Is it open enrollment time at your job (or your spouses job)? Are you familiar with open enrollment? Many people have heard the phrase before, but really don’t know what it means.
As for me, I count on my husband to go over everything when it is open enrollment time at his work. I highly doubt that he goes over everything with a fine-toothed comb to see if any benefits have changed and I think he just re-enrolls without giving it much thought. Since plans tend to change from year to year, it is important to read through the fine print and look for these changes. Tedious? Yes necessary? Definitely. I will be talking to my husband about this, as I am very concerned after reading the results of the Aflac WorkForces Report
If a family member is in an accident or has to be hospitalized, do you know what will be covered? What can consumers do to ensure that they are well-informed about open enrollment and saving their hard earned money? I personally recommend checking into supplemental insurance. There are so many advantages, and it can save quite a bit of money. Also, take the time to sit with your spouse (if you have one) and thoroughly go over your insurance benefits and choices when open enrollment time comes around. Knowledge is power, and when you arm yourself with all of the current information, you can make well-informed decisions that may also help you financially.
Another thing you can do is make sure you are putting the correct amount of money in your flex spending account. This helps stretch your dollars even more. According to the Aflac WorkForces Report, people are not putting enough money in this account.
Ideally, employers would make sure that employees understand open enrollment and their benefits. Since this is not the case many times, Aflac suggests that you speak with an HR consultant, or insurance specialist during open enrollment. Also, do not hesitate to ask your employer for more time to thoroughly review your plan.
Make sure you click the photo above – there are some really surprising survey results! You will also find some tips and other helpful information. You can breathe a sigh of relief when you know you have all of the necessary information to make informed decisions for yourself and your family.
Another thing my husband and I are going to look into is supplemental insurance. A few years ago when we were at a party, a friend of ours was telling us about Aflac and the benefits. She is a rep and we were really surprised to hear what Aflac is all about. Previous to our conversation, I really only knew about Aflac from the commercials. She told us (and I assume that this is still the case currently) that Aflac pays benefits directly to you to help with expenses. She also mentioned how they pay for routine care (such as female exams) and more. I could go on and on about the benefits, but I highly recommend that you check them out for yourself – I think you’ll be surprised!
Open enrollment time will be here this Fall. Are you ready?
*I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Aflac and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
2 Responses
I usually let my husband take charge of the insurance stuff. I find it so complicated!
I re-enroll every November at my job and its usually a single form asking for my signature and a few other bits of small information. Then it goes into how my benefits are changing, usually for the worse and how much more it will cost per month. I don’t think I need supplemental insurance as of yet, but I guess its worth looking into.