Best's Rating Changes.This summary of Best's Rating Best's ratingA rating A.M. Best Co. assigns to insurance companies based on the company's ability to meet its obligations to its policyholders. Changes lists life/health, property/casualty and international insurers, as well as health maintenance organizations, 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 August 2001 edition of Best's Review. Best's Rating Changes is an abbreviated version of Best's Rating Monitor. Previously a stand-alone (jargon) stand-alone - Capable of operating without other programs, libraries, computers, hardware, networks, etc. Exactly what is absent is presumed to be obvious from context. "We only run Windows on stand-alone PCs because it's too dangerous to run it on networked ones." publication, Best's Rating Monitor is now a featured section in Best Week, A.M. Best Co.'s weekly news report. Best's Rating Monitor contains a compilation Compiling a program. See compiler. of all recent rating releases plus supporting rationales for the industry's largest insurance groups and for insurers whose ratings were changed or placed under review. For more information on how to obtain A.M. Best Co. products and publications, including Best's Ratings and Best's Company Reports for individual companies, see page 143. See page 24 for the Current Guide to Best's Ratings or visit www.ambest.com/ratings/access.html for detailed rating definitions.
Ratings Changed
Rating Current
Action Company State AMB# Rating
Life/Health
New Alaska Vision Services, Inc AK 64484 A-
- American Chambers Life Ins Co OH 07869 F
+ American Investors Life Ins Co KS 06075 A
- American United Life Ins Co IN 06109 A
American Vanguard Life Ins Co IA 09113 NR-3
Arbeila Life and Health Ins Co MA 60107 NR-3
- Bankers Life Insurance Co FL 08448 B
Berkshire Life Insurance Co MA 06166 NR-5
New Berkshire Life Ins Co of Amer TN 07409 A+
+ Cherokee National Life Ins Co GA 06214 B++
Citizens Accident and Health AZ 08642 NR-3
- Continental Life Ins Co SC SC 06286 FPR 3
New Eastern Vision Service Plan CA 64483 A-
- Family Guaranty Life Ins Co MS 68415 F
New Foundation Hith Systs L&H Ins CA 06722 A-
- Franklin Protective Life Ins MS 08378 F
Gem Insurance Co UT 09192 NR-2
Hawail Medical Service Assoc'n HI 64035 NR-4
+ HCC Life Insurance Company IN 09081 A
New Health Net Life Ins Co CA 07039 A-
Illinois HealthCare Ins Co IL 60249 NR-5
New Indiana Vision Services, Inc IN 65725 A-
- International Finan Services MO 06484 F
New Investors Insurance Corp DE 06583 A+
Jefferson Life Insurance Co TX 68106 NR-3
New Lifeguard Life Insurance Co CA 08629 B+
New Massachusetts Vision Svc Plan CA 64479 A-
New Mid-Atlantic Vision Service Pl MD 64478 A-
Montana Medical Benefit Plan MT 64501 F
- National Affiliated Investors LA 09411 F
New MexIco Dental Insurance Co NM 64534 F
+ North American Ins Co WI 60015 B+
Paul Revere Protective Life DE 08530 NR-5
New PHS Insurance of Connecticut CT 11825 B++
New Physicians Health Svcs Ins NY NY 11859 B++
Pierce National Life Ins Co CA 06924 NR-5
Provident National Assur Co TN 07289 NR-5
Rushmore Life Insurance Co AZ 68205 NR-3
