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Welcome!
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are Visitor Number
The Hatcher Agency offers a wide selection of employee benefits to individuals that are not part of an employer group.
Robin Fletcher
is available to help you with Individual Products
For more information on the Individual Products we offer, click on the products below
Health
Insurance for individuals and families is becoming more
popular 
as
the cost of group health insurance increases. Some smaller employers are
eliminating their group plans and offering individual coverage to their
employees. This may not be an option for everyone, however, because most
individual plans are underwritten and have a 12 month pre-existing exclusion.
As an independent agency, The Hatcher Agency can provide insurance plans from numerous health insurance companies. With the health insurance market changing frequently, we are always on the lookout for quality, service-oriented insurance companies for our clients.
The Hatcher Agency works with several different carriers to provide options regarding health insurance. Our main carriers are Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Mercy Health, United Healthcare, and Assurant Health.
On-line quoting is available for Aetna, United HealthCare, and Assurant Health. To get quotes for any of these just click on their logos.
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For
more information on health insurance statistics
and trends, view the following articles:
Medical
and Prescription Drug Statistics
Arkansas' State Health
Ranking
Why Are Healthcare Costs So High?
Medical Insurance Costs:
What's Next?
Dental
Insurance is available to individuals and families that are
not covered on group dental insurance. For 
people
without dental insurance, cost often stands in the way of getting the care
they need to maintain the health of their teeth and gums. Even for routine
preventive care, a trip to the dentist's office could mean a substantial
amount of money out of your pocket.+
A freedom-of-choice plan allows you to see any dentist you wish. However, this plan does impose 6- to 12-month waiting periods for some services. This is not the best plan for an individual who needs comprehensive coverage within the first 12 months. However, if dental coverage is desired for a long period of time, and there is no rush to receive the major benefits, this plan may work for you.
Cancer
Insurance is a benefit that few individuals think of when
searching for benefits. With Cancer listed as the #2 cause of death among
all Americans, a supplemental policy to help cover the expenses is important.
A Cancer Insurance Policy is very affordable for most individuals. Also,
the benefits are paid directly to the patient and are paid
in addition to benefits paid by medical insurance or disability
plans.
If you purchase a cancer policy as an individual, you will be able to keep it regardless of where you are employed. With benefits like these, you can't afford NOT to have a cancer policy.
To see more statistics about cancer from the American Cancer Society, click here: The Facts About Cancer
Short
Term Medical and Foreign Travel Medical plans are used
to fill a short term need for medical insurance. Occasionally an employee
will need medical insurance to cover him between jobs. Short Term Medical
is an inexpensive way to provide major medical benefits to protect against
accidents or major illnesses that are not pre-existing. The benefit designs
are basic, no-frills plans 
with
little or no office or prescription co-pays. They are designed strictly
to cover large claims that may occur during a lapse in other coverage.
To get a quote or apply on-line for a Short Term Medical policy please Click Here:
Foreign Travel Medical plans are designed to cover individuals who will be traveling abroad for extended periods of time. Although many group health insurance plans will cover claims incurred on an emergency basis when traveling, a travel policy will provide coverage for more basic conditions, such as cold and flu, and for prescriptions.
To get a quote or apply on-line for a Foreign Travel policy please Click Here:
Vision
Care Insurance is an important coverage for many people.
Perhaps that's because about 60% of us 
wear
some form of corrective eyewear. The cost of a vision plan is $11 per
month for single coverage. The plan is designed with a small copay for
the exam itself and a copay for the frames. It also allows you to purchase
other materials (lenses, contacts) at Wholesale costs. With low out of
pocket costs, it is a plan that most people can easily appreciate.
Click Here to apply on-line for Vision Coverage
Individual
Disability Income Protection
is a must for a business owner, and highly recommended for executives. If
you are a business owner, you should consider purchasing both group and
individual policies, if possible. As an executive, you should be sure to
obtain group coverage if it is available. Only fourty three percent of large
companies provide group long term disability insurance. Your chances are
even less likely to get long term disability insurance if you work for a
small company. The cost of a plan provided by your employer is usually less
than you would pay for an individual disability policy and often you can
get coverage automatically without having to qualify medically. If your
employer doesn't provide disability insurance then you may want to consider
an individual disability policy.
Or, you may
need a personal disability insurance policy to supplement an employer
group plan. Be sure to check the group provisions carefully: How long
does the group disability insurance coverage last? How much is the benefit?
Does the disability insurance policy cover bonus and commission income?
Will the coverage continue if you leave that employer?
A typical Individual Disability Income Protection plan starts to pay benefits after you have been off work for 1 to 6 months, and pays benefits for several years or until retirement age, depending on the policy.
Life
Insurance is something that everyone needs, but no one likes
to talk about. Life Insurance is the foundation of financial security for
you and your family. It protects your financial resources against the uncertainties
of life so you can plan for the future.
