When I met Stephen at PJ’s Coffee in Mandeville, I didn’t expect him to look me straight in the eye and tell me he’d rather eat Vienna sausage for a week than sell someone the wrong insurance plan.
I did expect a pitch, charts, jargon. But what I got was a conversation with a friend I never knew I had.
Stephen is one of those rare professionals who genuinely cares about helping you more than he cares about making a sale. It’s a virtue passed down to him through his large Italian family.
He proudly tells me about living on the “Hammond compound” in Mandeville with three generations of family sharing the same street, the same backyard, and even the same meals where his grandmother, at 95, remains the centerpiece of every evening.
“We all go to her house every night for Italian dinner,” Stephen says, smiling.
After an hour or so, I walk away feeling something I wasn’t expecting—that I was part of Stephen’s family. As if, for the whole conversation, I’d been sitting across the table at his Italian family dinner.
And if you’re fortunate enough to cross paths with Stephen Hammond, you’ll see what I mean.
Stephen is a US Health Insurance Agent, and he helps Northshore families save money.
“Self-employed entrepreneurs, business owners, 1099s—those are people I can help most,” he explains. “But people with employer coverage should also pay attention. If you add a spouse and family, those premiums can get pretty high, and you’re often paying more than you should. Most people don’t know that.”
Open Enrollment, in the health insurance world, typically runs from mid-November through mid-January, providing a window for all of us to renew, enroll in, or re-evaluate our health plans for the upcoming year.
“If you’re not offered health insurance by your employer,” Stephen tells me, “or if you’re paying astronomical fees to cover your spouse and kids, Open Enrollment is a great time to explore your options.”
Ten Minutes That Matter
Stephen tells me about a family paying $1,800 a month for insurance.
“They called me and I showed them better options. We found one for $1,000. Same coverage. But I saved them roughly $9,600 a year. What could you do with an extra $800 a month?
“Why not spend ten minutes to see if you can find something more affordable? It’s not a sale. It’s a conversation.”
No Empty Promises
The Open Enrollment period often brings floods of promises and upselling.
But not for Stephen.
“I’ve turned down multiple clients because I knew they could get better coverage from another agent,” he says. “And if I have to eat Vienna sausage for a week because I didn’t make that sale, that’s okay.”
By the end of our conversation, I came to understand why Stephen has become one of the best agents in the business.
Yes, he’s sharp as a tack, super knowledgeable, and leads with an uncanny amount of empathy. But that’s not what makes him unique.
These days, it’s a rare thing for a perfect stranger to treat you like family. But that’s what you’ll experience when you pick up the phone to call Stephen. You’ll get someone who believes that family is the truest kind of coverage.
Invest In What Matters Most
In a city where hurricanes, setbacks, and unexpected what-ifs are part of life, the Open Enrollment season is not only an invitation to save costs. It’s also an opportunity to meet one of the most helpful people on the Northshore.
You won’t get spammed or pressured. But you just might discover, as many Mandeville residents have, what it feels like to save money on health coverage.
“More than anything,” Stephen says, “I love helping families free up budgets for more vacations with family—for investing in what matters most.”
To talk about your options, you can reach Stephen Hammond by phone (985-773-2403), email (stephen.hammond@ushadvisors.com), or Instagram (@StephenHammond_USHA).