- State Life Ins Co IN 07082 A
New Vision Care of Oregon, Inc OR 64481 A-
New Vision Service Plan, Inc NV 64474 A-
+ Vision Service Plan Ins Co (CT) CT 11105 A-
New Vision Service Plan Ins Co (MO) MO 11496 A-
New Vision Service Plan of Idaho ID 64482 A-
New Vision Service Plan (OH) OH 64473 A-
New Vision Service Plan (WA) WA 64475 A-
New Vision Service Plan CA 64607 A-
- Western Mutual Ins Co UT 68150 FPR 2
New Wisconsin VIsion Service Plan WI 64477 A-
HMO
AmCare Health Plans of TX TX 64087 NR-5
Cigna HealthCare of NC NC 68873 NR-5
Foundation Hith. a FL Hith Pin FL 64102 NR-3
New Gulf South Health Plans, Inc LA 68759 E
New Health Net CA 68507 A-
New Health Net Health Plan of OR OR 68947 B++
New Health Net of Arizona, Inc AZ 68713 B++
Health Plan Hawaii HI 64226 NR-4
Healthsource NY/NJ, Inc NY 64283 NR-5
New Lifeguard Inc CA 68738 B+
New Physicians Health Svcs of CT CT 68520 B++
New Physicians Health Svcs of NJ NJ 64005 B++
New Physicians Health Svcs of NY NY 68568 B++
+ Priority Health Care Inc VA 68916 A
New QualMed Plans for Health Inc PA 68818 B++
QualMed Plans for Hlth of W PA PA 68586 NR-3
United HealthCare of CA CA 68879 NR-3
Rating Prior
Action Rating
Life/Health
New NR-3
- E
+ A-
- A+
A
FPR 4
- B+
A
New NR-1
+ B
FPR 4
- FPR 4
New NR-3
- E
New FPR 5
- E
FPR 2
A
+ A-
New FPR 5
F
New NR-3
- E
New FPR 3
FPR 3
New FPR 5
New NR-3
New NR-3
NR-5
- E
NR-2
+ B
A+
New NR-1
New NR-1
A-
A+ u
FPR 4
- A+
New NR-3
New NR-3
+ B++
New NR-1
New NR-3
New NR-3
New NR-3
New NR-5
- FPR 4
New NR-3
HMO
B q
A-
B- q
New C+ q
New B+ p
New B q
New B+ q
A
A-
New B+ q
New B- q
New B q
New NR-5
+ A-
New NR-2
B q
A-
+ United HealthCare of Midlands NE 68892 A
- United HealthCare of TX, Inc TX 68841 A-
United HealthCare Plans of PR PR 64061 NR-3
+ United HealthCare of New York NY 68856 A
+ United HealthCare of Upstate NY NY 68844 A
Property/Casualty
New Alea North American Reins Co DE 11432 A-
Allegheny Surety Company PA 10729 NR-5
New Alliance Assurance Co of Amer NY 12466 A
- American Agri-Business Ins Co IA 03175 B++
- American Feed Group IA 18351 B++
- American Feed Industry Ins RRG IA 10730 B++
- American Nat Lawyers Ins Recip TN 11383 A-
- American Select Insurance Co OH 02069 A
- AmGuard Insurance Company PA 00293 B++
New Anglo Canada General Ins Co ON 85705 A
Assurant Group DE 18499 NR-5
New Assurant Insurance Group DE 18523 A
Atlantic Bonding Company MD 10024 NR-5
New Axa Assurances Agricoles Inc PQ 86334 A+
New Axa Assurances Inc PQ 85798 A+
New Axa Insurance (Canada) ON 86239 A
New Axa Pacific Insurance Company BC 86185 A
- Bancinsure Inc OK 00113 A-
- Beacon Ins Co of America OH 02070 A
Bedford Grange Mutual Ins Co PA 04723 NR-5
California Compensation Cas Co CA 12065 NR-5
California Compensation Ins Co CA 00224 NR-5
New California State Auto Group CA 18460 A
- Casualty Reciprocal Exchange MO 02141 B+
Citicorp Assurance Co DE 11259 NR-3
+ CNL/lnsurance America Inc GA 00183 B++
Combined Benefits Ins Co CA 11772 NR-5
Commonwealth Insurance Co (PA) PA 10845 NR-5
Comstock Insurance Company CA 02590 E
Continental Mutual Ins Co PA 04893 NR-5
- Continental National Indem Co OH 10602 B+
