UFCW Automates Open Enrollment With the Benefitfocus Platform

CHARLESTON, S.C., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- UFCW & Employers Trust, LLC ("Trust Fund Office") has renewed its partnership with Benefitfocus to automate the 2011 benefits enrollment process for its more than 68,000 members. The Benefitfocus Web Platform is a comprehensive online solution that replaces traditional paper-based enrollment and provides the Trust Fund Office with electronic integration of its members' enrollment data to its medical benefits providers. The Trust Fund Office first used the Benefitfocus solution for its 2010 Open Enrollment.

"Prior to using Benefitfocus, we were dealing with 68,000 forms in 28 different versions; it was a huge challenge for us to keep everything organized," said Julia Nicholson, Vice President of Operations for the Trust Fund Office. "Benefitfocus technology allows us to provide our members with an exponentially increased level of service. There are no forms to mail, so we don't have to worry about lost data, and our members are better served."

During the Trust Fund Office's 2010 Open Enrollment, approximately 55,000 members enrolled in their benefits using the Benefitfocus Web Platform. Benefitfocus also worked with the Trust Fund Office on its annual verification of members. To date, more than 90 percent of the Trust Fund Office members are enrolled and verified for the 2010 plan year.

Through the Benefitfocus Web Platform, automated benefits enrollment ensures that appropriate changes for new hires, terminations, COBRA benefits and life events occur seamlessly. Since the Trust Fund Office administers healthcare coverage for its members throughout the U.S. and abroad, automating benefits management streamlines transactions that they previously entered manually, saving both time and money.

The system provides quicker processing of member benefit enrollment with fewer mistakes and more control over the entry of personal information. By eliminating paper, data is more accurately captured. In turn, members are more confident about the process and have access to their information on demand.

"The Benefitfocus Platform is a great way for trust funds and unions to administer their benefits more efficiently in their benefits management," said Annmarie Fini, Benefitfocus Senior Vice President of Employer Business Unit. "We're happy to provide an online enrollment experience to the Trust Fund Office and their members that is intuitive and easy to use."

Benefitfocus products, delivered via Software as a Service, are transforming the healthcare industry by connecting people and healthcare information. The Company's solutions reduce costs, build loyalty, increase productivity and support informed healthcare consumers.

About Benefitfocus

Benefitfocus is the largest healthcare and voluntary benefits software provider in the U.S. with 11,063,684 consumers, 329,086 employers, 59,188 brokers and 2975 carrier representatives live on the Benefitfocus Platform™. Benefitfocus offers a single Web-based platform for benefit shopping, enrollment, management and industry-standard data exchange. Benefitfocus – All Your Benefits. One Place. www.benefitfocus.com

SOURCE Benefitfocus