After Enrollment Ends: Why Post OE Feedback Is the Smartest Step You Can Take All Year

For many HR teams and brokers, open enrollment can feel like the finish line. Months of planning,
communication, and technology setup finally come together in a few fast-moving weeks. When the
last submission is processed, it’s natural to take a deep breath and move on.

But in reality, the most valuable phase of the benefits cycle begins after enrollment ends.

Post open enrollment (post OE) feedback is the most underused tool in the employee benefits
process. Far from being a simple debrief, it’s an opportunity to turn data into insight and insight into
meaningful action. The organizations that consistently improve participation and satisfaction are
those that pause to evaluate what worked, where confusion crept in, and how they can communicate
more clearly next time.

Why Post OE Feedback Matters

Every benefits cycle reveals lessons. Post OE feedback captures those lessons while they’re still fresh. When collected intentionally, it helps organizations see how well communication, technology,
and support aligned to drive results.

Structured feedback can highlight:

• Participation trends by location, demographic, or plan type
• Which communications inspired employees to act and which did not
• Workflow or technology friction points that slowed completion

Employee sentiment, showing whether they felt informed or overwhelmed

For brokers, this feedback is business intelligence. It strengthens renewals, helps shape future proposals, and reinforces their value as consultative partners who understand both the data and the
employee experience behind it.

When to Gather Feedback

Timing matters. Feedback is most useful when collected soon after enrollment closes, ideally within two weeks while the details are still fresh for HR teams and employees. Short, targeted surveys work best.

Consider two perspectives:

HR feedback:

• What worked smoothly?
• Which communication channels were most effective?
• Where did administrative bottlenecks occur?

Employee feedback:

• Was the enrollment process easy to navigate?
• Did they understand their options?
• Did they feel supported in making decisions?

Incorporating open comment fields alongside multiple-choice questions captures both measurable data and authentic sentiment, producing a clearer picture of the overall experience.

The Cost of Skipping Reflection

Closing enrollment without reflection is like finishing a presentation without taking notes. Without
structured feedback, teams risk repeating inefficiencies, missing frustrations that quietly impact
satisfaction, and overlooking participation trends that could guide next year’s strategy.

Every open enrollment season offers the chance to improve. The difference between being done and
becoming better lies in who pauses to analyze, learn, and adapt.

Turning Feedback Into Strategy

• Ask the Right Questions. Tailor surveys for HR, employees, and internal teams. Keep them short and actionable. The goal is clarity, not volume.
• Pair Data with Context. Metrics show patterns, but context explains them. Combine participation rates and completion times with qualitative insights from enrollers, HR, and employees.
• Host a Structured Debrief. Collaborative post OE sessions between brokers, clients, and partners can reveal practical improvements such as clearer messaging, adjusted timelines, or enhanced counselor coverage.
• Build a Continuous Improvement Plan. Insights have real value only when they lead to change. Document next steps such as technology upgrades, communication adjustments, and midyear engagement checkpoints to maintain momentum before the next cycle.

From Reflection to Forward Momentum

When brokers and partners treat post OE evaluation as a regular best practice, results compound
over time. Participation increases, communication becomes clearer, and employees grow more
confident in their choices.

The real success comes not from closing another cycle, but from opening the door to continuous improvement. Because open enrollment doesn’t truly end when employees click submit. That’s when the opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow begins.

For more information on Accretive Enrollment Solutions, or to start the conversation for your organization, reach out to the AssuredPartners team today.