We’re working hard to create a culture of safety in your business and personal endeavors in Central Illinois.
About Our AgencyAssess Your Risk
Get a Risk Assessment
As an independent agency, we are here to help you find the right coverage.
The Advantage of an Independent Agency Working for You
What makes our independent agency different?
- We represent multiple insurance companies.
- We are licensed insurance advisors.
- We are by your side every step of the way.
- We offer a wide variety of insurance solutions.
- We are there for you in your time of need.
Find Out How
Hecht-Stout Insurance Agency
Hecht-Stout Insurance is one of central Illinois’ oldest independent, locally-owned insurance agencies, providing exceptional insurance services to individuals, families, and businesses since 1956.
We have the advantage of making our clients our top priority.
Large national brokers may offer a vast array of products, but you are number, not a name. Small brokerage firms can offer personal service, but many lack the depth of products and services to handle tough problems. At Hecht-Stout Insurance, we will customize the best insurance package using the widest range of companies and products along with unmatched service to meet your needs.
Our team of brokers is comprised of seasoned professionals, who take a personal interest in meeting your needs. We are backed by the negotiating power and support services of an efficient system that has been serving clients throughout central Illinois successfully for over six decades. Read more about us!
Community Focused
We give back to our community and get involved with the charities we support.
Clients Come First
We go the extra mile to exceed your expectations, no matter what you need.
Experienced Agents
With extensive experience, we understand what it takes to bring you quality coverage.
Minimizing risks for your best protection.
Hecht-Stout Insurance offers general liability, fleet, and employee risk control services that can help you continuously improve workplace safety, mitigate injury and illness, and reduce costs. Our risk control services focus on four major objectives:
- Minimizing and Eliminating Your Total Cost of Risk
- Applying Expertise
- Developing Sustainable Solutions
- Providing a Multi-Channel Delivery Approach
Asset protection and retention to protect you best.
Advanced business planning can assist you in answering the tough questions associated with recruiting, retaining, or replacing key employees who are critical to the success of your business. Our asset protection services focus on five major objectives:
- Guaranteed products and plan designs
- Key employee benefits solutions for your business
- Business continuation to protect you and your team
- Disability protection in the event of an injury
- Business overhead protection to cover you during misfortune
Asset protection and retention to protect you best.
Advanced business planning can assist you in answering the tough questions associated with recruiting, retaining, or replacing key employees who are critical to the success of your business. Our asset protection services focus on five major objectives:
- Guaranteed products and plan designs
- Key employee benefits solutions for your business
- Business continuation to protect you and your team
- Disability protection in the event of an injury
- Business overhead protection to cover you during misfortune
The Solution To Your Insurance Needs
Providing a variety of business insurance, employee benefits, and personal insurance solutions is what Hecht-Stout Insurance Agency does best.
Business Insurance
Coverage and risk management solutions for companies of all sizes.
Employee Benefits
Coverage that can help attract, retain, and protect your team.
Personal Insurance
Trusted advice and insurance solutions to protect what matters most.
“Hecht-Stout's staff has always more than met our expectations. We so appreciate the excellent service they have given us over the years”
Jill C.Peoria, IL
“We recently suffered damage to our medical practice’s entire computer data system. Hecht-Stout Insurance stepped in and was right there for us when we needed them the most.”
M. B., Practice ManagerTazewell County, IL
Real clients. Real reviews. Real coverage.
“Gregory Gerontes and his team are exceptional. They are very kind, professional, and go out of their way to meet your needs. I would highly recommend Gregory for all of your insurance.”
– Robert Adams
Interactive Graphic
Click it. Read it. Cover it.
Get a glimpse of the risks you face and how your insurance can protect what matters most.
Pre-Hire Physical
Risk Factor
Are you about to hire your next workers' compensation claim? In an effort to get a position filled quickly, you may take shortcuts that could cost you thousands of dollars.
Solution
Prospective employees should be required to complete a pre-hire physical. A copy of the intended job description can then be given to the medical provider with the physical requirements of the position. This helps to ensure only those capable of doing the job are hired and keeps other employees safe.
