Employees should take time to evaluate their benefit packages during open enrollment, the time employers set aside to allow workers to either make changes to their benefits packages or leave them be for the coming year. Workers should look out for changes in health care premiums, co-pays and providers. Other things that employees may want to look into include the status of their 401(k) plans, the option of flexible spending accounts, and comparing coverage offered by a spouse?s employer to their own.
See "It can pay to do your homework on job benefits", T. Shawn Taylor, Chicago Tribune, September 30, 2003