Coregis Indemnity Company IL 02780 NR-5
CSAA/AAA MountainWest Group CA 18528 NR-5
- Dakota Fire Insurance Co ND 00311 A-
- Dealers Assurance Company OH 01791 A-
- Doctors Ins Reciprocal RRG TN 11111 A-
- Dodson Group Insurers MO 00314 B+
New Eastern Casualty Group MA 18541 A
New Eastern Casualty Indemnity Co NH 12420 A
- EastGuard Insurance Company PA 00665 B++
New Electric Insurance Group MA 18556 B++
New Electric Uoyd's of Texas TX 12326 B++
- EMC Insurance Companies IA 00346 A-
- EMC Property & Casualty Co IA 02039 A-
- Emcasco Insurance Company IA 02160 A-
- Employers Mutual Casualty Co IA 02161 A-
- Equity Mutual Insurance Co MO 02142 B+
- Farm and City Insurance Co IA 00352 A-
+ Farm Bureau Ins Co of NE NE 00361 A
New First American Corp P/C Cos CA 18511 A
+ First American Specialty Ins CA 00154 A
+ First Delaware Insurance Co DA 10798 A
+ First Patriot Insurance Co PA 03144 A
New Franklin Ins Company PA 12119 A
+ Granada Insurance Company FL 00334 A-
Growers Automobile Ins Assn IN 04800 NR-2
- Guard Insurance Group PA 18331 B++
- Hamilton Mutual Insurance Co OH 00448 A-
- Harco National Insurance Co IL 00960 A-
- Hartford Insurance Co Canada ON 85765 B++q
Hartford Steam Boiler I & I TX TX 11282 NR-3
- Illinois Emcasco Insurance Co IL 03638 A-
New Insurance Corp Newfoundland Lt NF 86579 A
New Machinery Ins. An Assess Mut FL 10638 B+
Mapfre Corporation of Florida FL 18116 NR-5
Mapfre Ins Co of America Inc FL 11045 NR-3
New Medical Mutual Group (MD) MD 05006 A-
New Memic Group ME 18524 A
New Memic Indemnity Company NH 12405 A-
New MLBA Limited Liability Pool MI 11377 B++
- Motor Club of America Ins Co NJ 11031 B
+ Neffaville Mutual Fire Ins Co PA 04613 A
+ Nipponkoa Insurance Co America NY 01909 A+
New Norcal Group CA 18539 A
Norfolk Mutual Insurance Co NE 10519 NR-5
- NorGuard Insurance Company PA 10643 B++
- Northwest Physicians Mut Ins OR 10352 B++
- Ohio Farmers Insurance Co OH 02381 A
+ Old Guard Fire Insurance Co PA 04714 A
+ Old Guard Insurance Company PA 04499 A
Old Guard Insurance Pool PA 05742 NR-5
- Optimum Farm Insurance Inc PQ 87724 B
- Optimum Frontier Insurance Co ON 87070 B
Optimum General Group PQ 98808 NR-5
- Optimum Insurance Company Inc PQ 87091 B
- Optimum Prop & Cas Ins Co TX 01989 B
- Optimum West Insurance Company BC 87019 B
New Penn Mutual Group PA 18531 B
- Penn Mutual Insurance Company PA 00761 B
- Reciprocal Alliance (RRG) TN 11797 A-
- Reciprocal of America VA 03776 A-
Reliant Insurance Company MI 12132 NR-5
New Reliant Insurance Company PA 12461 B
- Republic Indemnity Co of Amer CA 00800 A-
- Republic Indemnity Co of CA CA 01856 A-
- Republic Indemnity Ins Pool CA 03012 A-
+ Seaworthy Insurance Company MD 11390 A-
+ A-
- A
A-
+ A-
+ A-
Property/Casualty
New NR-1
FPR 5
New NR-5
- A-
- A-
- A-
- A
- A+
- A-
New NR-5
A
New NR-5
FPR 4
New B++q
New B++q
New B++q
New B++q
- A
- A+
B+
F
F
New NR-5
- B++
A-
+ B
F
FPR 2
NR-3
FPR 4
- A-
A
A
- A
- A
- A
- B++
New NR-5
New NR-5
- A-
New NR-5
New NR-1
- A
- A
- A
- A
- B++
- A
+ A-
New NR-5
+ A-
+ A-
+ A-
New NR-1
+ B++
B+
- A-
- A
- A
- A+
A+
- A
New B+q
New FPR 4
B
B
New NR-5
New NR-5
New NR-5
New NR-2
- B+
+ A-