Why do I need life insurance? The main purpose of life insurance is to provide cash to your family after you die. The money your dependents will receive (the "death benefit") is an important financial resource: It can help pay the mortgage, run the household, and ensure that your dependents aren't burdened with debt. The proceeds from a life insurance policy could mean that they won't have to sell assets to pay outstanding bills or taxes. What's more, there is no federal income tax on life insurance benefits.
Where
do I Begin? Start by evaluating your family's needs. Gather all
your personal 
financial
information and estimate what your family will need after you're gone.
Include ongoing expenses (such as day care, tuition or retirement) and
immediate expenses at the time of death (like medical bills, burial costs,
and estate taxes). Your family also may need funds to help them readjust...
perhaps to finance a move, or pay expenses while job hunting. Remember,
life insurance provides financial protection. If protection is not your
primary goal, you should consider other financial products.
How much life insurance will I need to purchase? While there's no substitute for evaluating needs, one rule of thumb is to buy life insurance equal to five to seven times your annual gross income.
What are the different types of life insurance? There are many kinds of insurance, but they generally fall into two categories: term insurance and permanent insurance.
What is term insurance? Term insurance provides protection for a specific period of time. It pays a benefit only if you die during the term. Some term insurance policies can be renewed when you reach the end of the term -- which can be from one to 30 years. The premium rates increase at each renewal date. Many policies require that you present evidence of insurability at renewal to qualify for the new term.
What is permanent insurance? Permanent insurance provides lifelong protection. As long as you pay the premiums, the death benefit will be paid. These policies are designed and priced for you to keep over a long period of time. If you don't intend to keep the policy for the long term, this may be the wrong type of insurance for you.
To
read more about types of life insurance, click here:
Types
of Life Insurance
Annuities
can be a good way to make sure you have income during 
retirement.
What is an annuity? It is a contract between an individual ("annuitant")
and an insurance company whereby the insurance company agrees to make periodic
payments to the annuitant. In essence, the annuitant gives the insurance
company a specific amount of money and the insurance company agrees to make
payments for a specific amount of time -- even for the rest of his life
and the life of his beneficiary.
Annuites, sometimes called "upside-down life insurance," can be good for people who don't have a pension plan at work. In exchange for giving all your money to the insurance company, they promise to pay you a certain amount (either fixed or tied to investment performance) for as long as you live. Sometimes, however, the amount they pay you is small. The very small payoff from annuitizing is the reason that few people choose them. If you're considering an annuity, look at whether the cost of the insurance coverage is justified for the benefits that are paid. Annuities can benefit some individuals, but a majority of people will find better investment/return vehicles.
To
read more about types annuities, click here:
Tax-Deferred Annuities
Long
Term Care Insurance has been available for many years, but
has only recently come to the forefront of insurance discussion. While early
Long Term Care policies were similar to a basic medicare supplement policy,
today's coverage includes a broad range of services including nursing home
care, assisted living facilities, home care, and adult day care.
Like any
insurance product, Long Term Care insurance allows the insured to pay
an affordable premium to protect an unaffordable catastrophic event.
What
is Long Term Care (LTC)?
Long Term Care includes a wide range of medical and support services for
people with a degenerative condition (e.g. Parkinson’s, stroke, etc.),
a prolonged illness (cancer) or cognitive disorder (Alzheimer’s).
However, Long Term Care is not always medical care but is sometimes "custodial
care." Custodial care is providing assistance with activities of
daily living or supervising someone who is cognitively impaired.
To better understand Long Term Care, think of the activities that you performedwhen you woke up this morning. You probably:
Climbed
out of bed
Walked to the bathroom
Used the toilet
Used the bath or shower
Got dressed
Ate breakfast
All of the above are Activities of Daily Living (ADL's). However, when you or a loved one is stricken with a degenerative condition such as a stroke or Alzheimer’s, performing these ADL’s becomes impossible without the assistance of another person.
This type of assistance is known as Long Term Care. It is the same type of care that a parent must provide for a new baby. This type of care can be very expensive because it is often around-the-clock care. Long Term Care can be provided in many settings: nursing homes, your own home, assisted living facilities and adult day care.
Why
is there a need for Long Term Care?
Basically people are living longer. Due to advances in modern medicine
and life-style changes, the number of people over the age of 65 is expected
to double by the year 2050. The 80-plus segment represents the fastest
growing segment of the population.
As Americans
take care of themselves through a healthy diet and exercise, they are
increasing
their lifespan. Unfortunately, as people age, they are more likely to
suffer from chronic illnesses such as strokes or Alzheimer’s. Statistically,
Americans over the age of 65 face a 40% risk of entering a nursing home
for Long Term Care services.
Another reason for the recent public focus on Long Term Care is the change in the American family. In the past, elderly parents depended upon their children to care for them as they aged. Family members lived close by or even in the same household.
Today, more women are in the work force, children are moving away from their parents, and divorce rates are increasing. All of these factors make it harder for families to meet the needs of their aging parents. Because of these changes the elderly often rely on professional assistance, which comes at a cost.
To
read more about long term care, click here:
Long Term Care Insurance