Free employer guide

The 2027 Open Enrollment playbook

Make this open enrollment season a successful one with this step-by-step guide for employers. Manage the full process with checklists, timelines, communication templates, and a benefits model comparison.

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What's inside

Everything you need to run open enrollment with confidence

A practical playbook for employers — not another deck of industry trends. We put together a playbook that walks you through the open enrollment process step by step.

A "what to do and when" timeline for 2027 open enrollment, starting with Plan and evaluate 12-8 weeks before OE

12-week OE timeline

Know exactly what to do and when, from planning through post-enrollment — so nothing slips between weeks.

Employer and employee checklists

Clear to-dos for before, during, and after open enrollment — for your team and for every employee.

Group health and ICHRA compared on cost control, admin lift, and employee choice

Benefits model comparison

Side-by-side context on group health, ICHRA (CHOICE Arrangement), QSEHRA, and stipends so you can brief stakeholders with confidence.

Communication templates

Ready-to-send messaging that keeps employees informed and engaged throughout the enrollment window.

Lisa Pennell, People Operations Manager, Arts for Learning Maryland

FAQ

Employers and people ops teams running open enrollment for 2027 coverage — whether you offer group health, an ICHRA (CHOICE Arrangement), a QSEHRA, or stipends. It is written as a practical ops guide, not a policy white paper.

A 12-week timeline, employer and employee checklists, a benefits model comparison, employee communication templates, and five costly mistakes to avoid during open enrollment.

Most employers need about 12 weeks from planning through post-enrollment follow-up. The playbook walks that window week by week so you can reverse-plan from your go-live date.

Thatch runs enrollment, plan choice, compliance, and payments end to end for employers using an employee health budget. If you want to see how much of the checklist we can automate, book a demo after you download the guide.