Open Enrollment Survival Kit
2026 Edition
BambooHR's Open Enrollment Survival Kit is Here to Help.
Open enrollment is one of HR's busiest seasons—and we know how stressful it can be. From helping employees choose the right healthcare plan to assisting employees who miss key deadlines, your team will be counting on you for guidance.
We created this survival kit to help you feel empowered and confident, no matter what surprises open enrollment throws your way. These templates and checklists are designed to help you breathe easy this open enrollment season. Click the links below to download each resource.
Ready to learn more about how BambooHR powers benefits administration? Get a free demo today!
What's New in 2026?
From rising costs to increasingly complex compliance requirements, open enrollment presents new challenges in 2026. We consulted BambooHR experts to identify:
- The 5 biggest obstacles that consistently derail enrollment cycles
- Early warning signs most teams miss
- Specific interventions that convert reactive triage into proactive prevention
This whitepaper will help you develop a predictable system so you can handle open enrollment season with confidence—and best of all, most of our recommendations are achievable within a single quarter without new technology.
Download the whitepaper:
Anticipate and Avoid the 5 Biggest Open Enrollment Challenges
Preparing for Open Enrollment
As you gear up for open enrollment, these three resources will help you stay ahead of tasks and begin preparing employees to complete their elections on time.
We recommend downloading the checklist at least 12 weeks before your enrollment window opens. Each section covers important tasks broken down into weekly stages, plus tasks to complete during the enrollment period and after.
Template: Open Enrollment Kickoff Email
An email template for keeping your employees informed ahead of your open enrollment start date.
Open Enrollment Checklist
With weekly task lists, this checklist is a lifeline for HR pros tackling their first open enrollment, or a handy memory aid during a stressful time of year.
Open Enrollment FAQs
We've gathered (and answered!) common questions employees may ask you throughout the open enrollment process.
During Open Enrollment
Template: First Day of Open Enrollment Email
An email template for announcing the start of the open enrollment period.
Template: Open Enrollment Reminder Email
An email template for making sure employees complete their changes on time.
ACA Compliance Checklist
Keep track of employee coverage and enrollment to ensure ACA compliance.
After Open Enrollment
Missed Open Enrollment: Fact sheet & template
If one (or several) of your employees missed open enrollment, there are still options. Provide this fact sheet to help them explore alternatives.
Open Enrollment Feedback Survey
An email template and 2-question survey for collecting employee feedback.
Open Enrollment Audit Checklist
Keep your organization audit-ready by proactively reviewing your open enrollment processes.
Benefits management made simple and smart
OPEN ENROLLMENT
Streamline employee benefit selections
Say goodbye to paperwork chaos and integration headaches. Your employees can select their benefits directly within BambooHR, with all choices automatically recorded in their profile.
