THE OBJECTIVE

Since 1991, The Rodgers Group has worked with the Cook County (Illinois) Office of the Retirement Board to develop, write, design, print and mail information that helps guide the county’s nearly 7,500 retired employees through an annual benefits open enrollment process. Our objective is to present the information in a clear and simple format that appeals to this audience’s unique needs while also providing the information needed to allow retirees to make decisions about their health care.

Initially, the Retirement Board sought to package all materials – insurance plan marketing pieces for both Medicare- and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, plus its own summaries and forms – into one mailing. The Rodgers Group created customized boxes of information that were mailed along with step-by-step instructions to help retirees work through all of the details. In recent years, we’ve worked together to significantly streamline the information. Today, each retiree receives only the plan and cost information that applies to his or her individual situation. Enrollment forms are mailed only to those who request them; those who want marketing brochures are directed to the various insurance companies’ web sites. Our fulfillment process has been automated, allowing increased customization (as well as significant postage discounts).

Our initial communication package garnered several IABC awards for the way it presented a large amount of information to a variety of audiences with differing needs. Today’s more streamlined packaging allows the Retirement Board Office greater flexibility to meet special needs. For example, the benefits plan information and enrollment forms have been incorporated into two special “early retirement incentive” communication packages. And in October 2005, two new pieces were included so that the Retirement Board could provide retirees with information and comparison points between its prescription plan and the new Medicare Part D prescription plan.