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Health & Benefits Partners Comprehensive, unbiased brokers providing the best insurance for you and your business

Open enrollment may end when employees submit their elections, but implementation is not finished.Before new benefits ta...
10/15/2026

Open enrollment may end when employees submit their elections, but implementation is not finished.

Before new benefits take effect, employers should confirm that payroll reflects the final decisions:

• Correct employee election
• Correct coverage tier
• Correct employer contribution
• Correct employee deduction
• Correct effective date
• Correct first payroll using the new deduction

A benefits election and a payroll deduction should tell the same story.

Learn more about HBP’s payroll services:
https://myhbpartners.com/payroll-services/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=october_content_2026&utm_content=post05_payroll_coordination

Does your health insurance deductible automatically reset January 1?Not always.Deductible timing depends on the specific...
10/13/2026

Does your health insurance deductible automatically reset January 1?

Not always.

Deductible timing depends on the specific plan and plan year. For calendar-year plans, January 1 may be the start of a new deductible period. For businesses with a different renewal cycle, the timing may be different.

Open enrollment is a good time to remind employees to understand:

• Where they currently stand with their deductible
• When their plan year resets
• Whether the new plan changes the deductible
• Where to find the correct plan information

More open enrollment guidance for small employers:
https://myhbpartners.com/blog/small-business-open-enrollment-2026-2/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=october_content_2026&utm_content=post04_deductible_reset

Employees need more than a list of plan names during open enrollment.Before making an election, they should understand:•...
10/08/2026

Employees need more than a list of plan names during open enrollment.

Before making an election, they should understand:

• What comes out of each paycheck
• The deductible
• Copays and coinsurance
• The out-of-pocket maximum
• Provider networks
• Prescription coverage
• What is actually changing from the current plan

Clear employee education helps people understand the information that affects the decisions they need to make.

Our October open enrollment guide includes practical employee-education tips:
https://myhbpartners.com/blog/small-business-open-enrollment-2026-2/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=october_content_2026&utm_content=post03_employee_education

A renewal percentage is only the starting point.The more useful question for a small business is: what will the renewal ...
10/06/2026

A renewal percentage is only the starting point.

The more useful question for a small business is: what will the renewal actually cost the company and its employees?

When reviewing a renewal, look at the change in actual dollars:

• Total employer cost
• Employer contribution by coverage tier
• Employee contribution
• Per-paycheck deduction
• Changes in enrollment or dependent coverage

A percentage tells you the trend. The dollar impact tells you what you actually need to budget.

Learn more about managing employee benefit costs:
https://myhbpartners.com/employee-benefits-cost-management/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=october_content_2026&utm_content=post02_renewal_budget

Open enrollment is not just about choosing a health plan.For a small business, the renewal can affect the company budget...
10/01/2026

Open enrollment is not just about choosing a health plan.

For a small business, the renewal can affect the company budget, employee paycheck deductions, benefits communication, enrollment administration, and payroll for the next plan year.

Our new blog breaks down what small employers should be reviewing during 2026 open enrollment, especially in a higher-cost environment.

Read the full blog:
https://myhbpartners.com/blog/small-business-open-enrollment-2026-2/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=october_content_2026&utm_content=post01_blog_launch

Should a small business review an ICHRA during renewal?Sometimes.An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement...
09/24/2026

Should a small business review an ICHRA during renewal?

Sometimes.

An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or ICHRA, allows an employer to set a reimbursement amount while eligible employees obtain qualifying individual health coverage.

It may be worth comparing with traditional group coverage when a business is reviewing:

• Renewal costs
• Workforce locations
• Employer contribution strategy
• Employee choice
• Administrative needs

An ICHRA is not automatically less expensive or better than a group health plan. The right fit depends on the business, workforce, available individual coverage, timing, and how the arrangement would be administered.

Renewal is a good time to compare the options before making a decision for the next plan year.

Learn how ICHRA works for small businesses:
https://myhbpartners.com/ichra-for-small-business/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=september_social_2026&utm_content=ichra_renewal_review

As businesses plan for Q4 and the next year, health benefits are not the only coverage worth reviewing.Your workers' com...
09/22/2026

As businesses plan for Q4 and the next year, health benefits are not the only coverage worth reviewing.

Your workers' compensation policy should still reflect how your business operates today.

Changes during the year can matter, including:

• Hiring or reducing staff
• Changes in payroll
• New job responsibilities
• Employees working in different locations
• Changes in business operations

If the business has changed but the policy information has not, year-end is a good time to make sure the two still line up.

Learn more about HBP's workers' compensation services:
https://myhbpartners.com/workers-comp-services/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=september_social_2026&utm_content=q4_workers_comp_review

A benefits renewal is not finished when employees make their elections.Before the new plan year begins, make sure the sa...
09/17/2026

A benefits renewal is not finished when employees make their elections.

Before the new plan year begins, make sure the same information appears everywhere it needs to:

• Employee elections
• Benefits administration system
• Carrier records
• Payroll deductions

Check coverage tiers, dependents, contribution amounts, effective dates, new hires, terminations, and employee deductions before the first payroll under the new plan.

A small mismatch during enrollment can become a much bigger employee problem after coverage takes effect.

Good renewal planning includes the implementation work too.

See how HBP's payroll services can help employers better coordinate payroll with employee benefits and workforce administration:
https://myhbpartners.com/payroll-services/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=september_social_2026&utm_content=benefits_payroll_alignment

A good time to check your FSA or HSA balance is before the year-end rush.The two accounts do not work the same way.FSA:R...
09/15/2026

A good time to check your FSA or HSA balance is before the year-end rush.

The two accounts do not work the same way.

FSA:
Review your remaining balance and your specific plan rules. Some health FSA plans permit a carryover or grace period, so do not assume that every unused dollar automatically expires on December 31.

HSA:
Unused HSA funds generally remain in the account and carry forward from year to year.

Employees who already intend to schedule appointments, procedures, or other eligible care can also review their plan-year timing, current benefits, balances, and applicable deadlines in advance.

Always check your own plan materials for the rules that apply to you.

Benefits administration can make it easier for employers and employees to manage benefit information, eligibility, enrollment, and year-round changes:
https://myhbpartners.com/products/benefits-administration/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=september_social_2026&utm_content=fsa_hsa_benefits_admin

Choosing the health plan is not the last step in renewal.Before open enrollment, employees need three things to be easy ...
09/10/2026

Choosing the health plan is not the last step in renewal.

Before open enrollment, employees need three things to be easy to understand:

What changed?
Explain plan, cost, carrier, contribution, or enrollment changes in plain language.

What will it cost me?
Show employee costs in a format that makes sense, such as per paycheck or per month.

What do I need to do?
Give employees a clear action, deadline, instructions, and place to direct questions.

Separating those three messages can make benefits communication much easier to follow.

HBP's HR solutions can help small businesses strengthen the employee processes that surround benefits and open enrollment:
https://myhbpartners.com/products/hr-solutions/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=september_social_2026&utm_content=open_enrollment_communication

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2006 Dekalb Pike
East Norriton, PA
19401

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