Best's Rating Changes.This summary of Best's Rating Best's rating A rating A.M. Best Co. assigns to insurance companies based on the company's ability to meet its obligations to its policyholders. Changes includes life, health-care and property/casualty insurers domiciled dom·i·cile n. 1. A residence; a home. 2. One's legal residence. v. dom·i·ciled, dom·i·cil·ing, dom·i·ciles v.tr. 1. in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , as well as international insurers, that had ratings 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. , changed or placed under review since this section last appeared in the November November: see month. 2003 edition of Best's Review. Best's Rating Changes is an abbreviated version of Best's Rating Monitor, which is published in BestWeek, our weekly insurance industry newsletter. See page 17 for the Guide to Best's Financial Strength Ratings or visit the A.M. Best Co. Web site at www.ambest.com/ratings/guide.html for detailed rating definitions. The A.M. Best rating of aw company and basic company information are also available free of charge at the Web site.
Ratings Changed
Rating Current Previous
Action Company Name & Domicile AMB# Rating Rating
Life/Health
+ AIG Annuity Insurance Company 07235 A++ A+
US: Texas
- American Family Life Insurance 06052 A A+
Company
US: Wisconsin
+ American General Assurance 06989 A++ A+
Company
US: Illinois
+ American General Life and Acc 06788 A++ A+
Ins Co
US: Tennessee
+ American General Life Insurance 06058 A++ A+
Company
US: Texas
Associates Financial Life 07422 NR-5 A+
Insurance Co
US: Tennessee
- ERC Life Reinsurance Corporation 08928 A- A
US: Missouri
- First Colony Life Insurance 06403 A+ A++
Company
US: Virginia
+ Guarantee Reserve Life Insurance 06502 A- B++
Company
US: Indiana
New Hawaii Dental Service 58183 A- NR-5
US: Hawaii
- Liberty Bankers Life Insurance 07011 B B+ u
Company
US: Iowa
- Reassure America Life Insurance 06676 A+ A++
Company
US: Illinois
+ Sage Life Assurance of America 09059 A- B++ u
Inc
US: Delaware
Security-Connecticut Life 07026 NR-5 A
Insurance Co
US: Minnesota
+ Southwestern Life Insurance 07063 A- B++
Company
US: Texas
- Swiss Re Life & Health America 07283 A+ A++
Inc
US: Connecticut
- Swiss Re Life & Health Canada 66803 A+ A++
Canada: Ontario
+ United States Life Ins in the 07192 A++ A+
City of NY
US: New York
+ Variable Annuity Life Insurance 07208 A++ A+
Co
US: Texas
Woodmen Accident and Life 07257 NR-5 A-
Company
US: Nebraska
HMO
64074 B- C pd
New AvMed Inc
US: Florida
Health Net of Pennsylvania Inc 68818 NR-3 B++
US: Pennsylvania
Property/Casualty
New Alliance of Nonprofits for 18532 B++
Insurance Grp
US: California
- American Family Insurance 11789 A A+
Company
US: Ohio
- American Family Insurance Group 00124 A A+
US: Wisconsin
- American Family Mutual Insurance 02022 A A+
Company
US: Wisconsin
- American Standard Insurance Co 11790 A A+
of OH
US: Ohio
- American Standard Insurance Co 02023 A A+
of WI
US: Wisconsin
New Aspen Specialty Insurance 12630 A-
Company
US: North Dakota
New Associated Industries Insurance 11693 B B+
Co, Inc
US: Florida
- Atlantic Lloyds Insurance 02849 B++ A- u
Company of TX
US: Texas
- Atlantic Mutual Companies 00178 B++ A- u
US: New York
- Atlantic Mutual Insurance 02063 B++ A- u
Company
US: New York
- Atlantic Specialty Insurance 00506 B++ A- u
Company
US: New York
Austin Mutual Group 04914 NR-5 A-
US: Minnesota
- Centennial Insurance Company 02064 B++ A- u
US: New York
- Coachman Insurance Company 86547 B B+
Canada: Ontario
- Colorado Western Insurance 11073 B B++
Company
US: Colorado
- Commercial Risk Re-Insurance 11378 B+ B++ u
Company
US: Vermont
- Danbury Insurance Company 11046 B++ A-
US: Massachusetts