Education and Injury Reporting
Risk Factor
Often times employees don’t understand the workers' compensation process and may be afraid to report a claim for fear of losing their job or impacting a daily count of injury-free days that are tied to an incentive program.
Solution
Educate employees on the workers' compensation system. During the hiring process, consider explaining how workers' compensation coverage protects your employee when an injury occurs. Your employees should understand that it is their responsibility to report an injury immediately and follow the company’s guidelines for seeking medical attention. Explain your return to work policy and have your employees sign an agreement stating they understand the process.
Communication
Risk Factor
Your employee may become injured and you might be tempted to rely on someone else to communicate with them. As a result, your employee may be confused by the workers' compensation process and unsure where to turn.
Solution
You and your supervisors need to stay in constant communication with your employees. Your insurance broker can provide some coaching and guidance throughout the process. Above all, your employees should feel that you care about their injuries and that you will be involved in helping them recover. Your direct supervisors play a key role in this process and should be trained to effectively communicate with your employees throughout the injury.
Return to Work Program
Risk Factor
When your employees become injured, they may need time to recover. As an employer, you may be tempted to rely solely on the workers' compensation insurance company and/or your employee’s medical provider to communicate throughout the process. If you do, the process can become unnecessarily prolonged.
Solution
As the employer, let your insurance company and your employee’s medical provider know that you have a return to work program in place. Ask the medical provider to refer to the job description that has been provided for the injured employee. As soon as the employee is medically cleared, offer a light duty position and ask them to report to work. If needed, your employee can continue to receive treatment while they continue to recover.
Payroll Audits and EMR
Risk Factor
Statistically, your company’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR) has more than a 70% chance of being incorrect. Your EMR is a number used by insurance companies to gauge any past cost of injuries and future chances of risk. In addition, over 80% of payroll audits are done incorrectly. Both factors impact your workers' compensation coverage.
Solution
Trust your insurance advisor and have them assist and advocate during the annual payroll audit conducted by the insurance company. Your agent should also monitor all claims, but especially claims reserved over a $10,000 threshold. Larger claims should have a quarterly report prepared by your insurance agent to let you know the status of the claim. Your agent should work with your insurance company’s claims adjustor to close any claims as quickly as possible.
Medical Provider Communication
Risk Factor
Claims can remain open longer than needed due to poor communication between you and your employee’s medical provider. As a result, you may be unaware that your employee is well enough to return to work on a modified basis.
Solution
Get to know the doctors that are helping your employee heal. Your insurance broker should foster this relationship by assisting you in the selection of the medical provider prior to a claim. Meet with the medical provider, interview them, tour their facilities, ask them to tour your location, and explain your return to work program. Job descriptions can be provided to the medical provider and an agreement of services can be achieved. Once a claim takes place, a clear line of communication should be established so you are kept aware of your employee’s status.
Safety Training
Risk Factor
Sometimes employees are trained to do a job well, but are not trained to do their job safely. Many work-related injuries can be avoided by effective training.
Solution
Your insurance broker should be able to organize monthly training classes. Many insurance carriers offer training tools at no charge and your broker can help you utilize these tools to your advantage. For example, topics such as proper lifting techniques can be critical for many job functions. Also, using tools like payroll stuffers can be very effective.
OSHA Inspections
Risk Factor
Many employers are concerned about their next OSHA visit. Worried about citations and fines, employers see OSHA as the enemy. Sound familiar?
Solution
OSHA's On-site Consultation Program offers free and confidential safety and occupational health advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On-site Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing injury and illness prevention programs.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance 101
Make sure you cover the unique risks you face with workers’ compensation insurance.
Click on the hotspots.
Discover your risks.
Get the right coverage.
Not what you’re looking for?
Find even more interactive graphics for business owners insurance, employee benefits, and life insurance.
Contact Hecht-Stout Insurance Agency
As an independent agency, we are here to help you find the right coverage.
Dunlap, IL
1715 Woodside Drive
Dunlap, IL 61525
Our services extend to businesses and individuals throughout the Greater Peoria, IL area.
Contact Us
