A.M. Best Takes Various Rating Actions on 27 PD Health Maintenance Organizations.OLDWICK, N.J. -- A.M. Best Co. has affirmed af·firm v. af·firmed, af·firm·ing, af·firms v.tr. 1. To declare positively or firmly; maintain to be true. 2. To support or uphold the validity of; confirm. v.intr. the public data (pd) financial strength ratings of 17 health maintenance organizations (HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, ), downgraded two HMO pd ratings and upgraded eight HMO pd ratings. These pd ratings are based solely upon public information and present the most informed view A.M. Best can offer, short of an insurer An individual or company who, through a contractual agreement, undertakes to compensate specified losses, liability, or damages incurred by another individual. An insurer is frequently an insurance company and is also known as an underwriter. participating in the full interactive rating process. A.M. Best's pd ratings are assigned as·sign tr.v. as·signed, as·sign·ing, as·signs 1. To set apart for a particular purpose; designate: assigned a day for the inspection. 2. to insurers in select markets that do not subscribe to Verb 1. subscribe to - receive or obtain regularly; "We take the Times every day" subscribe, take buy, purchase - obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; "The family purchased a new car"; "The conglomerate acquired a new company"; A.M. Best's interactive rating process. A.M. Best uses the same rating scale and definitions as it does for its long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. financial strength interactive ratings but applies a pd rating modifier (programming) modifier - An operation that alters the state of an object. Modifiers often have names that begin with "set" and corresponding selector functions whose names begin with "get". to ensure the user is aware of the more limited information basis for the rating. An interactive A.M. Best rating is produced at the request of the insurer. The interactive rating process includes detailed interviews of senior management and access to non-public data and other information. Currently, the companies that participate in the interactive rating process collectively represent a significant percentage of market share in the U.S. Health Insurance industry. The pd rating process is based on the statutory filings of the companies and an A.M. Best committee review of the company's financial strength, along with current market conditions in which the company operates. A.M. Best's HMO pd ratings will be released regularly over the next three months. Each month, A.M. Best will provide an update of the recent rating actions. A.M. Best has affirmed the pd ratings for the following HMO companies:
Company Rating
Community Health Plan of Washington B+ (Very Good)
Fallon Community Health Plan, Inc. B (Fair)
Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation B (Fair)
Health Partners of Philadelphia, Inc. C+ (Marginal)
Santa Clara County C+ (Marginal)
Inter Valley Health Plan, Inc. D (Poor)
IHC Health Plans, Inc. B (Fair)
M-Plan, Inc. C++ (Marginal)
PreferredOne Community Health Plan B+ (Very Good)
Columbia United Providers, Inc. B- (Fair)
Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc. B- (Fair)
Scripps Clinic Health Plan Services, Inc. C (Weak)
HealthPlus Partners, Inc. C (Weak)
Health Alliance Plan of Michigan B++ (Very Good)
Welborn Clinic C+ (Marginal)
Aloha Care B (Fair)
DentiCare, Inc. C++ (Marginal)
A.M. Best has upgraded the pd ratings of the following HMO companies:
IU Health Plan, Inc. C+ (Marginal)
Select Health of South Carolina, Inc. C++ (Marginal)
Group Health Cooperative B+ (Very Good)
Group Health Coop of Eau Claire B- (Fair)
Preferred Plus of Kansas, Inc. B- (Fair)
The Health Plan of Upper Ohio Valley, Inc. B- (Fair)
HMO of Northeastern Pennsylvania B (Fair)
Sharp Health Plan B- (Fair)
A.M. Best has downgraded the pd ratings of the
following HMO companies:
Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania, Inc. C+ (Marginal)
New West Health Services C- (Weak)
A.M. Best Co., established in 1899, is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit A.M. Best's Web site at www.ambest.com. |
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