Employees Plan to Spend More Time on Enrollment This Year

As concerns over finances grow, employees are planning to spend more time on their benefits decisions this open enrollment.

Nearly 8 in 10 U.S. employees (77%) "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" that they plan to spend more time reviewing their benefit elections during annual enrollment to maximize their benefit dollars due to the current state of the economy, according to new data from Voya Financial. That's up significantly from 69% who said the same last year. The news highlights the growing fiscal concerns employees have and should be an important focal point for employers as open enrollment heats up.

"A big part of [the reason employees plan to spend more time on enrollment] is due to heightened economic uncertainty," said Christin Kuretich, vice president of supplemental products at Voya in New York City. "Concerns about financial stability have become more pronounced," she said, adding that Voya research found that 63% of U.S. employees said financial worries directly impact their mental health, up from 57% in 2023.

The increased focus on enrollment this year reflects "a broader understanding that benefits selections can have long-term implications for financial well-being and overall health," Kuretich said. 

The data comes as various research finds that health care and benefits costs are on the rise — a big concern for both employees and employers. According to data released last month by the Kaiser Family Foundation, average premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage have hit nearly $27,000 a year, a 6% rise from 2024. On average, workers contributed $6,850 toward the cost of family coverage this year, with employers footing the rest of the bill.

Other data suggests that 2026 costs may jump even further.

Some Positive News

Although the reasons for workers spending more time on their benefits selection are less positive, it's still good that employees are taking enrollment more seriously this year, Kuretich said. 

"This trend reflects a greater sense of intentionality and informed decision-making among employees," she said. "Employees can choose benefits that truly meet their needs, which can result in more satisfaction and improved outcomes for both individuals and organizations. This shift also shows that employees are recognizing the importance of holistic, well-rounded benefits."

How-To Guide: Make Your Open Enrollment a Success and Maximize Benefits

Alyssa Zeff, vice president and head of the bswift Engagement Agency, a Chicago-based benefits platform, told a recent SHRM webinar it’s nonsensical that employees spend only minutes on benefits enrollment but will research a new phone purchase for hours.

"There's a really interesting dynamic here as to how important [benefits enrollment] is, yet how low engagement can feel to people, and how quickly they want to make these decisions,” Zeff said.  

Kuretich said employees are likely spending time looking at benefits offered by their employer beyond their basic health insurance plan, including mental health offerings, fertility benefits, and women's health benefits.

Employer Role

Because employees plan to spend more time on open enrollment this year, employers should "prioritize clear, concise communication and provide both digital and human support throughout the enrollment process," Kuretich said. It’s key to ensure that educational materials are intuitive and straightforward, she explained, making it easier for employees to understand their options.

"Employees appreciate the convenience of online resources but also value the ability to speak with a person for more complex questions," Kuretich said. "Offering personalized guidance tailored to individual employee situations, rather than one-size-fits-all advice, is essential." 

Related Article: 8 Ways to Sustain Employee Benefits Engagement Year-Round

That was a strategy reiterated by Sheri Martel, SHRM-SCP, lead of total rewards at SHRM, during another recent SHRM webinar. Even though technology, including AI, is now an important part of employee benefits, "it's really important that we keep the human touch on those more vulnerable discussions," she said. "A lot of [workers] still want to talk to a live person. They want to review benefits. It's important that HR is there for them and has the answers and can have those one-on-one conversations with people."

Additionally, Kuretich recommended that employers connect benefits choices to broader financial goals, such as retirement readiness. 

"Providing financial education and coaching can help reduce stress and empower employees to make informed decisions," she said.