Providing health insurance and other benefits isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s critical for your business. Benefits boost morale, attract top talent, and help you keep great employees. Plus, they come with tax perks for your company. But here’s the thing — if your employees don’t know or understand what you’re offering, they won’t take full advantage of it.
So, how do you make sure they get the message? Here are five simple (and effective) ways to market your benefits package to your employees.
1: Make benefits part of day one. New hires have a lot on their minds, and benefits are high on that list. During onboarding, give them a clear rundown of their options, including eligibility timelines. Whether your waiting period is 15, 30, or 60 days, make sure employees know what to expect. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits any waiting period to 90 days. More information is available from the IRS.
A study from Ameritas found that 85% of workers are confused about benefits. That’s a big number! So, simplify the information and be ready to answer questions.
2: Host an annual enrollment meeting. Open enrollment is your golden opportunity to engage employees and help them make informed decisions. Whether it’s an in-person session, a virtual presentation, or a recorded video, these meetings break down plan options and show employees how they can save on health care. A live Q&A can also clear up confusion and boost enrollment.
3: Plan an interactive benefits fair. Think of this as a mini trade show for your benefits package. Hosting a fair gives employees a hands-on way to explore their options, ask questions, and connect with providers. You can time it before or after your open enrollment to maximize engagement.
Another great idea? Lunch & Learns! These casual events (in-person or virtual) let employees dive deeper into topics like retirement planning, mental health resources, or wellness perks. You can focus on one topic or benefits category at each meeting to keep it simple.
4: Use a benefits portal.A well-organized benefits hub (on Slack, Teams, or your HR system) makes it easy for employees to find answers on their own. Keep it updated with:
• Video tutorials
• Recorded webinars
• Infographics explaining benefits
• Reminders about deadlines and upcoming events
Your insurance broker might even have ready-to-go materials you can use — just ask!
5: Create personalized benefit statements. Employees don’t always realize the full value of what you provide. A total compensation summary lays it all out: salary, PTO, company-paid insurance, retirement contributions, and even extras like parking subsidies or gym memberships. When employees see the big picture, they’ll appreciate their benefits even more.
The Power of Choice: Give Employees More Options
One way to increase engagement? Give employees choices. With CaliforniaChoice, you can offer your team seven different health plans with a variety of coverage options. Whether an employee prefers a PPO, an HMO, or a Health Savings Account-compatible plan, they can pick what fits their individual or family health care needs best.
Plus, CaliforniaChoice includes extra perks at no additional cost:
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to put money aside, tax-free, to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses
• COBRA and Cal-COBRA support
• Premium Only Plans (POP) for pre-tax insurance contributions
• Discounts on vision, dental, entertainment, fitness, and more through Cal Perks
Ready to Take the Next Step?
To learn more, talk with your broker about a customized CaliforniaChoice quote for your business and employees. If you don’t have a broker, we’ll help you find one.
