Don’t let trends indicating significant changes in insurance premiums cause you to panic.

Open enrollment is a critical time for employees to review their coverage and make sure their benefits still align with their needs for the year ahead. Although timing and costs are largely determined by insurance carriers, with the right support, this process can be smooth and stress-free for everyone involved.

For employers, open enrollment season requires careful planning and execution within tight timelines.

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The Challenge of Open Enrollment

When open enrollment arrives, employers face several key responsibilities:

Evaluate Available Plans: Insurance carriers typically provide new premium rates about 60 days before the renewal date, giving employers a limited window to review rates and decide which plans to offer.

Create a Realistic Timeframe: Once plans are determined, employers must develop a turnaround schedule that gives employees adequate time to make informed decisions and complete their renewals before the deadline.

Maintain ACA Compliance: Employers must provide affordable coverage to all eligible employees to remain compliant with the Affordable Care Act.

Manage the Administrative Burden: Coordinating employee communications, tracking documentation, answering questions, and meeting deadlines can consume hours of valuable time.

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Benefits Trends on the Horizon for 2026

1. Significant Premium Increases for Some Plans

Some employers are facing notable jumps in premiums for 2026. Costs for hospital care, physician services, and prescription drugs continue to rise, driving up claim numbers and pushing premiums higher. Additionally, the end of enhanced tax credits for healthcare premiums will likely squeeze middle-class workers even more.

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2. Businesses Moving Away from Traditional Insurers and Plans

In Kansas and beyond, some businesses are seeing such dramatic cost increases that they’re exploring alternative carriers and non-traditional plan options. Some are even considering direct primary care memberships, though these do not meet minimum essential coverage requirements under the ACA and can result in fines.

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3. Reducing Coverage to Keep Costs Down

To maintain sustainable budgets, some employers are reducing coverage levels. Many are shifting from an 80/20 coinsurance split to 50/50 — meaning employees are shouldering a larger portion of costs, often while still paying higher premiums.

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How to Make Open Enrollment Less Stressful

‍Don’t Put Off Making Decisions

Once you receive rate increase information, start evaluating the impact on your business immediately. Acting early gives you more time to explore alternative plans or carriers and make informed decisions — instead of rushed ones.

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Look to Syndeo for Support

You don’t have to navigate open enrollment alone. As your HR partner, Syndeo can help you manage the process and address the tough topic of increasing costs with clarity and empathy.

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Syndeo Can Simplify Your Open Enrollment

‍We Handle Communication and Organization

Syndeo organizes benefits meetings and prepares everything your team needs to make informed decisions, including:

• Enrollment tools
• Required benefit documentation
• Summary of benefits or benefit guide

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We Answer Employee Questions

Our benefits team fields common employee questions like:

• “How much more will it cost me?”
• “When will I get my new ID card?”
• “When can I add a new family member to the plan?”
• “How do I enroll in the online platform?”

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We Track All Necessary Documentation

Our tracking system ensures elections are completed on time, saving you hours of administrative work and frustration.

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We Stay Up to Date on Industry Changes

Syndeo monitors broker updates, industry trainings, and regulatory changes to keep you informed and compliant.

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Partner with Syndeo to Make Open Enrollment Easier

We are your benefits partner, ready to make this process easier for you. While we can’t give advice on which specific plan to offer, we provide the data and structure needed to help you make informed, compliant decisions.

With the possibility of significant premium increases on the horizon for 2026, now is the time to start planning your open enrollment strategy. Let Syndeo handle the administrative complexity so you can focus on running your business.

What is the most challenging part of open enrollment for you? We want to know! Email
us at info@syndeohro.com to share your story.

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