10 Reasons Why Two-Way Texting is the Best Channel for Open Enrollment Communication

Key Reasons Why Two-Way Texting is the Best Channel for Open Enrollment Communication

• Text messages achieve 98-99% open rates and reach virtually everyone since 97% of Americans own mobile phones - ensuring your open enrollment communications actually get read

• Remote and deskless workers who don't use email can easily access enrollment through their phones, with companies like Capital Area Transit successfully reaching 4,000 mobile employees

• Automated escalating reminders transform procrastinators into action-takers, with studies showing text reminders reduce no-shows by up to 26%

• Skip expensive benefits fairs while achieving 78% enrollment response rates at just pennies per message versus costly onsite events

• Real-time tracking shows exactly who's enrolled and who needs follow-up through person-level analytics, not just aggregate data

• Two-way messaging lets employees ask questions instantly while automated responses handle routine inquiries, reducing HR burnout

• Companies see 50% lower acquisition costs and generate $100 in revenue per eligible employee through text-based enrollment

Open enrollment doesn't have to be a headache.

Not for your HR team, and definitely not for your employees.

Your Employees Actually Read Open Enrollment Texts (Unlike Those Buried Emails)

Your carefully crafted enrollment emails are often sitting unread.

Text messages, on the other hand, have a 98-99% open rate.

Your employees check their phones constantly throughout the day.

In fact, the average American sends about 10 text messages daily, and 61% of people text significantly more since the pandemic.

When you send an enrollment reminder via text, employees typically read it within seconds.

Compare that to phone calls that take two minutes on average, or emails that might never get opened.

With 97% of Americans owning a mobile phone, you're reaching virtually everyone on your payroll through a channel they actually use and trust.

Meet Your Remote and Deskless Workers Where They Are During Enrollment Season

Your truck drivers, field technicians, and warehouse workers don't sit at desks checking email.

Capital Area Transit System discovered this firsthand when they needed to reach 4,000 remote employees, including long-haul truckers constantly on the road.

These workers rarely used email but always had their phones.

The transportation company sent enrollment texts directly to drivers' phones, eliminating the need for computer access.

Similarly, VBA's texting approach removed the need for disruptive onsite enrollment visits that barely anyone attended anyway.

You can even target messages based on location, department, or language preferences, ensuring everyone gets relevant information in a format they can actually access.

Turn Open Enrollment Procrastinators into Action-Takers with Real-Time Reminders

We all know that employee who waits until the last possible second.

Two-way texting transforms procrastinators into action-takers through automated escalating reminders.

VBA's system automatically sent second reminders to employees who hadn't completed enrollment, including the direct link right in the message.

Capital Area Transit took it further with urgency-building messages like "Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to enroll or make changes to your benefits."

These aren't just random reminders - studies show text reminders reduce no-show rates by up to 26%.

The real-time nature makes it feel like a personal conversation, creating the urgency needed to drive immediate action.

Skip the Costly Benefits Fair and Still Get Higher Enrollment Rates

Forget the expensive benefits fairs that disrupt operations and barely draw attendance.

VBA achieved a 78% enrollment response rate through texting alone, completely eliminating those costly onsite enrollment events.

One employer with over 3,000 employees found their onsite visits caused major worksite disruption with minimal engagement.

Text messaging costs just one to five cents per message - a fraction of what you'd spend on print materials, TV ads, or in-person events.

Plus, 63% of consumers actually prefer companies that let them communicate via text, so you're giving employees what they want while saving money.

Make Benefits Enrollment as Easy as Clicking a Link on Their Phone

Over 90% of mobile phones can access the internet, turning enrollment into a one-click process.

Capital Area Transit's employees clicked their enrollment link over 4,500 times during the enrollment period.

VBA embedded the benefits website link directly in texts with personalized access codes, letting employees enroll instantly from their phones.

No app downloads needed.

No complicated logins to remember.

Just click and enroll.

Tools like Dialog Health's shortened links make URLs trustworthy and easy to click, removing every possible friction point from the enrollment process.

Know Exactly Who's Enrolled and Who Still Needs That Final Push

Real-time analytics show you exactly where each employee stands in the enrollment process.

AnalyticsPRO generates instant reports revealing who received messages, who clicked links, and who still needs attention.

VBA tracked their 9,399 text messages and saw precisely which of the 7,385 employees logged into the enrollment website.

You can see person-level tracking - not just aggregate data - so you know exactly who needs that final nudge.

This isn't guesswork anymore.

You have actionable insights to make informed decisions throughout the enrollment period.

Cut Through the Open Enrollment Confusion with Instant Q&A

Employees have questions, and two-way texting lets them ask instantly and get immediate answers.

No more phone tag or waiting for email responses.

Your HR team can send bite-sized FAQs about benefits right when employees need them.

In one campaign, 57% of employees used two-way texting to actively accept or decline coverage, showing real engagement beyond just passive reading.

The back-and-forth conversation capability means confused employees get clarity immediately, not days later.

Save Your HR Team from Enrollment Period Burnout

Your HR team won't drown in phone calls and paperwork anymore.

Automated messages handle routine enrollment tasks, freeing your team for complex issues.

One organization saw an 82% reduction in readmissions while saving countless staff hours previously spent on phone calls.

Digital message storage eliminates paper tracking, creating an automatic audit trail.

Everything becomes streamlined through a single platform with interactive data presentation, making enrollment management actually manageable.

Keep Your Voluntary Benefits Non-ERISA While Boosting Participation

VBA discovered their traditional benefit admin system was triggering ERISA requirements while getting terrible participation rates.

Switching to text-based enrollment kept voluntary plans non-ERISA compliant while dramatically increasing participation.

The third-party enrollment system accessed through texted links avoided the regulatory complications that come with hosting benefits on traditional platforms.

You get higher participation without the compliance headaches.

Watch Your Benefits ROI Soar with 50% Lower Acquisition Costs

VBA cut their acquisition costs in half using two-way texting.

They generated $100 in annual revenue per eligible employee during enrollment.

Capital Area Transit achieved over 100% utilization of their texted links when accounting for their minimal 6% opt-out rate.

The financial efficiency extends beyond enrollment - companies using text-based billing reminders see faster payment cycles and improved cash flow.

Your expensive, low-participation benefit admin system becomes a high-engagement, cost-effective enrollment machine that actually delivers ROI.

Your Employees Want Text-Based Enrollment (And We've Perfected It)

You've just seen how two-way texting transforms open enrollment from a dreaded season into a streamlined success.

But implementing this on your own - finding the right platform, ensuring compliance, training your team - can feel overwhelming.

That's where Dialog Health comes in.

We're the HIPAA and SOC II compliant texting platform that healthcare organizations trust for all their communication needs, including benefits enrollment.

Our clients see real results:

• 78% enrollment response rates (goodbye, 20% participation)

• 50% reduction in acquisition costs (more budget for actual benefits)

• 4,000+ employees reached in just 10 minutes (even your remote workers)

• Over 100% link utilization during enrollment periods

Here's what happens next:

Simply fill out this quick form and one of our healthcare communication experts will reach out to schedule a brief 15-minute video call at your convenience.

We've done this hundreds of times with HR teams just like yours, and you'll get all the information you need - no pressure, just answers.