Carrier comparison
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies vs. Great American Insurance Group for Workers' Comp
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group are two workers' compensation carriers we can quote side by side through Provident Financial Group, an independent agency. On one application we present every carrier we can access, ranked, so you can compare and purchase online.
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group take different approaches to workers' compensation for small businesses. The details below come directly from each carrier's record on this site — we present the facts we have verified so you can compare them directly, then request quotes through our agency. We do not rank one carrier above another; we show every option side by side.
When you submit one application through US Workers Comp Insure, we request quotes from every carrier we can access for your class code and state, including both Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group where each carrier's appetite and underwriting criteria allow it. A carrier that declines is shown honestly rather than hidden, and a licensed agent at Provident Financial Group can explain why and what alternatives remain.
The two carriers
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD is a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania-based workers' comp and commercial-lines group founded in 1983 and acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2012. Its member companies (AmGUARD, EastGUARD, NorGUARD, WestGUARD) hold an AM Best A+ (Superior) rating and are distributed through independent agents.
- AM Best rating:
- A+ (Superior) (as of 2026-08)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior); Long-Term ICR aa- (Superior), affirmed August 12, 2026
- Member companies include AmGUARD, EastGUARD, NorGUARD, and WestGUARD Insurance Companies
- Owned by Berkshire Hathaway since a 2012 acquisition by National Indemnity Company
- Founded 1983; headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- Distributed through independent agents on a regional basis
- Writes workers' compensation for small and mid-size commercial accounts
Typical fit
- Small and mid-size businesses in regions where GUARD's member companies actively write
- Employers comfortable with a regionally distributed carrier backed by Berkshire Hathaway's balance sheet
- Accounts across a range of standard commercial class codes
- Businesses that prefer working through an independent agent rather than a direct online-only carrier
Great American Insurance Group
Great American Insurance Group dates to 1872, originally chartered in New York City, and is now headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio as a subsidiary of publicly traded American Financial Group. Its lead company carries an AM Best A+ (Superior) rating and writes workers' comp through specialty program units.
- AM Best rating:
- A+ (Superior) (as of 2025-12)
- How it’s quoted:
- Through our agency, alongside other carriers
Workers’ comp highlights
- Lead company Great American Insurance Company rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best, affirmed December 11, 2025
- Traces its history to 1872, originally chartered in New York City as German American Insurance Company
- Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio; subsidiary of publicly traded American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: AFG)
- Writes workers' compensation through dedicated specialty program units
- Operates a broad set of specialty underwriting divisions across industries
- Distributed through independent agents
Typical fit
- Businesses in industries served by one of Great American's specialty program units
- Employers seeking a long-established specialty insurer backed by a publicly traded parent
- Accounts with industry-specific risk characteristics that benefit from a dedicated program
- Businesses working with an independent agent familiar with Great American's specialty divisions
Compare up to 10 carriers in minutes.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
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Side by side
| Attribute | Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies | Great American Insurance Group |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies | Great American Insurance Group |
| AM Best financial strength rating | A+ (Superior) (as of 2026-08) | A+ (Superior) (as of 2025-12) |
| How it's quoted | Through our agency, alongside other carriers | Through our agency, alongside other carriers |
| Typical account fit | Small and mid-size businesses in regions where GUARD's member companies actively write; Employers comfortable with a regionally distributed carrier backed by Berkshire Hathaway's balance sheet; Accounts across a range of standard commercial class codes | Businesses in industries served by one of Great American's specialty program units; Employers seeking a long-established specialty insurer backed by a publicly traded parent; Accounts with industry-specific risk characteristics that benefit from a dedicated program |
| Overview | Berkshire Hathaway GUARD is a Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania-based workers' comp and commercial-lines group founded in 1983 and acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2012. Its member companies (AmGUARD, EastGUARD, NorGUARD, WestGUARD) hold an AM Best A+ (Superior) rating and are distributed through independent agents. | Great American Insurance Group dates to 1872, originally chartered in New York City, and is now headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio as a subsidiary of publicly traded American Financial Group. Its lead company carries an AM Best A+ (Superior) rating and writes workers' comp through specialty program units. |
How each is quoted through our agency
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
Quoted through our agency alongside other carriers; we present every option side by side so you can compare and purchase online.
