How to Educate Employees Getting Health Insurance For The First Time
As a result of the Affordable Care Act — also known as "Obamacare" or the ACA — many people are now getting health insurance for the first time. If your company has extended health insurance to employees who've never had it before, you'll be working with people who need to learn the basics.
Here's how to educate them about their new coverage.
Remind Them About Compliance
"The ACA is packed with rules and regulations, and employers should let employees know that the company is compliant with the health care reform law," says Jeannie Wilcox, assistant vice president and director of communications at the Lockton Cos. That's important because non-compliant employers are subject to fines, and employees without health insurance may face fees.
Communicate Before Open Enrollment
"As with employees who have had insurance before, it's important to hold introductory meetings before open enrollment to outline plan basics," says HR expert Jennifer Brown. She recommends holding an in-person or online meeting so employees have a chance to ask questions about the information you provide.
Explain the Terminology
"It’s easy to fall into using jargon when you’re talking about health insurance and benefits materials can be difficult to understand sometimes. Avoid using terms such as co-pays, deductibles and out-of- pocket expenses until you’ve explained them carefully," Brown says. When it’s clear everyone understands the terms, you can move on to more complicated topics.
Offer Examples
Showing how health insurance works through examples is a great way to illustrate how valuable it can be. "Walk employees through how they would use the insurance for different types of preventive care, illnesses and injuries," Brown says. "Clearly explain what is covered and what is not."
Demonstrate Your Benefits Website
"With the rise of technology in benefits communications, many employees can now track their own benefits and claims online. Educate employees about the website your company uses and how it works," Brown says. And provide them with someone to contact in case they have further questions.
Explain Who’s Paying
When your organization expands its health insurance coverage, it increases its costs. Employees who’ve never had health insurance before may not understand how much their insurance costs and who’s paying for it. "Be sure employees know how much the employer contributes to the premium — you want employees to see this as a valuable benefit," Brown says.
Communicate Year-Round
Education during open enrollment is important, but Wilcox says employers should communicate with employees about health insurance throughout the year. Doing so keeps employees engaged and interested in the value of the benefit, and can remind them to take advantage of coverage they may forget they have.
Help Them Be Good Health Care Consumers
As more employers switch to consumer-driven health insurance policies, employees have had to take on more of the burden of researching providers and making decisions based on a balance of cost and effectiveness. "Employees who’ve never had health insurance before may not be aware of the role they need to take, and employers can help by educating employees on how to be good consumers," Wilcox says. Help them learn about what they’re spending their money on and provide examples of what might work best for people in their situations.
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