In 1972, three young men, Tom, Rick and Harry Naught, moved to Jefferson City and started a small insurance agency. Soon word spread of their honesty and genuine customer interest, and today Naught-Naught Insurance now services the entire mid-Missouri area and is one of the largest insurance agencies in Missouri.
In celebrating MEM’s 25th Anniversary, we caught up with Rick Naught, to get his perspective on being one of MEM’s agency partners from the beginning. Naught-Naught was MEM’s ninth agency, taking a chance on a new work comp carrier backed by the state.
MEM was created in 1993 by the Missouri legislature to address a need in the state’s workers compensation market. Prior to MEM opening, a growing number of businesses were forced into the assigned risk pool. Rates in the pool were high and service was lacking.
“It seems longer than 25 years,” said Naught, remembering his first visit to the MEM office. “I’ve always compared MEM to Texas Mutual Insurance Company. Several years ago, they gave up their assigned risk attitude and became user friendly to the agent. They, like MEM, are still one of our favorite carriers to work with.”
Naught-Naught credits MEM with continued loss control improvements for safer workplaces and increased competition to drive down rates.
“25 years ago, we received medical bills and they were paid as presented,” said Naught. “Finally, we found the provider networks and asked for discounts from the providers and started learning that a safe workplace does make a difference.”
Today, MEM continues to prioritize safe workplaces, offering more safety services and consultations than other carriers and for all size accounts – from small businesses to large companies. That’s why more than 85% of MEM policyholders are injury-free each year.
This success would not be possible without strong relationships with agency partners like Naught-Naught Insurance Agency. We continue to grow together, providing unmatched service and resources for the businesses we serve.
Learn more about becoming an appointed agency with MEM or check out our 25th anniversary timeline.