Notes from our expert team.

Open enrollment only comes once a year, and understanding the jargon can make all the difference in choosing the right benefits. This glossary breaks down the most important terms, like premiums, deductibles, HSAs, and voluntary benefits, into clear categories for easy navigation. Whether you’re an employee enrolling for the first time or an HR leader guiding your team, this resource will help you make confident, informed decisions.

Open enrollment is one of the most important (and stressful) times of year for HR leaders, and the key to success is clear, strategic communication. This checklist walks through proven ways to boost employee understanding, from tailoring messages across generations to leveraging technology, brokers, and internal champions. Done well, open enrollment communication reduces confusion, builds trust, and helps employees make confident choices.

This blog is a practical guide for HR leaders navigating qualifying life events (QLEs) in employee benefits. It explains which life changes allow mid-year benefit updates, highlights common pitfalls—like missed newborn enrollment windows—and emphasizes the importance of aligning employer policies with carrier rules to maintain compliance under IRS Section 125.

As employers continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Nava Benefits’ Chief Medical Advisor and health policy expert Dr. Marty Makary weighs in on the state of the pandemic and its impacts on the workplace as of October 2021 — from the expected peak of Delta variant cases, to antiviral drugs, to OSHA’s upcoming vaccine mandate.