How much do health insurance companies spend on executive security? It might be less than you think.

Main Idea: Brian Thompson’s death has renewed attention on how much companies, including health insurance firms, spend on executive security, which is often far less than many people assume.

Key Points:

• Public filings show that most companies report executive security costs under “other compensation,” but some security spending may not appear if executives pay for it themselves.
• UnitedHealth Group reported no personal security payment for Thompson in 2023, and his boss, Andrew Witty, also received no direct security payment, though he was told to use company aircraft for safety reasons.
• Other health insurance companies also showed modest security spending, with some costs covered by private travel, home monitoring, or personal protection benefits.
• The article says around-the-clock protection can cost about $100,000 a month, so full security details are usually reserved for only the most high-profile leaders, unlike the larger packages seen at tech giants.