Open Enrollment is officially behind you—and that alone deserves a celebration. But once the dust settles, January becomes one of the most important months for setting your benefits plan (and your employees) up for success.
Whether you’re a growing Colorado business or an established employer refining your processes, the steps you take now can make the entire 2026 plan year smoother, more compliant, and far less stressful.
Here’s your practical, post–Open Enrollment playbook to start the year strong.
1. Refresh Your January Communication Strategy
Once Open Enrollment ends, your team still needs support navigating their updated benefits. A clear, proactive communication plan prevents confusion and reduces the number of mid-year issues you’ll need to troubleshoot.
What to send in January:
- How to access ID cards (physical or digital)
- How to confirm their provider is in-network
- Pharmacy updates and formulary reminders
- Where to find plan summaries and deductibles
- Quick “Who do I call?” guide (HR, Conexus, carrier, etc.)
Tip: Pace communications weekly—not all at once—so employees feel guided, not overwhelmed.
2. Verify Carrier Enrollments Are Accurate
Carriers typically finalize updates in late December or early January. This is the perfect time to double-check that every employee’s elections made it from your system to the carrier’s system correctly.
Consider verifying:
- New hires and newly eligible employees
- Terminated employees removed from coverage
- Dependents added or removed
- FSA/HSA/HRA contributions
- Life and disability volume amounts
Why it matters: Enrollment mismatches are the #1 cause of claims delays in Q1. A simple audit now prevents employee frustration later.
3. Review & Update Payroll Deductions
Clean payroll data is essential for compliance and financial accuracy. After OE, confirm that your payroll system matches your benefits system—especially if rates, contributions, or employee elections changed for 2026.
Double-check:
- Medical, dental, and vision deductions
- FSA/HSA/HRA contribution amounts
- Employer HSA contributions
- Pre-tax vs. post-tax elections
- Benefit eligibility for hourly employees and variable-hour staff
Tip: Make sure your payroll and HRIS systems talk to each other. Many Q1 issues stem from manual re-entry or mismatched files.
4. Start Educating Employees on How to Actually Use Their Benefits
Employees often walk out of Open Enrollment with new plans—but not necessarily the confidence to use them. A little education now goes a long way toward better experiences and lower employer administrative burden throughout the year.
Topics employees find most helpful in January:
- Where to find in-network providers
- How the deductible resets
- When prior authorization is required
- When to choose urgent care vs. ER
- How to read an Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
- Pharmacy options (90-day fills, generics, mail order, etc.)
Offering benefits education pays off: You empower employees to make informed choices—and reduce costly, preventable claims issues.
5. The Top Employee FAQs You Can Expect in Q1
At Conexus, we see the same questions come up year after year:
“I haven’t received my ID card yet—what do I do?”
TIP: Digital ID cards are available through most carrier apps.
“Is this doctor in-network?”
TIP: Encourage employees to use the carrier’s provider search tool—network accuracy is essential.
“How do I submit an FSA claim?”
TIP: Provide direct links to your FSA/HSA/HRA platform.
“Who do I call for issues?”
TIP: A simple one-page guide with HR, Conexus, and carrier contacts solves 90% of confusion.
6. Reduce Benefits Administration Stress for the Rest of 2026
A few early-year habits can reduce admin work significantly.
Consider implementing:
✔ A quarterly benefits communication schedule
(mental health, preventive care, wellness programs, HSA reminders, etc.)
✔ A mid-year eligibility check
to ensure accurate records and prevent surprise carrier audits.
✔ An internal “benefits calendar”
with renewal reminders, compliance deadlines, and communication topics.
✔ Clear escalation pathways
so HR and employees understand when to contact Conexus and when to go to the carrier.
A Confident, Clear Start to the Year
Post–Open Enrollment doesn’t have to feel like a scramble. With the right processes—and the right partner—you can take January from chaotic to confident.
Conexus is here to help Colorado employers streamline administration, strengthen employee understanding, and make benefits feel easy all year long.
If you’d like help setting up a 2026 communication plan, reviewing your enrollment files, or supporting employee questions, we’re here for you.