2010 Media Coverage & News

Jul 26, 2010 - Mental health coverage progresses
Lifting limits on treatment hailed as workplace improvement by some experts, but employers not always enthusiastic
Source: Chicago Tribune

Jul 19, 2010 - 100 Largest Brokers of U.S. Business

Source:

Jun 30, 2010 - Steven J. Topel Joins The Horton Group
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 30, 2010: We are pleased to announce Steven J. Topel has joined The Horton Group as President and Chief Sales Officer. Steve joins The Horton Group following a career as President of JMB Insurance. Prior to joining JMB, Steve spent 19 years with Mesirow Insurance Services as Sr. Managing Director.
Source: The Horton Group

Jun 22, 2010 - District may counter insurance increase with wellness effort

Rick Klein, senior vice president of The Horton Group, says the theory behind wellness is it increases the general health of employees, thereby lowering the cost of insurance premiums. Having healthier employees, the district would also gain work productivity and lower worker compensation claims.

Klein, in fact, said about 85 percent of premium costs are spent on curative, or remedy, claims, while only 3 percent of costs are spent on prevention. Klein said 87.5 percent of health claims are related to an individual’s lifestyle, such as smoking, physical inactivity and obesity.

Source: Morris Daily Herald

Jun 21, 2010 - Specialized Independence
What began with two brothers running separate, personalized agencies from their homes in the suburbs of Chicago has flourished into one of the largest privately-held firms in the Midwest.
Source: Business Insurance Journal

Jun 18, 2010 - Orland Park to Debut on the Silver Screen
The Orland Park Police Station may have already made its big screen debut, with a small role in the recently released remake of "The Nightmare on Elm Street," but several Orland Park residents and businesses will make their silver screen debut in "DINKs."
Source: Orland Park Prairie

Jun 17, 2010 - A Fun Run
Horton Group President and CEO Glenn Horton led a group of runners and walkers on a 5K run/walk through Orland Park on Thursday, May 27 to promote wellness. The group started at the Horton Group office, 10320 Orland Parkway, in the late afternoon. An array of employees and divisions were represented, and the Horton Group plans to have more runs later this summer, according to Robin Bettenhausen, the company's director of operations.
Source: Orland Park Prairie

Apr 23, 2010 - Illinois Receive Prestigious Herndon Award
Mike Wojcik, Senior Vice President of  The Horton Group and Big "I" National Health Care Task Force Member, accepts the award on behalf of IIA of Illinois.
Source: Insurance Insightes

Apr 03, 2010 - Succeeding with public entity business: Price vs. cost
Charles Hix of Hix Insurance, Boulder, Colo., and John Hamer of The Horton Group, Waukesha, Wis., are committed public entity marketers. As retail providers of insurance to municipalities, educational institutions and other special districts, they are on the front lines of public entity sales.
Source: American Agent & Broker, BY: Mark McCrary, ARM, AIC

Mar 23, 2010 - Business owners have more questions about health care law

For most Southland small businesses, though, the new health care bill poses more questions than it answers.

"What will this bill do to reduce the cost of medical service?" asked Rick Klein, a senior vice president for The Horton Group, an insurance brokerage in Orland Park, and vice chairman of the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce. "What is it going to do to reduce the cost of MRI, the cost of an office visit?"

Source: Lauren Fitzpatrick, Southtown Star

Mar 15, 2010 - The Horton Group Named Blue Diamond Agency by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

The Horton Group earns top recognition as a Blue Diamond Agency from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois...

Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Feb 02, 2010 - All You Need Is (g)Love and Coats For Kids Foundation Donate Winter Clothing to CPS Homeless Students
More than 300 homeless and needy Chicago Public Schools students received winter clothing to help keep them warm this season thanks to a partnership donation from the All You Need Is (g)Love winter clothing drive and the Coats For Kids Foundation Chicago office.
Source: Chicago Public Schools

Jan 01, 2010 - Insurance rates remaining flat
The Horton Group insurance brokerage anticipates overall rate reductions of 1 to 5 percent, said Robert McIntyre, Waukesha branch president. Businesses’ costs for the insurance also will drop because of their reduced coverage needs in the weak economy, he said.
Source: The Business Journal

2009 Media Coverage & News

Dec 24, 2009 - The Horton Group Named a 2009 Best Practices Agency
Each year since 1993, IIABA and Reagan Consulting have studied the leading agencies and brokers in the country. We salute these firms for their participation in this year’s study and congratulate them for their outstanding performance.
Source: IIABA & Regan Consulting

Dec 22, 2009 - Agency Profile: The Horton Group
In 1971, two brothers from Orland Park, Ill., crane operators by day and insurance men by night, began a small enterprise known as The Horton Group.
Source: FCCI Cornerstone

Nov 27, 2009 - Firm finds wellness program builds healthy bottom line

Two years after implementing a workplace wellness program, Robinson Engineering reports a 10:1 return on investment.

Denise St. Pierre, organizational development manager for the South Holland-based municipal civil engineering firm, said most of the company’s 108 employees were excited about a wellness program.

