2026 Open Enrollment Checklist

Open enrollment can be a hectic time for HR and benefits teams, especially with compliance updates rolling out each year. To help you stay on track, we’ve created a 2026 Open Enrollment Checklist — a quick, practical guide to ensure you’re covering compliance requirements, plan design updates, and employee communications.

Your step-by-step guide for Open Enrollment

With limits adjusted annually for inflation and new compliance requirements kicking in January 1, 2026, now is the time to review your plan design and prepare your communication strategy.

This checklist will help you:

Review compliance changes for 2026, including ACA affordability percentage and HDHP cost-sharing limits.
Confirm your health plan is updated to reflect the new limits.
Ensure benefit changes are communicated to employees through an SPD or SMM.
Include required notices (like the SBC) in your open enrollment materials.
Streamline participant notices to minimize costs and reduce administrative burden.

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