+ Direct General Insurance Company 12040 B B-
US: South Carolina
+ Direct General Insurance Company 12130 B B-
of MS
US: Mississippi
+ Direct General Insurance Group 18594 B B-
US: Tennessee
+ Direct Insurance Company 11320 B B-
US: Tennessee
+ Direct Insurance Group 18448 B B-
US: Tennessee
- Eagle Insurance Group (WA) 18007 D C++ u
US: Washington
- Eagle Pacific Insurance Company 03803 D C++ u
US: Washington
- Fire Districts of NY Mutual Ins 03788 B+ B++
Co, Inc
US: New York
- Hingham Group 18284 B++ A-
US: Massachusetts
- Hingham Mutual Fire Insurance 00478 B++ A-
Company
US: Massachusetts
- Insurance Corporation of 02643 A A+ u
Hannover
US: Illinois
+ Kemper Employers Insurance 11755 A- D u
Company
US: Illinois
New LA United Businesses Self 74168 A-
Insurers
US: Louisiana
- North American Capacity 11135 A+ A++
Insurance Co
US: New Hampshire
- North American Elite Insurance 10617 A+ A++
Company
US: New Hampshire
- North American Specialty 01866 A+ A++
Insurance Co
US: New Hampshire
Northern Mutual Insurance 04799 NR-5 A-
Company (MN)
US: Minnesota
Northwestern National Casualty 02373 NR-5 E
Company
US: Texas
- Pacific Eagle Insurance Company 10627 D C++ u
US: California
New Peace Hills General Insurance 86955 B- C++ pd
Company
Canada: Alberta
+ Service Insurance Company, Inc 10631 B++ B+
US: New Jersey
Statewide Insurance Company 02589 NR-4 D
US: Illinois
- Swiss Re America Group 18346 A+ A++
US: New York
- Swiss Reinsurance America 03263 A+ A++
Corporation
US: New York
- Swiss Reinsurance Company Canada 85718 A+ A++
Canada: Ontario
+ United Casualty & Surety 11063 A- B++
Insurance Co
US: Massachusetts
- Washington International 02695 A+ A++
Insurance Co
US: Arizona
- Wayne Mutual Insurance Company 04703 A- A
US: Ohio
International
New African Reinsurance Corporation 83411 A-
Nigeria
New Aioi Insurance Co Ltd 85028 A NR-5
Japan
Caisse Centrale des Assur Mut 86550 NR-5 A+
Agricoles
France
Century Life plc 87269 NR-5 C++ pd
United Kingdom
- Commercial Risk Reinsurance 86514 B+ B++ u
Company Ltd
Bermuda
Cooperators Canada Reins Intl 87868 NR-3 B+
Limited
Ireland
- E+S Reinsurance (Ireland) Ltd 86580 A A+ u
Ireland
- E+S Rueckversicherungs-AG 85064 A A+ u
Germany
- European International Reins Co 85982 A+ A++
Ltd
Barbados
- European Reinsurance Company of 85830 A+ A++
Zurich
Switzerland
- Farmers' Mutual Accident Care 86925 B++ A-
Limited
New Zealand
- Friends Provident Life & 84844 B+ pd B++ pd
Pensions Ltd
United Kingdom
- GE Life Limited 87603 B pd B+ pd
United Kingdom
Groupama Assurances & Services 85586 NR-3 A+
France
Groupama Risques Divers 86542 NR-3 A+
France
- Hannover Life Reassurance 84133 A A+ u
(Ireland) Ltd
Ireland
- Hannover Reinsurance (Ireland) 86581 A A+ u
Limited
Ireland
- Hannover Rueckversicherung AG 85070 A A+ u
Germany
- Hannover Rueckversicherung AG 84092 A A+ u
Germany
- HDI Haftpflichtverband Deutsch 85068 A A+ u
Industrie
Germany
- HDI Reinsurance (Ireland) 86922 A u A+ u
Limited
Ireland
- Hermes Assured Limited 87386 C++ pd B- pd
United Kingdom
- Isis Managed Pension Funds 87436 B+ pd B++ pd
Limited
United Kingdom
- Liverpool Victoria Life Company 87516 C++ pd B- pd
Ltd
United Kingdom
Lloyd's Syndicate 102 47762 NR-3 A- s
United Kingdom
- Marine & General Mut Life Assur 87451 B pd B++ pd
Society
United Kingdom
- Merrill Lynch Pensions Limited 87457 B++ pd A- pd
United Kingdom
- National Westminster Life Assur 87475 B++ pd A- pd
Ltd
United Kingdom
NPI Limited 84152 NR-5 B+ pd
United Kingdom
New New Prudential Assurance Company 87803 A++ NR-5
Limited
United Kingdom
- Royal London Mutual Insurance 87567 B- pd B pd
Soc Ltd
United Kingdom
Scottish Amicable Life plc 84362 NR-3 A- pd
United Kingdom
- Scottish Equitable plc 86884 B+ pd B++ pd
United Kingdom
