Typically, the majority of employees stay “business as usual” when selecting their new benefits offerings, with many employers providing the same benefits packages year after year. But this year, nearly half of employers report they’re considering offering new benefits to their employees because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite health being more top-of-mind this year than ever, it doesn’t mean employees necessarily understand health benefits any better. A quarter of Americans report avoiding care because they don’t know what their plan covers, with many avoiding COVID-19 testing and treatment because of confusion on what their insurance will allow.
2021 will be a critical year—not only for the pandemic, but for maintaining and addressing other health concerns. Here are some tips to share with your clients on how they can help employees understand their benefits as the year begins.
Get up To Speed on SOBs
Employees will receive their new Summary of Benefits prior to their effective date. This document helps explain all the details of their plan and the financial responsibility of their plan decisions. Consider offering assistance to your clients’ employees during this process, and even hosting a webinar to help define the terms and how to read them. Understanding this document is a baseline of plan literacy, and includes:
- Coverage dates
- Plan tier
- Provider network
- Deductibles
- Definition of medical events
- Consumer rights and more
Make a plan for health financial accounts
If your employees have opted into health financial accounts, like HSAs, making a plan for how to spend and save throughout the year can help get their full value. Encourage employees to make a list of projected costs throughout the year, like new glasses or seasonal OTC medications, to make the most of their HSA. Remind employees to also consider reserving some funds in case they encounter an unexpected health event or need to supplement deductible costs.
Utilize the benefits available to you
While living through a global pandemic, it can be challenging to address various health care needs. But caring for health is especially critical right now—especially when it comes to health visits you shouldn’t skip, chronic care needs, vaccines, mental health visits and more. Many health plans also offer added benefits like acupuncture and discounts that can pay off on services employees already use, like fitness facilities or virtual workout classes.
Show employers how they can empower employees to understand fully what their plan offers and how they can best make use of their benefits throughout the year.