Choose confidently during open enrollment

Deciding moments benefits guide

Preparing for whatever life brings your way

Through all of life's big decisions, it's important to make sure your workplace benefits support your choices. Use this guide to help decide which benefit options are best for your personal situation. Find out which benefits your employer offers so you can feel ready when open enrollment begins.

Explore your options
Couple on a roller coaster

Considerations by life stage

Make a plan that can grow and adapt to your changing priorities.

  • It’s time to make it alone and you’ve never been more excited!

    But now you’ll face decisions about things that didn’t cross your mind before: budgeting, saving for your future goals, and even retirement.

    53% percent of US adults say they’re “struggling to keep up” or just “making ends meet” financially.¹

Next steps

  • 1. Find new insurance options

    You may no longer have access to coverage on your parents’ or partner’s plan anymore, so spend time figuring out what your employer offers, and take advantage of getting benefits through work.

  • 2. Consider options that boost financial confidence

    Look into the details of your health plan. Especially if it’s a high deductible plan, you may need some extra protection through your workplace benefits. Accidents and illnesses can happen at any age, and medical bills are expensive, even with insurance.

  • 3. Secure your income and lifestyle

    Can you max out your 401(k) and pay for better benefits? It’s possible to do both with proper planning. Your benefits, like disability insurance, can help you protect your paycheck if you get too sick or injured to work.

Consider these options

Benefits that prepare and protect

Start out on your own with affordable benefits that offer core protection as well as financial confidence.

  • No matter your definition of family, we know it’s important to you.

    As your life changes, so do your deciding moments. Can I pay for that family trip and also get my dental work done? It’s important to carefully assess your benefits options at open enrollment and expand to accommodate whatever comes your way.

    89% of working parents say their children’s oral health is important to them.²

Next steps

  • 1. Cover your family

    Consider adding your partner and/or children to your dental and vision plans. These plans can help keep the whole family’s health in check, and when they’re offered through work, they can be very affordable.

  • 2. Protect your paycheck

    As your family grows, don’t forget to review your life and disability insurance protection. They can help keep your family financially whole if something happens to you.

  • 3. Build your financial confidence

    Accident insurance can help protect your entire family, and it may even pay out a higher benefit if your child is injured while playing organized sports. With the rise in high deductible plans, this is an increasingly popular benefit for families.

Consider these options

Benefits for the whole family

Leverage benefits through work that can extend well-being and financial protection to all members of your household.

  • You’ve been working your whole life for the future. Be ready to make it a bright one.

    As you get closer to retirement, your needs change. But the goals of bolstering your well-being and lifestyle should not. Now more than ever, don’t fall into the trap of auto-enrolling into your benefits at work.

    At least 72% of life insurance owners are underinsured, but most believe they have enough coverage.³

Next steps

  • 1. Evaluate your savings

    Re-evaluate your budget and take stock of your retirement savings to decide if you need to continue building your savings.

  • 2. Keep your current protection in place

    Still taking care of your overall health with dental and vision protection? Keep it that way. Still have benefits like critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance? Good. Their benefit payments can bolster your finances by helping to pay for expenses that may not be covered fully by your health plan.

  • 3. Focus on your long-term plan

    Make sure the beneficiaries on your life insurance and 401(k) accounts are up to date. If you haven't done so already, draw up a will to identify how your assets would be distributed.

Consider these options

Benefits that support your well-being and wallet

Let your workplace benefits help you get ready for the bright future ahead in retirement.

Resources for open enrollment

1 Mind, Body, and Wallet® 2025, Guardian Workplace Benefits Study, 2025

2 Dental Fundamentals, In-demand benefits that support well-being, Guardian, 2022

3  Guardian Workplace Benefits Study, 2023

Material discussed is meant for general information purposes only and is not to be construed as medical, tax, legal or investment advice. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, the information should be relied upon only when coordinated with individual professional advice.

Group Insurance products are underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY.  Products are not available in all states.

Deciding moments: Preparing for whatever life brings your way | Guardian