From overwhelmed to optimized

Imagine a health benefit administration process that's as smooth as a well-oiled machine. Claims are processed quickly and efficiently, employees are satisfied with the support they receive, and HR teams are free to focus on more strategic initiatives. But for many organizations, this is far from reality. Delays, errors, and frustration are all too common, leading to decreased productivity and morale.

According to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) regarding the management of health benefit administration, 71% of HR professionals report that administrative tasks take up a significant portion of their focus, leaving less time for strategic initiatives.¹ It’s a common problem that affects not just HR teams, but the entire organization.

So, what's the solution to transforming your benefits administration into a seamless and efficient process that benefits everyone involved? The answer rests in implementing a few key strategies that can help you streamline your processes, reduce administrative burdens, and improve employee satisfaction.

Strategy #1: Automate routine tasks

One of the biggest time wasters in benefits administration is manual data entry. By automating routine tasks, you can free up HR teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. According to a report by Gartner, automation can help reduce administrative costs by up to 30%.²

For example, you're an HR manager at a large corporation with a traditional fully funded product, where the insurance company manages the claims process. Even in this scenario, automation can still play a key role in streamlining your benefits administration. By automating routine tasks such as data entry and reporting, you can free up your team to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as employee engagement and retention.

Strategy #2: Implement a self-service portal

A self-service portal can help employees manage their benefits and claims online, reducing the need for HR teams to handle routine inquiries. According to a survey by Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), 75% of employees prefer to manage their benefits online.³ In many cases, insurance carriers provide employee self-service tools that allow employees to access their benefits information, submit claims, and track the status of their claims online.

Imagine an employee being able to access their benefits information and submit claims from the comfort of their own home. No more waiting on hold or sending emails to HR. With a self-service portal, employees can take control of their benefits and get the support they need, when they need it.

Strategy #3: Provide clear communication and guidance

Clear communication and guidance are essential for ensuring that employees understand their benefits and how to use them. According to a report by PwC, employers who provide clear communication and guidance can improve employee satisfaction by up to 25%.⁴

For instance, you're an employee who's recently been injured on the job. You're not sure what benefits you're eligible for or how to file a claim. But with clear communication and guidance from your HR team, you can get the support you need and navigate the benefits process with ease. This not only benefits the employee, but also the employer, as a smooth and efficient claims process can help minimize downtime, reduce turnover, and maintain a positive and productive work environment.

The role of health insurance customer service in relieving administrative work

A health insurance customer service team can play a critical role in relieving administrative work in benefits administration. By providing clear communication and guidance, customer service representatives can help employees navigate the benefits process and resolve issues quickly and efficiently. According to a survey by the International Customer Service Institute, 80% of customers prefer to interact with customer service representatives via phone or email.⁵

By providing multiple channels for customer service, you can ensure that employees can get the support they need, when they need it. Additionally, customer service representatives can help HR teams by:

• Providing clear communication and guidance to employees
• Resolving issues quickly and efficiently
• Reducing the need for HR teams to handle routine inquiries
• Improving employee satisfaction and engagement

A better experience awaits

By implementing these strategies, you can transform your benefits administration into a seamless and efficient process that benefits everyone involved. Remember, the key is to focus on streamlining processes, reducing administrative burdens, and improving employee satisfaction. With these strategies in place, you can create a better experience for your employees, and a more productive and successful organization. So take control of your benefits administration process and be well on your way to a brighter future.

References

¹ Society for Human Resource Management. (2019). 2019 Employee Benefits Survey. Retrieved from <https://www.shrm.org/hr-trends-and-forecasting/research-and-surveys/Pages/2019-employee-benefits-survey.aspx>