Transform employee benefits education with AI

Understanding employee benefits can be overwhelming, with many struggling to navigate the complex details. However, AI is transforming this experience, making benefits communication and education more accessible and personalized than ever before. In this blog post, we’ll explore how AI-driven tools can simplify the benefits process, providing clear answers to common questions, streamlining open enrollment, and clearing up misconceptions about AI’s role. By using AI, employers can provide employees with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their benefits, with decision-making support remaining a top priority for many employers.

Common employee questions AI can answer

One of the most significant advantages of AI in benefits education is its ability to handle a wide range of employee questions quickly and accurately. Employees often have questions about their benefits, such as “What does this plan cover?” or “How much will this cost me per paycheck?” According to our recent participant survey, 34% of respondents chose 7 or lower on a scale of 0 to 10 when asked how confident they are in their understanding of benefits offered. AI tools can provide instant answers to these questions, reducing the need for employees to work through complex documents or wait for HR to respond. This immediate access to information is particularly valuable during times when employees need quick answers, such as when they or a family member faces a medical emergency.

How to leverage AI during open enrollment

Open enrollment is one of the most important times for benefits administration, yet it often leaves employees feeling stressed and confused. AI can alleviate this by simplifying the enrollment process and providing personalized guidance. For example, AI can send personalized reminders to employees about enrollment deadlines, recommend plans based on their past benefits usage, and even simulate different coverage scenarios. By doing so, AI ensures that employees are better prepared to make decisions that best suit their individual circumstances, leading to higher participation rates and overall satisfaction.

Respondents to our recent survey to employer/consultant advisory boards said enhanced communication strategies (27%) and personalized benefits education (53%) have been the most successful measures they’ve discovered in shifting employee mindsets to understand the value of their benefits.

Common misconceptions about AI

Despite its many advantages, some employees and employers have misconceptions about AI in benefits management. A common concern is that AI might lack the “human touch” that employees appreciate in benefits communication. However, AI is designed to complement, not replace, human interaction. While AI can handle routine questions and provide personalized guidance, HR professionals are still available to address more complex or sensitive issues. Another misconception is that AI might compromise data security. In reality, AI-driven platforms are equipped with security measures to protect sensitive employee information, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.

Personalized benefits education, simplified by AI

Employers and their employees face a number of challenges navigating the complex space of benefits, leading to confusion and underutilization of benefits.

The WEX AI-driven benefit assistant will transform how employees understand, select and utilize their benefits by simplifying complex medical and insurance terminology, providing personalized information, and educating employees on their benefits. 

Benefit Assistant provides:

• Enhanced enrollment support
• Year-round assistance
• Conversational responses
• Personalized messaging
• And a connection to resources

Let Benefit Assistant be your 24/7/365 educator and put more time back on your HR team’s schedule. Learn more here.

The information in this blog post is for educational purposes only. It is not legal or tax advice. For legal or tax advice, you should consult your own legal counsel, tax and investment advisers. 

WEX receives compensation from some of the merchants identified in its blog posts. By linking to these products, WEX is not endorsing these products.