It’s Open Enrollment Season…But Don’t Stop at Work Benefits
Why this is the perfect time to review all your coverage, not just what’s in your employee portal.
The Season of Choices
It’s that time of year again — open enrollment.
You’ve got a few weeks to log into your benefits portal, compare health plans, check boxes, and maybe think about that optional vision or dental coverage. For most people, that’s where the insurance conversation begins and ends.
But what if open enrollment wasn’t just about your employer benefits?
What if this annual routine could be your cue to review everything that protects your family — from your life insurance to your home, auto, and even your umbrella policy?
That’s where the real opportunity lies.
Your Work Benefits Are a Great Start — But They’re Not the Whole Picture
Employer benefits are one of the best parts of a good job. But they also come with limitations that many people overlook.
Let’s start with life insurance. Most employers include some level of life coverage, usually equal to one or two times your salary. That sounds decent — until you do the math.
If your family relies on your income, that amount may cover only a few years of expenses, not a lifetime of security.
And there’s another catch: you can’t always take that coverage with you.
When you leave a job, retire, or change employers, your life insurance coverage usually ends. That means if your health changes or you wait too long to buy your own policy, you might face higher costs or new restrictions later.
Owning a personal life policy ensures your protection follows you, not your job. It’s consistent, portable, and tailored to your family’s actual needs.
Rising Healthcare Costs = A Reminder to Reassess
Healthcare costs are rising across the board. Premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits are all climbing, which means more financial exposure for most households.
That same reality — higher costs for medical treatment, repair work, and replacement parts — affects every corner of your insurance world.
A minor car accident that used to cost $1,000 might now total $3,000 or more. A small house repair can balloon into a major claim when materials and labor costs spike.
When medical bills or repair costs rise, your liability risk rises too.
That’s why this time of year — when you’re already thinking about health costs — is a perfect opportunity to review how your other policies work together to protect your financial stability.
Why Now Is the Right Time to Review Home, Auto & Umbrella Coverage
Open enrollment gets everyone thinking about insurance, which makes it the perfect reminder to make sure your personal protection is up to date too.
Homeowners Insurance:
Rebuilding costs have increased significantly due to inflation and labor shortages.
Make sure your dwelling coverage reflects current replacement costs, not what your house was worth five years ago.
Auto Insurance:
Newer vehicles have sensors, cameras, and advanced electronics — meaning even minor repairs can cost thousands.
Review liability and uninsured motorist limits to keep pace with real-world costs.
Umbrella Insurance:
Umbrella coverage adds an extra layer of liability protection for your home and auto policies.
With lawsuits and medical expenses on the rise, it’s one of the most affordable ways to protect your savings and future income.
Taken together, these aren’t just individual policies — they’re a financial safety net. And just like your health benefits, they deserve an annual check-up.
Think of Your Coverage as a Team, Not a To-Do List
It’s easy to think of insurance as a set of disconnected pieces: health, home, car, life, disability. But they all work better when they’re coordinated.
When your life insurance, auto, and home policies are designed with the same big picture in mind, you’re less likely to have gaps, overlaps, or hidden vulnerabilities.
For example:
If your healthcare deductible is high, it might make sense to adjust your accident or disability coverage.
If your home value increased, updating your dwelling limits can prevent underinsurance.
And if your assets have grown (a new business, a second property, or rising savings), it may be time to add or increase umbrella coverage.
Open enrollment is the one time of year when people already have their financial “coverage mindset” on — which makes it the perfect opportunity to connect all the dots.
The Unexpected Benefit of a Local Agency
Here’s where a local agency makes a real difference.
Big online platforms can sell you policies — but they can’t see how your health plan, home coverage, and auto insurance all interact. A local agency can.
We help clients look at the whole picture — including the specific costs, weather risks, and lifestyle factors that affect your area. Whether it’s rising hospital fees, a spike in repair costs, or a string of local storms, we see how those trends overlap.
Our goal isn’t to sell more policies — it’s to make sure your existing coverage actually works together the way it should. We’ll expand on this even more with our next blog post.
Final Thought: The Bigger Picture of Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is about more than choosing between health plans. It’s about protecting your household from all angles.
As healthcare costs continue to rise, reviewing your entire insurance portfolio helps ensure your safety net stays strong — no matter what changes at work or in life.
If it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed your personal coverage, take this opportunity. It’s the perfect time to align your work benefits with your life outside the office — and make sure they’re all pulling in the same direction.
📍 Stockman Insurance Agency
4202 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN
📞 (423) 510-9197
🌐 www.stockmanagency.com