- Scottish Mutual Assurance Plc 87585 B pd B+ pd
United Kingdom
Scottish Widows Annuities 84159 B+ pd NR-5
Limited
United Kingdom
- Skandia Life Assurance Company 85619 B++ pd A- pd
Limited
United Kingdom
- SR International Business 87600 A+ A++
Insurance Co
United Kingdom
- St. James's Place UK plc 87410 B+ pd B++ pd
United Kingdom
Swiss Life (UK) Plc 87619 NR-5 B+ pd
United Kingdom
- Swiss Re Australia Ltd 87159 A+ A++
Australia
- Swiss Re Germany AG 85993 A+ A++
Germany
- Swiss Re Group 85010 A+ A++
Switzerland
- Swiss Re Ireland, Ltd. 86453 A+ A++
Ireland
- Swiss Re Life & Health Limited 87622 A+ A++
United Kingdom
- Swiss Reinsurance Company 85009 A+ A++
Switzerland
- Swiss Reinsurance Company UK 87621 A+ A++
Limited
United Kingdom
New Tasman Pacific Insurance Limited 89041 B+
New Zealand
Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded;
(New) Assigned initial rating; (u) Rating placed under review
Ratings Under Review
Rating Current Previous
Action Company Name & Domicile AMB# Rating Rating
Life/Health
U Business Men's Assurance Co of 06175 A u A
America
US: Missouri
U Liberty Life Insurance Company 06628 A u A
US: South Carolina
U Midwest Security Life Insurance 08297 A- u A-
Company
US: Wisconsin
U Unimerica Insurance Company 09065 A u A
US: Wisconsin
U Unimerica Life Insurance Company 60392 A u A
of NY
US: New York
U United HealthCare Insurance Co 60071 A+ u A+
of IL
US: Illinois
U United HealthCare Insurance Co 60108 A+ u A+
of NY
US: New York
U United HealthCare Insurance Co 60046 A+ u A+
of OH
US: Ohio
U United HealthCare Insurance 08290 A+ u A+
Company
US: Connecticut
HMO
U AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc 64214 A- u A-
US: New Jersey
U AmeriChoice of New York 64290 A- u A-
US: New York
U AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania Inc 64159 A- u A-
US: Pennsylvania
U United HealthCare of Alabama Inc 68500 A u A
US: Alabama
U United HealthCare of Arizona Inc 68847 A- u A-
US: Arizona
U United HealthCare of Arkansas 68914 A u A
Inc
US: Arkansas
U United HealthCare of Colorado 68848 A- u A-
Inc
US: Colorado
U United HealthCare of Florida Inc 68782 A u A
US: Florida
U United HealthCare of Georgia Inc 68893 A u A
US: Georgia
U United Healthcare of Illinois 68532 A u A
Inc
US: Illinois
U United HealthCare of Kentucky 68690 A- u A-
Ltd
US: Kentucky
U United HealthCare of Louisiana 68661 A- u A-
Inc
US: Louisiana
U United HealthCare of Mississippi 60118 A- u A-
Inc
US: Mississippi
U United Healthcare of New England 68891 A u A
Inc
US: Rhode Island
U United HealthCare of Ohio Inc 68580 A u A
US: Ohio
U United HealthCare of Tennessee 68730 A- u A-
Inc
US: Tennessee
U United HealthCare of Texas Inc 68841 A- u A-
US: Texas
U United Healthcare of the 68987 A- u A-
Mid-Atlantic
US: Maryland
U United HealthCare of the 68892 A u A
Midlands Inc
US: Nebraska
U United HealthCare of the Midwest 68560 A u A
Inc
US: Missouri
U United HealthCare of Utah 68770 A- u A-
US: Utah
U UnitedHealthcare of New Jersey 68855 A- u A-
US: New Jersey
U UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc 68856 A u A
US: New York
U UnitedHealthcare of North 68572 A u A
Carolina Inc
US: North Carolina
U United Healthcare of Wisconsin 68824 A u A
Inc
US: Wisconsin
Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded;
(New) Assigned initial rating; (u) Rating placed under review
GUIDE TO BEST'S FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATINGS
A Best's Rating is an independent opinion, based on a comprehensive
quantitative and qualitative evaluation, of a company's balance sheet
strength, operating performance and business profile. Best's Ratings
are not a warranty of a company's financial strength and ability to
meet its obligations to policyholders.
