic ends?

The continuity of virtual enrollments is promising, even without a global health crisis in motion. Below are some reasons why virtual enrollments aren’t going anywhere and will likely continue to grow in popularity:

• 1400+ groups have already virtually enrolled with American Fidelity since the pandemic began.³
• Virtual enrollments are fiscally beneficial to employers: By putting informational documents online, the need to pay for costly print products (ex. brochures, flyers, banners, handouts) is eliminated.
• Virtual enrollments are environmentally friendly: Employers can simply update an older file for employee use instead of having to annually update and print new documents for each enrollment period.
• With our online electronic enrollment platform offered at no additional cost as permitted by law, employers can provide employees with all the benefits virtual enrollments offer without breaking the bank.
• 24% of employees report that they more often look to their employers for benefits information now, as compared to the time before COVID-19.⁴

Learn more about in-person and virtual guided enrollment.

Learn more about employees enrollment process preferences.

Learn how COVID-19 should change the enrollment process.  

 

This blog is up to date as of December 2020 and has not been updated for changes in the law, administration or current events.

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