Employees Enter Open Enrollment Season Worried, Rushed and Unsure Their Benefits Will Protect Them

BenefitHub survey of nearly 13,000 workers finds nearly 8 in 10 spend an hour or less choosing benefits; fewer than 3 in 10 feel protected

NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As open enrollment season begins, employees are entering the enrollment period worried about their financial future but lacking confidence in their benefits decisions. The latest BenefitHub Intelligence™ survey finds that nearly 13,000 U.S. workers are concerned about medical costs and financial setbacks, yet many spend an hour or less choosing coverage and remain unsure whether their benefits adequately protect their families.

BenefitHub's 2026 Open Enrollment Report: How U.S. Employees Choose Voluntary Benefits reveals a growing benefits comprehension gap at a time when employees are already navigating significant financial uncertainty. Nearly eight in 10 employees spend an hour or less selecting benefits, 45% consult no one during the enrollment process and only 28% believe their current benefits adequately protect their family's financial security. Meanwhile, 77% worry about out-of-pocket medical costs and 73% worry about their ability to pay bills if an illness or injury keeps them out of work for three months or more.

"Our research tells a consistent story: employees are anxious about their financial future, and open enrollment is often when those concerns become real decisions," said BenefitHub CEO Jeff Litvack. "The challenge isn't that workers don't care about their benefits. It's that they're being asked to make complex choices without enough clarity to judge what's right for them and their families. In a year marked by financial anxiety, clarity may be the most valuable benefit employers can provide."

A Critical Moment for Employers, HR Leaders and Benefits Professionals
The findings arrive as organizations continue to navigate a workforce increasingly concerned about healthcare costs, income disruption and overall financial well-being. For employers, HR leaders, benefits consultants and industry associations, the research suggests open enrollment has evolved beyond an annual administrative exercise into a critical employee experience, financial wellness and workforce engagement opportunity.

A Call to Human Resources Leaders: Prioritize Benefits Literacy
The findings also serve as a call to action for the broader HR and benefits community to make understanding, not simply enrollment, the measure of success during open enrollment season. Clearer communications, simpler plan comparisons, year-round benefits education and access to trusted guidance can help employees make more informed decisions while improving the value organizations derive from their benefits investments.

As financial pressures continue to weigh on workers, organizations that prioritize benefits literacy and employee understanding may be better positioned to support workforce well-being, strengthen trust and improve the overall employee experience.

"Employers invest heavily in benefits, but that investment only pays off when employees understand it," said Sarah Oliver, EVP, Voluntary Products for Benefithub. "Simpler comparisons, clear language and guidance available all year, not just for a few weeks each fall, turn a benefits package into real financial protection for working families."

Earlier this year, BenefitHub Intelligence™ conducted a survey of more than 25,000 employees, and released the third edition of its Economic Well-Being of U.S. Employees including a mid-year 2026 update which found that well over half (55%) of employees say they have an "anxious" relationship with money right now, and nearly one in five (19%) said they are "overwhelmed" or "mentally checked out" due to financial stress.

About BenefitHub
BenefitHub is the leading cloud-based marketplace and platform for voluntary benefits and perks and is fully customizable to meet the unique needs of organizations. Trusted by five of the top ten largest employers in the U.S. and embraced by 36% of Fortune 500 companies, BenefitHub is deployed across more than 17,000 client organizations globally and serves over 10 million employees.

Through BenefitHub, employees gain exclusive access to a diverse range of discounts, voluntary benefits, and perks, including millions of discounted event tickets, local deals, restaurant offerings, and special rates on essential services like cell phone plans and auto insurance. BenefitHub is also endorsed and marketed by most of the top employee benefit brokers in the United States.

Media Contact:
Lynn Trono for BenefitHub
[email protected]; [email protected] 

SOURCE BenefitHub