Source: Katie Morell, Business Ledger

Nov 23, 2009 - Business owners worry insurance mandate could sink them
Nine employees rely on a group health insurance plan offered by B & F Fabricating in South Chicago Heights. But co-owner Frank Bednarek worries health care reform being considered by Congress could drive up costs, affecting the company's ability to offer insurance.
Source: Carole Sharwarko, The Southtown Star

Nov 19, 2009 - City Workers' Cost for Insurance Rises
Soaring city health insurance bills have prompted the Hobart City Council to pass the buck to the 210 workers on the city payroll.
Source: Karen Snelling, Post-Tribune

Nov 01, 2009 - The Company With 100% Wellness Participation

Workplace wellness programs often provide employers with positive results, such as happier employees, reduced absenteeism and a strong return on investment. As a rule, the third year of a well...
Source: Risk & Insurance

Oct 13, 2009 - The Horton Group Sponsors the Chicago Southland Manufacturing Summit at GSU
University Park, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Members of the Chicagoland business, industry, and entrepreneurship communities will have the opportunity to meet and discuss the issue and concerns...
Source: eNews Park Forest

Oct 13, 2009 - A Great Grand Opening and Golf Outing
An estimated 800 to 1,000 residents, supporters, alumni and others experienced the “new” Greenfield High School first-hand at the Grand Opening Ceremony in the new Performing Arts Center and during to
Source: Greenfield Now

Sep 16, 2009 - THE HORTON GROUP Recognized as an American Heart Association Start! Fit-Friendly Company
Orland Park, September 22nd – THE HORTON GROUP has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association’s Start! movement for helping employees eat better
Source: American Heart Association

Sep 11, 2009 - 911 Day of Service
Under the new law, the anniversary of 9/11 would be observed annually in ways somewhat similar to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, although it intentionally will not be a federal holiday...
Source: The Horton Group

Aug 27, 2009 - Health Co-Ops
Mike Wojcik, Vice President of Horton Benefit Solutions, explains the history of Co-Ops and it turns out there are more failures of health insurance cooperatives than there are success stories.
Source: First Business - Beejal Patel

Aug 10, 2009 - Southland Hospital Execs in Accord on Critical Issues
Michael Wojcik, Chamber health care vice chairman and senior vice president of The Horton Group, moderated the discussion, featuring panelists Arnold Kimmel, CEO of Metro South Medical Center...
Source: The Business Ledger

Jul 21, 2009 - The Horton Group Named a Gold Award Winner for the 2009 Well Workplace Award Winners.
View the table of 2009 Well Workplace Award Winners.
Source: WELCO - Wellness Council of America

Jul 20, 2009 - Horton Group Named #56 out of 100 Largest Brokers of U.S. Business
View the table of the 100 Largest Brokers of U.S. Business.
Source: Business Insurance

Jul 16, 2009 - IIA of IL Members Lobbying Hard Against Government Plan Option for Insurance Reform
“It is clear that the grassroots effort of our Health Insurance Agent & Broker Alliance is having an affect, said Mike Wojcik, Sr. Vice President of The Horton Group...
Source: Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois

Jun 26, 2009 - Executive Breakfast
Proteins are better than carbohydrates in the morning.
Source: BizTimes.com - Connie Roethel

Jun 18, 2009 - "Healthiest Companies In America" 2008 Winners
The award, based on clinical evaluations of employee participants across an index of key health indicators, was designed by Interactive Health Solutions (IHS), Arlington Heights, Ill., the leading...
Source: Interactive Health Solutions

Jun 05, 2009 - Insurers: Rich benefit plans are over in Wisconsin
Health care insurance executives and brokers say the “rich” benefit plans enjoyed for decades by Wisconsin employees are being phased out, leaving more workers looking for ways to pay for their own...
Source: Business Journal - Corrine Hess

Apr 27, 2009 - Cut-Rate? Less so
Low-price insurers like Geico are joining bigger competitors State Farm and Allstate in raising auto rates in Illinois, making savings harder to find for recession-battered consumers.
Source: Crains Business, Weekly Business Briefing - Daniel Stevens

Mar 22, 2009 - Health Plan Analysis
A review of the current state of healthcare in Wisconsin.
Source: HealthLeaders InterStudy - Ric Gross

Mar 18, 2009 - Better Health (Podcast)
How do you make sure you still have medical coverage after losing a job? Listen up!
Source: NBC Chicago Podcast - Radio interview by Dr. Sandy Goldberg with Fred Garfield, Senior Vice President, Horton Benefit Services

Mar 06, 2009 - COBRA confusion? Your questions answered. (Blog)
A lot of you have probably heard about recent changes to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. COBRA gives workers and their...
Source: chicagopublicradio.org - Contributor Mary Gustafson with Fred Garfield, Senior Vice President, Horton Benefit Services

Mar 05, 2009 - AIG Private Client Group Announcement From AIG President
Letter from the president of AIG Private Client Group.
Source: AIG

2008 Media Coverage & News

Sep 08, 2008 - The Horton Group Featured in Assurex Global Quarterly Update Partner Profile
The Horton Group has created an impressive organization since its inception in 1971 as an 8 person insurance agency in Orland Park, Illinois, just outside...
Source: Assurex

Aug 29, 2008 - The Horton Group Receives 2008 Best of Schererville Award
The Horton Group Receives 2008 Best of Schererville Award. U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement.
Source: U.S. Local Business Association

Aug 13, 2008 - The Horton Group Named One of 2007's Healthiest Companies in America
The Horton Group has award winning health. For the 2008 calendar year, 103 award-winners nationwide have been identified based on their IHI metrics.
Source: Healthiest Companies in America

May 02, 2008 - Horton Group's Waukesha Office Forms International Practice
The Waukesha office of The Horton Group, a Chicago-based insurance, risk management and employee benefits firm, has experienced significant growth in the first quarter – and a significant part of...
Source: BizTimes.com - Eric Decker

2007 Media Coverage & News

Oct 24, 2007 - Horton Workers Shed Pounds
This time last year, the water cooler talk at Orland Park-based insurance firm Horton Group was different than it is today. With collegial bravado, employees compare notes on how much physical...
Source: Daily Southtown

Feb 28, 2007 - Employers Encourage Healthier Lifestyles
Desperate bosses to workers: Please, just walk a few blocks. Take the stairs once in a while. We will give you cash. It doesn't seem like it should be this complicated, but this is where we are...
Source: Daily Southtown