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Open Enrollment is over.
Employees have made their elections, ID cards have arrived, and everyone has moved on to the next priority.
Fast forward six months.
How many employees still remember everything that's included in their benefits package?
For many employers, the answer is "not many."
It's not because employees don't appreciate their benefits. They simply have other things on their minds. Unless they need medical care, most people aren't thinking about deductibles, telehealth, or supplemental insurance on a regular basis.
That's why year-round communication matters.
Sometimes a simple reminder is all it takes to help an employee take advantage of a benefit they already have.
Here are five benefits employees commonly forget about.
1. Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
When employees hear "Employee Assistance Program," many immediately think it only provides counseling services. While counseling is certainly an important benefit, many EAPs offer much more.
Depending on the program, employees may also have access to:
- Financial counseling
- Legal consultations
- Identity theft resources
- Childcare and eldercare assistance
- Work-life resources
- Stress management support
These services are often included at no additional cost, yet many employees never realize they're available.
2. Telehealth
Telehealth has become much more common in recent years, but it's still an underutilized benefit.
Employees often assume they need to wait for an appointment with their primary care physician or visit urgent care for common illnesses.
Instead, telehealth can often provide convenient care for concerns such as:
- Colds and flu symptoms
- Pink eye
- Minor skin conditions
- Seasonal allergies
- Prescription refills
- Minor infections
For many employees, it can mean getting care more quickly while avoiding unnecessary trips to urgent care or the emergency room, and the added cost that comes with those in person visits.
3. Preventive Care
One of the most valuable healthcare benefits is also one of the easiest to overlook.
Most medical plans cover preventive services such as annual wellness exams, recommended vaccinations, and many age-appropriate screenings at little or no cost when performed by in-network providers.
Preventive care helps identify health concerns early, often before they become more serious and expensive to treat.
A simple reminder before the end of the year can encourage employees to schedule appointments they've been putting off.
4. Wellness Benefits Included with Supplemental Insurance
Many employees enroll in accident or critical illness insurance expecting they'll only use it after a major medical event.
What they often don't realize is that many of these plans also include annual wellness benefits that pay them directly.
Depending on the policy, employees may receive a cash benefit simply for completing eligible preventive screenings such as:
- Annual physicals
- Mammograms
- Colonoscopies
- Cholesterol screenings
- Blood tests
- Other covered wellness exams
Because these benefits typically require a claim to be submitted, employees who don't know they exist may never receive the money they're entitled to.
5. Healthcare Navigation and Advocacy Resources
Many benefit packages now include services that help employees navigate the healthcare system.
These programs may assist employees with:
- Finding in-network providers
- Understanding medical bills
- Locating lower-cost care options
- Comparing treatment options
- Coordinating second opinions
- Answering questions about healthcare claims
Employees often don't discover these resources until they're already overwhelmed by a medical situation. Introducing these services before they're needed makes employees more likely to remember them when the time comes.
A Few Small Reminders Can Make a Big Difference
Employers don't need to overwhelm employees with lengthy benefits presentations throughout the year.
Instead, consider sharing one benefit each month through:
- Company newsletters
- HR emails
- Digital benefit guides
- Team meetings
- Employee intranet pages
- New hire communications
Short, consistent reminders help employees better understand the benefits available to them while reinforcing the value of the investment employers make each year.
Providing a competitive benefits package is only the beginning.
Employees can't appreciate—or fully utilize—benefits they don't remember having.
A thoughtful communication strategy helps employees make informed decisions, improves their overall benefits experience, and can even reduce routine questions directed to HR.
Sometimes the most valuable reminder isn't about adding another benefit. It's simply reminding employees about the valuable benefits they already have.
We believe employee education shouldn't stop after Open Enrollment. We partner with employers to provide year-round communication, educational resources, and benefits support that help employees better understand—and use—the benefits available to them
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