Open Enrollment (OE) is noisy. Between deadlines, plan comparisons and HR lingo, employees are often overwhelmed before they even begin. That’s where this guide comes in.
These 10 ready-to-use messages are designed to cut through the noise and drive action—whether they’re delivered in an email, on a poster, in a team meeting or on your intranet homepage.
Each message is short, clear, and grounded in what employees actually need to know.
“What you choose now shapes your year ahead.”
Purpose: Emphasize the stakes.
Best for: Early OE awareness messages, emails, digital signage.
Behavioral Tip: Future self-bias—remind them their future well-being is impacted by today’s decisions.
“Benefits don’t auto-renew the way you think.”
Purpose: Bust assumptions about passive enrollment.
Best for: Intranet headlines, HR portal pop-ups, manager scripts.
Behavioral Tip: Use this to prompt action early—especially if plans or costs are changing. And don’t forget to mention you have to re-enroll in FSAs!
“OE ends [date]. Don’t let the deadline decide for you.”
Purpose: Create urgency without fear.
Best for: Mid-to-late OE emails, digital signage, text/SMS.
Behavioral Tip: Loss aversion—missing out feels worse than making a choice.
“Need help choosing a plan? We’ve got tools for that.”**
Purpose: Direct employees to decision-support tools.
Best for: Email with embedded tool links, intranet quick links.
Behavioral Tip: Add a social proof nudge—“Most employees use the [tool name] to compare plans.”
“Plan changes? Know what’s new before you choose.”
Purpose: Flag updates to plans, pricing, or networks.
Best for: Plan highlights email, visual explainer PDFs, intranet banners.
Behavioral Tip: Pair with a one-pager or graphic summarizing the changes.
“Got 10 minutes? You’ve got time to enroll.”**
Purpose: Reduce perceived friction.
Best for: Final reminder emails, SMS, or kiosk messages.
Behavioral Tip: Implementation intention—short tasks feel more doable when time-bounded.
“Your benefits. Your call. Your peace of mind.”
Purpose: Connect emotionally and reinforce autonomy.
Best for: Manager talking points, intro to OE video, posters.
Behavioral Tip: Use inclusive, empowering language.
“Your choices impact more than you. Consider your family’s needs too.”
Purpose: Appeal to family-oriented decision-making.
Best for: Benefits emails, plan comparison pages.
Behavioral Tip: Highlight social responsibility—people often decide based on others’ needs.
“What’s in it for you? More than you might think.”
Purpose: Boost voluntary benefits engagement.
Best for: Carousel-style intranet content, digital screens, scrolling banners.
Behavioral Tip: Pair with mini spotlights—“This covers acupuncture,” “This helps with student loans,” etc.
“Have a question? Talk to a real human.”
Purpose: Reinforce support and reduce hesitation to ask.
Best for: Email footers, FAQs, chatbots, manager FAQs.
Behavioral Tip: Use conversational, low-pressure language to invite questions.
Sometimes the difference between confusion and confidence is just one well-placed message. These bite-sized communications give employees the right nudge at the right time—without overwhelming your internal team.
