Open enrollment

Open enrollment (also known as annual enrollment) is a period of time, usually but not always occurring once per year, when employees of U.S. companies and organizations may make additions, changes or deletions to their elected fringe benefit options. In most cases, employees can only make changes in benefits elections during open enrollment or when they have experienced a specific qualifying event. During this time period an employer will typically communicate to all eligible employees what options they have for their benefit program. Often the vendors or insurance providers will be present to explain the details of their products. This can be done either with group presentations, or benefit fairs, or meetings one on one with each employee. As travel expenses continue to rise many vendors and insurance providers have turned to using independent contract enrollers to do the communication on their behalf.