Great American Insurance Group
Quoted through our agency alongside other carriers; we present every option side by side so you can compare and purchase online.
The bottom line
There is no single "best" carrier between Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group. The right fit depends on your operation, class codes, payroll and how each carrier's underwriting appetite lines up with your account — and that is exactly what one application, sent to every carrier we can access, is built to show you.
Rather than choosing one carrier up front, US Workers Comp Insure requests quotes from every carrier we can access for your state and class code, including Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group where each carrier's criteria allow it, and presents them ranked side by side. A carrier that declines is shown honestly rather than hidden, and a licensed agent at Provident Financial Group can explain why and what alternatives remain.
Frequently asked questions
Are Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group both available through your agency?
Yes. Both are carriers we can present side by side when you request workers' compensation quotes through our agency, alongside the other carriers we can access for your state and class code.
How do Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group compare on AM Best rating?
Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies carries an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) (as of 2026-08), and Great American Insurance Group carries A+ (Superior) (as of 2025-12). Ratings are for identification only and do not imply an endorsement.
Which should I choose, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies or Great American Insurance Group?
There is no single best answer. The right carrier depends on your operation, class codes, payroll and how each carrier's underwriting appetite fits your account. Rather than picking one up front, we request quotes from every carrier we can access and show you a ranked comparison so you can decide.
Do I have to choose only one carrier to get a quote?
No. You submit one application and we request quotes from every carrier we can access for your account — including Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies and Great American Insurance Group where each carrier's criteria allow it — then present them ranked side by side.
Is GUARD Insurance the same as biBERK or THREE?
No. GUARD, biBERK, and THREE are separate Berkshire Hathaway-affiliated insurance operations with different distribution models; GUARD is agent-distributed.
When was GUARD acquired by Berkshire Hathaway?
National Indemnity Company, a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, acquired GUARD Insurance Group in 2012.
Who owns Great American Insurance Group?
Great American Insurance Group's member companies are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.
What is Great American's AM Best rating?
Great American Insurance Company, the group's lead company, carries an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior), affirmed December 11, 2025.
Sources
- guard.com — https://www.guard.com/about-us/
- guard.com — https://www.guard.com/blog/2026/08/21/bh-guards-a-superior-credit-rating-affirmed-by-am-best/
- guard.com — https://www.guard.com/a-m-best/
- en.wikipedia.org — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire_Hathaway_GUARD_Insurance_Companies
- greatamericaninsurancegroup.com — https://www.greatamericaninsurancegroup.com/about-us/financial-strength
- greatamericaninsurancegroup.com — https://www.greatamericaninsurancegroup.com/about-us/great-american-story
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents
Carrier names are used for identification only; we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any carrier. Quotes are not offers of insurance; coverage and pricing are determined by each carrier’s underwriting.
US Workers Comp Insure is a brand of Provident Financial Group, a licensed independent insurance agency. NJ resident license; licensed in 23 states — NJ, NY, CT, VT, OH, MI, VA, PA, DE, MD, NC, SC, GA, FL, TX, KY, KS, CA, IN, AZ, DC, MA and NV. State license numbers available on request. We are an independent agency, not an insurer; coverage is underwritten by the issuing carrier and is subject to that policy's terms, conditions, limits and exclusions. Quotes are not offers of insurance, and no coverage is bound until confirmed in writing by a licensed agent. Carrier names are used for identification only; we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any carrier named on this site.
View this comparison at https://usworkerscompinsure.com/compare/berkshire-hathaway-guard-vs-great-american-workers-comp
Compare up to 10 carriers in minutes.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states