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, HSAs and FSAs, your 401(k) match, COBRA, Medicare at 65, life changes, and how to read your SBC.
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 actually opened while writing, like IRS.gov, DOL.gov, HealthCare.gov, CMS.gov, Medicare.gov, and BLS.gov. Every guide lists its sources with links.
Every number has a year
Limits change every year. Each figure says which year it is for, and numbers that could not be checked against a source are left out.
Plain words, no sales
No ads and no affiliate links. Examples are clearly labeled as made up. Written by a benefits professional with 20+ years of experience.

For employeesNew
Medicare at 65 if you're still working
When you can wait on Part B, who pays first, and HSA rules.
For employeesNew
Life changes and special enrollment
Which life events let you change plans mid-year, and how fast.
For employeesNew
Dependent care FSA and commuter benefits
Pre-tax money for child care and getting to work, with 2026 limits.
For employeesNew
How to read your SBC
What each part of the SBC means and how to compare plans with it.
For employeesNew
Prescription drug costs
Drug tiers, formularies, prior authorization, and ways to pay less.
For employees
Open enrollment checklist
A reusable yearly checklist that links to every guide.