6 Communication Tips for the New Year

Now that the holidays are over, it is a good time to tidy up your website and work on your communications plan for 2012. Here are some important things to keep in mind at the start of a new year:

1. © Copyright 2012: Be ready to update your copyright notice. An old copyright date makes your website appear neglected and out of date.
2. Tax Forms: If you post a W-4P or DE-4P online, the 2012 versions are available! Be sure to keep them updated.
3. Updated Forms: If you've revised any forms this year, be sure to update them on your website.
4. Carrier Contact Info: Health carriers sometimes change their names due to mergers or re-branding, More often they change their interior web page names when they update their websites. There is no way to tell that this has happened other than to test the links. Year end is good time to make sure all your carrier and other external links are still valid.
5. COBRA & Retiree Rates: If your rates are calendar year based, December is an appropriate time to post the updated rates on your website.
6. Plan Notices? SMMs? If you had any benefit changes for 2011/2012, be sure you have posted them on your website! Your website should be the first line of communication, not an afterthought, so that your participants learn to check the website first for information that is important to them.