05/04/2022
Hill Insurance Agency serving clients for nearly 22 years
RUTHERFORDTON—Dennis and Delores Hill met as classmates at R-S Central High School. Dennis was from Rutherfordton; Delores from Spindale.
They become friends, then sweethearts, then a married couple. Now, 69 and 70, they continue to enjoy working in the family business, Hill Insurance Agency in Rutherfordton.
While their schedules may have slowed down just a tad, they have no retirement plans in the foreseeable future. They, along with son Casey, enjoy working with each other, and serving their hundreds of clients.
Dennis had worked several different jobs, including for a couple of banks, before he went to work for John and Nancy Griffin, who owned an insurance business in 1997. The Griffins decided to retire, and sold the business to Dennis near the end of 2000.
At that time Delores had worked in education, and was an art teacher at R-S Central High School. She decided to leave that profession, and joined her husband to form the Hill Insurance Agency in Rutherfordton.
“The business was on South Main Street when we first became owners. But I felt like we needed to be downtown,” Delores said.
When an old house 222 N. Washington street became available, they bought it and have had the business there ever since.
Around the same time the Hills purchased the business, they convinced their son Casey, who at the time was attending college in Charlotte, to return to Rutherfordton and work with them.
“I wish I had gotten into it at Casey's age,” Dennis said of his son, who is in his 40s.
Through more than two decades, Casey and his parents have come to embrace the insurance business. The Hills were flexible, and adapted, when the health insurance landscape changed in a dramatic way just over 12 years ago in March, 2010 with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.”
“Obamacare changed a lot of things,” Dennis explained.
For many small-sized companies, they could no longer afford to provide group insurance for their employees. But the trade-off is that it is often less expensive for these people to purchase their own insurance, on an individual basis. And, big insurance companies can no longer discriminate against potential customers because of “pre-existing conditions.”
“We don't really go and service the smaller companies anymore for group health insurance,” Dennis said, “because these companies aren't offering group health insurance.”
However, the Hills stay very busy, especially during the “open enrollment” period, usually Oct. 15 through Dec 15, assisting individuals. That's the time when a person can officially buy new health insurance. There are some conditions that allow an individual to sign up for new insurance at any time of the year, (including job changes, marriage, or move to another state), but generally, according to Dennis, 80% of their new business comes during the “open enrollment” period.
The agency offers a variety of health-related insurance products including individual policies, Medicare supplement policies, and “supplemental” health insurance that helps with out-of-pocket expenses that may not be covered by major medical insurance in the event of accident or serious illness.
Casey primarily focuses on clients under age 65, while his parents usually serve those 65 and older.
“We don't do other kinds of insurance,” Dennis said. “But we did think about it at one time.”
The Hill Agency is independent, and is able to offer insurance products through several major insurers..
“Independent agents are able to give you more options,” Casey said. “Some may be a better fit for a person than others.”
Dennis said “We sell all three of the big ones...Blue Cross, Mutual of Omaha and Aetna. We don't favor one over the other. For supplemental, we only sell Aflac.”
When a customer comes in the door at the N. Washington Street office, they know that one of the Hills will be there, and will answer their questions. Some of the customers have been coming through the door for years.
Sometimes, like when they are giving advice, or helping an individual sign up through the Affordable Care Act, the individual pays nothing to the Hills.
“Sometimes they just need a little help, rather than trying to sign up online by themselves. And, we are happy to do that,” Dennis said.
“We make an effort to treat everyone the same,” said Casey.
“If someone comes into our office, and has a good experience, then in the long run that's good for us. We genuinely want them to be satisfied,” Dennis said. “If they have a good experience, then they will tell others.”
Sharing with others about these positive experiences, helps sustain the business.
“We have had other independent agents come to us, and talk about us taking over their clients after they retire,” Dennis said. “And that makes you feel good, that they trust us as well.”
The Hills know they are helping their customers, and believe they are needed.
“I can't retire now,” Dennis said. “The clients need us.”
Operating a successful family business, the Hills clearly know each other well. And they understand that even though family members may love each other, not all families could work together harmoniously.
“I always heard the saying, you can't work with family,” Dennis said. “But that's just not true with us.”
Casey says communication is a key.
“And, you have to respect each other. We understand each other, and we know that we need each other and have to work together for this business to be successful,” Casey added.
Casey has not considered retirement. Dennis and Delores also say retirement is not an option for them at this time. All three appreciate the flexible schedule their business allows them to have, and they like making a difference in the lives of their customers.
