08/20/2026
Open enrollment preparation should start long before employees begin making elections.
Before the enrollment window opens, HR, payroll, and benefits teams should take time to audit the processes, data, and compliance requirements that support the entire benefits cycle.
Here are 5 things to audit before open enrollment:
1. Employee Eligibility Data
Review employee classifications, hire dates, hours, benefit eligibility, dependent information, and termination records. Incorrect eligibility data can lead to employees being offered the wrong coverage or missing coverage they should receive.
2. Benefit Plans, Rates & Payroll Deductions
Validate the new plan year’s benefit offerings, employee and employer costs, coverage tiers, and payroll deduction amounts. Make sure your HR, benefits, and payroll systems reflect the approved rates before deductions begin.
3. Carrier & Vendor Data
Compare enrollment records in your benefits system against carrier and vendor records. Review integrations, eligibility files, and enrollment feeds for discrepancies that could affect coverage.
4. Required Notices & Plan Documents
Review applicable plan documents, Summary Plan Descriptions, Summaries of Benefits and Coverage, required participant notices, and other disclosures to determine what must be updated or distributed for the upcoming plan year.
5. ACA, COBRA & Compliance Processes
Review applicable ACA eligibility and reporting processes, COBRA administration, qualifying life event procedures, documentation requirements, and internal responsibilities. Make sure everyone knows who owns each step and how exceptions are handled.
And don’t forget the payroll test.
Before the first payroll containing new benefit elections is processed, test deductions and review employee elections against expected payroll results. A successful enrollment isn’t complete until the correct coverage and deductions make it through payroll.
Open enrollment is more than an annual enrollment event. It is a benefits, payroll, data, and compliance process that deserves a thorough review.
CoreOps Management Group helps businesses strengthen the operational processes behind HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance.
Prepare early. Audit thoroughly. Correct before employees are impacted.