Zorro has a detailed renewal process, all summarized in the guide below.

2025 Zorro ICHRA Renewal Guide

Welcome to renewal season

You’ve already made the shift to ICHRA; renewal season is about refining, not reinventing. We’re here to make the process simple, compliant, and employee-friendly.

What’s inside:

Timeline
Key steps
Checklist
FAQs
Who to contact

Your renewal timeline at a glance

Timeline	What happens
Late August	Zorro updates plan design data with 2026 estimated rates and affordability threshold.
Early September	Zorro sends out proposal for 2026 allowance model based on specific rate increases.
Mid September	Review proposal and adjust or approve allowance model
October 1	Zorro uploads 90-day notices to employee portals (IRS deadline: October 2) and sends out email alerts.
Mid October	Begin Open Enrollment prep, select election window, and communicate to employees.
Mid to late November	Open Enrollment begins. Zorro handles enrollments and support in partnership with your team.
Late November	Finance team is prepped for back-to-back premium pulls for December and January.

Phase 1: Review and Plan
Timeline: September

Review last year’s participation and plan performance
Confirm employee data and roster completeness in Zorro
Confirm 2026 allowance model (age/geography/family tiers/employment information) based on premium changes
If needed, refine your contribution strategy with your Zorro Account Executive (Zorro will provide a scheduling link)
Submit finalized renewal information

What you do	What Zorro does
Decide whether to keep or adjust your allowance model Finalize contribution strategy	Shares utilization insights Offers contribution modeling support Assist with allowance modeling refining and submission

Phase 2: Prep for Open Enrollment
Timeline: October-Early November

Receive and review 90-day employee notices from Zorro (sent by Oct 1)
Approve your communication plan and OE timeline
Share comms with administrative teams and employees
Schedule employee education sessions (live or recorded—we’ll help)
Alert finance team of double-pull in late November:
- December premium pull
- January premium pull

What you do	What Zorro does
Share the renewal timeline with internal teams Schedule employee education session	Generates and distributes 90-day notices electronically Sends automated emails to enrolled employees alerting them of 90-day notices Supports employee engagement campaign through webinars, emails, and documentation

Phase 3: Employee Shopping + Enrollment
Timeline: Early November through mid-December

Encourage employees to browse and select their preferred plan
In partnership with Zorro, provide consistent communications to employees to ensure they’ve completed all enrollment activities
Zorro supports employees with live chat, 1:1 help, and bilingual assistance
Zorro submits plan elections to carriers and enrolls employees

What you do	What Zorro does
Ensure teams are aware of the Open Enrollment period Encourage employees to enroll in coverage as early as possible Support communications with employees who need to take action with carriers, ensuring all enrollments are completed successfully.	Offers AI-powered decision support and an in-platform chatbot to guide employees Provides chat, email, phone, and SMS help as needed Ensures employees get 1:1 support from licensed Enrollment Experts as needed

Phase 4: Premium Funding
Timeline: Late November

Remind your finance team about the double premium pull

What you do	What Zorro does
Alert finance team of double premium pull Make sure your Zorro funding account is active and ready Communicate to employees the importance of checking auto-pay setup for the new year, particularly if changing carriers	Confirms enrollments Sets up and manages carrier payments Coordinates double premium pull for December and January

Phase 5: Post-Enrollment: You’re All Set!
Timeline: Early January

Congratulations on a successful renewal.

Confirm enrollments + funding via Zorro portal
Autopay will resume for monthly premiums
Zorro continues year-round support, compliance, and reporting

Reminders and best practices

Start early to avoid last-minute stress. Finalizing your 2026 plan as soon as possible gives you more flexibility and prep time.
Coordinate early with your finance team. There will be two premium pulls (for December and January) in late November—be sure your finance/accounting team is looped in and ready.
Review employee info before OE. Make sure demographic details, salaries, and employment status are up to date in the Zorro platform for a smooth shopping experience.
Let us know if you have remote or multi-state employees. We’ll help ensure your geographic contribution model is configured correctly.
Decide on your OE format in advance. Whether you prefer live sessions, recorded videos, or employee self-guided resources, Zorro will tailor the experience to your team.
Lean on us for employee support. Zorro provides bilingual assistance and 1:1 plan guidance—so your team doesn’t have to answer benefit questions alone.