Best Cheap Insurance Quotes

The tragic death of Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau this week illustrates the importance of both active risk management when it comes to employee safety and the need for employers to maintain employment liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

Since the tragedy, videos from observers and tourist have been produced showing the trainer moments before the attack. It has been reported that videos of the attack have been given to Sea World authorities, but excuse me if I don’t put up a link. The point is, OSHA and state authorities are investigating the incident and, in the age of instant video, any employer mistakes are immediately available for both professional investigators and the less informed media.

GEICO has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway since 1996. In that time, GEICO has become the third largest auto insurer in the U.S. Personally, I like the fact that small business owners can get an online quote for commercial auto insurance from GEICO’s commercial auto division.

The CEO of Berkshire-Hathaway is Warren Buffet. Mr. Buffet is virtually worshiped in financial circles and his keen investing insight is eagerly sought out by investors. GEICO had been quiet about its association with Mr. Buffet. However, a new ad campaign pairs the famous GEICO Gecko and Mr. Buffet stating, “Warren Buffett and the gecko. They go together like pie and chips.”

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today unveiled a new report, “Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System.” It is aimed at health insurance rate increases demanded by insurers across the United States. It also comes on the heels of Anthem of California’s quest for a 39% rate increase for individual insureds in California.

Secretary Sebelius scheduled an 11:30 a.m. news conference that was also available as a webcast. In answer to a question asking whether the insurers’ claims that the rate increases were reflective of rising insurance costs, Secretary Sebelius pointed out the following (echoed in the report):

Many readers are out of the office today celebrating Presidents’ Day by buying furniture or attending white sales. I write that in jest. I hope all are spending time with their families and enjoying the day.

Throughout U.S. history, presidents have often struggled with the issue of what role (if any), government should have in the insurance market. For example, this quote:

“the time is at hand this year to bring comprehensive, high quality health care within the reach of every American. I shall propose a sweeping new program that will assure comprehensive health insurance protection to millions of Americans who cannot now obtain it or afford it, with vastly improved protection against catastrophic illnesses. This will be a plan that maintains the high standards of quality in America’s health care.”

Anthem Blue Cross in California has announced premium increases of up to 39% for its members and have defended that increase in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. As pointed out in that letter, the “39% figure” is the worse case scenario for some members.

Anthem blames the need for the increase on declining membership and skyrocketing medical costs.

So, just for curiosity, I took a look at WellPoint, Inc.’s end of 2009 financial report. WellPoint owns Anthem in California. In fact, they probably own a significant share of any health insurance in your state. “WellPoint is the nation’s largest health benefits company, with approximately 34 million members in its affiliated health plans.”