More Than a One-Month Moment
For many employers, open enrollment is the one time of year when benefits take center stage. Emails go out, presentations are built, and employees scramble to make choices they may not fully understand. Then… silence.
But benefits don’t disappear after enrollment. Neither should communication.
At MSI Benefits Group, we work with employers who are ready to treat benefits education as a strategic, year-round investment – not a once-a-year obligation. And it pays off. In a landscape where healthcare costs are rising and retention is more competitive than ever, the cost of confusion is just too high.
The Real Cost of Poor Benefits Understanding
According to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), only 19% of employees demonstrate a high level of understanding about their benefits. That leaves a vast majority making costly mistakes – like avoiding preventive care, going out-of-network, or skipping specialty medications altogether.
These missteps drive:
- Higher claims costs
- Emergency room overuse
- Low HSA and FSA participation
- Poor mental health support utilization
- Employee dissatisfaction and disengagement
And what’s often at the root of it? Not the plan itself – but how (or if) it’s explained.
Year-Round Education: A Cost-Effective Strategy
Instead of cramming all communication into October or November, forward-thinking employers are creating simple, digestible benefit touchpoints throughout the year.
Examples include:
- Quarterly benefits reminders (e.g., “Use your preventive checkup before year-end!”)
- Targeted videos or explainers on topics like telehealth, urgent care vs. ER, or Rx formulary tiers
- New hire onboarding modules with benefits education built in
- HSA/FSA refreshers during tax season
- Wellness campaign tie-ins during Mental Health Awareness Month (May) or Heart Health Month (February)
What Employees Really Want
Many employees won’t read a 20-page benefits guide, but they will scan a quick chart, click a short video, or appreciate a quick email explaining their options.
MSI helps employers tailor education to different learning styles and roles, including:
- Frontline workers who need mobile-friendly communication
- Remote teams needing virtual benefits Q&As
- Bilingual employees who benefit from culturally appropriate translations
- Managers and supervisors who can serve as peer resources
We’ve seen clients dramatically improve engagement by aligning education with how people naturally consume information.
_________________________________________________________________________________
💡 Quick Take: Employee Benefits Education
- Poor benefits literacy increases claims costs and lowers satisfaction
- Ongoing communication improves plan utilization and ROI
- Employers who are educating year-round see stronger retention and better engagement
- MSI helps build custom education strategies for diverse workforces
__________________________________________________________________________________
It’s Not Just About Education. It’s About Trust
A steady stream of clear, helpful communication doesn’t just boost utilization. It builds employee trust.
When workers understand how their health plan protects their family – or how their HSA balance is growing – it reinforces the idea that their employer is investing in their well-being.
That translates to:
- Higher job satisfaction
- Greater loyalty
- Reduced turnover
This approach is especially effective when combined with strategies like tailored plan design or pharmacy cost mitigation, which MSI regularly implements for our clients. Learn more about our pharmacy cost solutions here.
Turning Engagement Around
If your organization is experiencing high claims, low satisfaction scores, or rising turnover, the answer might not be a more expensive plan. It might be a smarter communication strategy.
Don’t let confusion cost you.
Ready to create a year-round benefits education plan that actually gets results?
Let MSI Benefits Group help you simplify the message and amplify the impact. Contact us today for a free communication audit.