Financial Strength Ratings
A Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR) is an opinion of an insurer's
ability to meet its obligations to policyholders.
Rating Descriptor Definition
Secure
A++, A+ Superior Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a superior ability to meet their
ongoing obligations to policyholders.
A, A- Excellent Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, an excellent ability to meet their
ongoing obligations to policyholders.
B++, B+ Very Good Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a good ability to meet their ongoing
obligations to policyholders.
Vulnerable
B, B- Fair Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a fair ability to meet their current
obligations to policyholders, but are
financially vulnerable to adverse changes in
underwriting and economic conditions.
C++, C+ Marginal Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a marginal ability to meet their
current obligations to policyholders, but are
financially vulnerable to adverse changes in
underwriting and economic conditions.
C, C- Weak Assigned to companies that have, in our
opinion, a weak ability to meet their current
obligations to policyholders, but are
financially very vulnerable to adverse
changes in underwriting and economic
conditions.
D Poor Assigned to companies that, in our opinion,
may not have an ability to meet their current
obligations to policyholders and are
financially extremely vulnerable to adverse
changes in underwriting and economic
conditions.
E Under Assigned to companies (and possibly their
Regulatory subsidiaries/affiliates) that have been
Supervision placed by an insurance regulatory authority
under a significant form of supervision,
control or restraint where-by they are no
longer allowed to conduct normal ongoing
insurance operations. This would include
conservatorship or rehabilitation, but does
not include liquidation. It may also be
assigned to companies issued cease and desist
orders by regulators outside their home state
or country.
F In Assigned to companies that have been placed
Liquidation under an order of liquidation by a court of
law or whose owners have voluntarily agreed
to liquidate the company. Note: Companies
that voluntarily liquidate or dissolve their
charters are generally not insolvent.
S Suspended Assigned to companies that have experienced
sudden and significant events affecting their
balance sheet strength or operating
performance and whose rating implications
cannot be evaluated due to a lack of timely
or adequate information.
Rating Modifiers and Affiliation Codes
A rating modifier can be assigned to indicate that a Best's Rating may
be subject to near term change (under review), that a company did not
subscribe to Best's interactive rating process (public data) and that
the rating is assigned to a syndicate operating at Lloyd's. Affiliation
codes (g, p, and r) are added to Best's Ratings to identify companies
whose assigned ratings are based on group, pooling or reinsurance
affiliation with other insurers.
Modifier Descriptor Definition
Rating Modifiers
u Under A modifier that generally is event-driven
Review (positive, negative or developing) and is
assigned to a company whose Best's Rating
opinion is under review and may be subject to
change in the near-term, generally defined
as six months.
pd Public Data Assigned to insurers that do not subscribe to
Best's interactive rating process. Best's "pd"
Ratings reflect qualitative and quantitative
analyses using public data and information.
s Syndicate Assigned to syndicates operating at Lloyd's.
Affiliation Codes g Group p Pooled r Reinsured
Not Rated Categories (NR)
Assigned to companies reported on by A.M. Best, but not assigned a
Best's Rating. The five categories are:
NR-1: Insufficient NR-2: Insufficient Size NR-3: Rating Procedure
Data. and/or Operating Inapplicable.
Experience.
NR-4: Company NR-5: Not Formally
Request. Followed.
Rating Outlook
Best's interactive Ratings (A++ to D) are assigned a Rating Outlook
that indicates the potential direction of a company's rating for an
intermediate period, generally defined as the next 12 to 36 months.
Rating Outlooks, which appear in the rating rationale section of the
company's Best's Company Report, are as follows:
Positive Indicates a company's financial/market trends are favorable,
relative to its current rating level and, if continued, the
company has a good possibility of having its rating
upgraded.
Negative Indicates a company is experiencing unfavorable financial/
market trends, relative to its current rating level and, if
continued, the company has a good possibility of having its
rating downgraded.
Stable Indicates a company is experiencing stable financial/market
trends and there is a low likelihood that its rating will
change in the near term.
Best's Ratings are distributed via press release and/or the A.M. Best
Web site at www.ambest.com, and are published in the Rating Monitor
section of BestWeek[R]. Best's Ratings are proprietary and may not
be reproduced without permission.
Copyright [c] 2003 by A.M. Best Company, Inc.
Version 071503
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion