Benefits January 16, 2002

Online Benefit Enrollments Explode

January 16, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The number of US workers enrolling for company benefits on the Internet has almost doubled in the last two years, Hewitt Associates says.

Reported by

Fred Schneyer

In fact, according to Hewitt, online enrollment has skyrocketed in recent years,

from 36% in 1999
to 52% in 2000, and
to 70% last year

Hewitt said the burgeoning online interest has already influenced at least one important area – enrollment via phone centers or automated voice phone systems. According to the consulting company, voice system enrollments dropped 22% and call centers by 12% since 1999.

“The Internet has truly revolutionized the benefits enrollment process and made it more efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective,” said Hewitt consultant Maureen Kincaid. “The Internet also provides employees with interactive tools to help them understand and learn about their benefits in a way they couldn’t do on paper.”