Employees Prefer Internet for Enrollment

Enrollment figures online in 2003 represent an increase of 7% from 2002’s figures and 25% from 2003. Given the sheer magnitude of employees logging on when open enrollment season comes around, it is little wonder that 96% of employers offered Web-based enrollment, up from 59% in 2000, according to research conducted by Hewitt Associates.

Additionally, more than one-fifth of the 140 client companies polled by Hewitt had more than 90% of their participants enroll online. The high volume may be due in part to similarly high levels of satisfaction. Hewitt’s data shows that 93% of employees enrolling for benefits online were satisfied with the overall enrollment process, and 96% were satisfied with the ease of use and time it took to enroll.

Not surprisingly, the Internet’s rise to enrollment prominence has had an adverse effect on other channels. Hewitt found the number of companies that eliminated paper confirmations of enrollment increased 74% in 2003. In addition, only 4% of participants enrolled through interactive voice response (IVR) and 19% through call centers, compared to 8% and 23%, respectively, for the two methods in 2002.

With online enrollment, Hewitt also found companies offering employees more educational content and enhanced decision-support tools, such as health plan comparison charts, flexible spending account estimators, health plan cost calculators and provider information. “Smart companies recognize it’s not enough to offer a Web option to drive paperless enrollment and improve efficiency; they must provide value-added services and tools to drive Web traffic, enable self-service and support consumer-driven strategies,” noted Maureen Kincaid, Hewitt’s Health Management practice leader in a news release.

Employees have apparently taken notice and value and use these tools to aid in their decision making. Sixty-two percent of participants noted that the health plan cost calculator tool helped them to consider at least one plan different from their current plan, and 32% said that, based on the information in the tool, they would likely choose a medical plan different from their current one. Also:

• 66% said the health plan comparison chart prompted them to consider a plan different from their current choice
• 55% used the health plan comparison tool to make their final enrollment decisions
• 51% said that the tool helped them gain a better understanding of plan changes
• 27% said the tool influenced them to likely choose a different plan.

“Online tools are a must-have for all employers, especially those who need to drive employee behavior change and enhance consumerism to advance emerging health care strategies,” added Kincaid. “Employees have more skin in the game than ever, and employers are working hard to provide the information and decision support necessary to empower them.”