For most HR and benefits professionals, Open Enrollment is the busiest time of year – which means that it's anything but passive. But a new study shows that a majority of companies opt for passive over active enrollment. Passive enrollment allows employees to roll over their benefits from the previous year, without requiring them to assess their plan options or learn more about their benefits. Active enrollment requires employees to choose an enrollment plan, regardless of their coverage from the previous year.

While on the surface a passive enrollment might seem like the easier choice, it could lead to higher costs if employees don't select plans that fit their changing needs and don't understand how to use their benefits correctly. HR teams who choose a passive Open Enrollment also often miss the opportunity to build employee loyalty by highlighting the advantages of their company's benefits package.

Here are a few other findings from the study: Open Enrollment takes time – a lot of it. 97 percent of HR professionals surveyed said that Open Enrollment takes up about 50 percent of their time. Companies are planning ahead. Employers with more than 5,000 employees say they plan for Open Enrollment anywhere from 8 to 11 months in advance. * Communication is key. 65 percent of participating employers use multiple methods to reach their employees, and many are incorporating their own branding on their enrollment materials.