Open Enrollment Trends: What We're Seeing

Open enrollment season is winding down, and patterns are emerging. Here's what we're seeing in the data as employers finalize their 2020 benefits.

Plan Design Stability

The most notable trend this year is stability. After years of significant plan design changes—rising deductibles, shifting cost-sharing—employers seem to be holding steady.

• Median deductibles are flat year-over-year
• Coinsurance structures are largely unchanged
• Out-of-pocket maximums saw only modest increases

This doesn't mean costs aren't rising—they are. But employers are absorbing more of the increase rather than passing it to employees through plan design changes.

Contribution Adjustments

Where we are seeing movement is in contributions. Several patterns emerged:

Family tier focus: Employers who made changes disproportionately adjusted family-tier contributions. Some increased employer contributions to ease the burden on employees with dependents. Others reduced contributions as a cost-control measure.

HDHP incentives: More employers are offering richer HSA contributions or lower employee premiums for HDHP options, incentivizing enrollment in high-deductible plans.

Voluntary Benefits Expansion

The voluntary benefits marketplace continues to grow. This open enrollment, we saw expanded offerings in:

• Critical illness insurance
• Accident insurance
• Hospital indemnity coverage
• Pet insurance
• Identity theft protection

Employers are using voluntary benefits to enhance their total package without taking on additional cost.

Mental Health Awareness

Mental health benefits got more attention this enrollment season than in previous years. Employers are:

• Expanding EAP visit limits
• Reducing barriers to therapy access
• Adding mental health apps and digital tools
• Communicating mental health benefits more prominently

This reflects broader societal focus on mental health and employer recognition that employee wellbeing affects productivity and retention.

Looking Ahead

As the 2020 plan year begins, we'll be watching how these trends play out. Will plan design stability continue? Will family-tier contributions keep adjusting? How will mental health benefits evolve?

The data will tell the story.