Employee benefits, explained in plain English

Clear, carefully sourced guides to open enrollment, health plans, HSAs, FSAs, and 401(k)s, for employees and the employers who offer them.

Where would you like to start?

I'm an employee

Open enrollment, health insurance words, HMO vs PPO, what is an HSA, HSA vs FSA, and your 401(k) match.
I'm an employer or HR

Benefits for small business, plan choices, HSA and FSA programs, 401(k) match options, compliance basics, and an open enrollment timeline.

Official sources first
Facts and numbers come from pages we actually opened, like IRS.gov, DOL.gov, HealthCare.gov, CMS.gov, and BLS.gov. Every guide lists its sources with links.
Every number has a year
Limits change every year. We say which year each figure is for, and we aim to leave out numbers we could not check against a source.
Plain words, no sales
No ads and no affiliate links. Examples are clearly labeled as made up. Written by Josh Hall, a benefits professional.

For employers & HRNew
Open enrollment communication
Explain benefits so employees actually understand them.
For employers & HRNew
401(k) basics for employers
Setup steps, match choices, duties, and startup tax credits.
For employers & HRNew
Open enrollment timeline for HR
A month-by-month timeline with legal deadlines marked.
For employees
Open Enrollment 101
What open enrollment is, key dates, and a 10-step walkthrough.
For employees
HSA vs FSA
A side-by-side comparison and questions to help you pick.
For employees
401(k) basics and employer match
How a 401(k) match and vesting work, and how not to miss it.