Review Your Benefit Offerings Now to Prepare for Open Enrollment in 2026 

Open enrollment may feel like it’s far off in the future, but the smartest business owners know that preparation starts months in advance. Taking the time now to review your benefit offerings allows you to make informed decisions about your company’s health care plan, identify opportunities to reduce costs, and ensure your benefits remain competitive for attracting and retaining top talent. Waiting until renewal season is in full swing can lead to rushed decisions, missed opportunities for savings, and increased stress for both you and your employees. 

Early preparation is critical when it comes to health care costs. For many employers, these costs represent one of the most significant annual expenses. By reviewing your plan well before open enrollment begins, you can compare options, evaluate whether your current coverage still meets your employees’ needs, and consider alternative solutions that could reduce expenses without sacrificing quality. This is also your chance to address any feedback you have received from employees over the past year and explore benefits that support overall well-being, such as mental health resources or expanded preventive care options. 

Continue reading to learn why early preparation matters, how a group health plan through Group Management Services (GMS) can help you lower health care costs, and what steps you can take now to position your company for a smooth open enrollment season. 

Why You Should Start Preparing Now 

Open enrollment is one of the most important periods in the human resources (HR) calendar. It’s the time when employees can review and select benefits for the coming year, but for employers, the groundwork starts much earlier. By beginning your review process now, you give yourself the time to: 

1. Assess your current offerings and identify gaps or redundancies 
2. Gather employee feedback on benefits usage and satisfaction 
3. Research and compare plan options for cost and coverage value 
4. Develop a clear communication plan so employees can make informed choices 

The sooner you begin, the more negotiating power you have with carriers, and the more flexibility you have to adjust your offerings to meet both your budget and your employees’ needs. 

The Impact of Rising Health Care Costs 

For most businesses, health care is one of the largest and fastest-growing expenses. According to recent industry trends, premiums and out-of-pocket costs continue to rise, and small businesses often struggle to secure affordable coverage without sacrificing quality. Employers who wait until the last minute to review their plans often end up renewing existing coverage by default, even if better options exist. 

By reviewing your benefits early, you can explore strategies to manage costs, such as adjusting plan structures, offering multiple coverage tiers, or introducing wellness incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles and reduce claims. These proactive steps can result in significant long-term savings. 

How Group Health Plans Lower Costs for Businesses 

One of the most effective ways to reduce health care costs is to join a group health plan through a certified professional employer organization (CPEO) like GMS. When you partner with GMS, your business becomes part of a much larger benefits pool made up of many small and midsize companies. GMS is the only CPEO that provides an in-house master health plan that helps you avoid large swings in usage, trends, and renewal rates.  

Here’s how it works: 

1. Economies of scale: By spreading risk across a larger group, premiums become more stable and affordable. 
2. Access to top carriers: You can offer high-quality plans that may otherwise be out of reach for small businesses. 
3. Reduced administrative burden: GMS handles compliance, enrollment, and employee communication, freeing your team to focus on operations. 

Building a Communication Plan for Open Enrollment 

Even the most competitive benefits package will fall short if employees do not understand how to use it effectively. That’s why early preparation should include a benefits communication strategy. Employees who receive clear, timely information are more likely to select plans that meet their needs and take advantage of the resources available to them. 

Consider how you will educate employees about: 

1. The value of preventive care 
2. How to choose in-network providers 
3. Ways to use telehealth and urgent care instead of costly ER visits 
4. Wellness resources included in their plan 

Bridging the communication gap not only increases employee satisfaction but can also contribute to lower overall health care costs by encouraging smarter benefits usage. 

Steps to Take Now for a Successful 2026 Open Enrollment 

To make the most of this early preparation period, start with a thorough review of your current benefits package. Look at enrollment trends, claims data, and employee feedback from the past year. Work with a trusted partner like GMS to benchmark your offerings against similar businesses in your industry and region. From there, you can explore cost-saving opportunities through a group health plan, adjust coverage to match your workforce’s needs, and develop a timeline for employee communication. 

By acting now, you position your business to enter renewal season with a clear plan, competitive rates, and benefits that support both your employees and your bottom line. 

Partner with GMS for Affordable, Competitive Benefits

GMS helps business owners prepare for open enrollment with expert guidance, competitive group health plans, and end-to-end administrative support. The decisions you make about your benefits now will impact your business for the entire year ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute. Start reviewing your benefit offerings today, and contact GMS to secure coverage at competitive rates for 2026 and beyond.