+ A u
New NR-5
B
- A-
- A-
- A+
+ A-
+ A-
A-
- B+
- B+
B+
- B+
- B+
- B+
New NR-5
- B++
- A
- A
B
New NR-5
- A
- A
- A
+ B++
- Service General Insurance Co OH 04698 A-
New Seven Hills Insurance Co NY 12467 A-
Seven Hills Insurance Co NY 10788 NR-5
Southeast Employers Mut Cap GA 12056 NR-5
Superior National Insurance Co CA 02635 NR-5
Superior Pacific Casualty Co CA 00321 NR-5
- Toyota Motor Insurance Co IA 11099 B++
New Triumphe Casualty Company TX 02810 A-
- Union Ins Co of Providence IA 02346 A-
Universal Underwriters Group KS 05657 NR-5
- Washington Casualty Company WA 11243 B++
New Western Insurance Company NV 12055 A-
New Western Pacific Mut Ins, A RRG CO 11238 A-
+ Western United Insurance Co CA 11042 A
- Westfield Group OH 00730 A
- Westfield Insurance Company OH 02382 A
- Westfield National Ins Co OH 04043 A
WorkComp Hawaii Group HI 18435 NR-5
WorkComp Hawaii Ins Co Inc HI 11875 NR-5
WorkComp Hawaii Select Ins Co HI 12099 NR-5
+ Yasuda Fire & Marine of Amer NY 03060 A+
- Zenith Insurance Company CA 00984 A-
- Zenith National Insurance Grp CA 03020 A-
- Zenith Star Insurance Company TX 11415 A-
- ZNAT Insurance Company CA 00776 A-
International
Bermuda
New Accelerated Reinsurance Company Ltd 73160 A-
New Hannover Re (Bermuda) Ltd 85314 A
School, College and University
Underwriters Ltd 86152 NR-5
- Stockton Reinsurance Limited 86506 B++
France
New Caisse Centrale de Reassurance 85834 A
Ireland
New Inter-Ocean Reinsurance
(Ireland) Ltd 84302 A
Japan
New The Yasuda Fire and Marine
Insurance Company Ltd 85258 A++
Spain
+ Mapfre Asistencia Compania Inter-
national de Seguros, SA (Cons) 87127 A+
Switzerland
New Trans Re Zurich Reinsurance Company 86500 A+
United Kingdom
New Alea Global Risk Ltd 72216 A-
New Alea Jersey Ltd 72178 A-
Scottish Amicable Life
Assurance Society 86281 NR-5
New Scottish Amicable Life plc 84362 A- q
- A
New NR-5
A
A-
F
F
- A-
New NR-1
- A
A+
- A-
New NR-2
New NR-3
+ A-
- A+
- A+
- A+
B++
B++
B++
+ A u
- A
- A
- A
- A
International
Bermuda
New NR-5
New NR-5
A
- A- u
France
New NR-5
Ireland
New
NR-5
Japan
New
NR-5
Spain
+
A
Switzerland
New NR-5
United Kingdom
New NR-5
New NR-5
A- q
New NR-5
Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded; (New)
Assigned initial rating
CURRENT GUIDE TO BEST'S RATINGS For a complete explanation of Best's Ratings, please refer to the Preface pref·ace n. 1. a. A preliminary statement or essay introducing a book that explains its scope, intention, or background and is usually written by the author. b. An introductory section, as of a speech. 2. of Best's Insurance Report[R] or Best's Key Rating Guide[R]. Best's Ratings reflect our independent opinion, but are not a warranty An assurance, promise, or guaranty by one party that a particular statement of fact is true and may be relied upon by the other party. Warranties are used in a variety of commercial situations. In many instances a business may voluntarily make a warranty. of a company's financial strength and ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. * For the latest Best's Ratings and Best's Company Reports (which include Best's Ratings) visit the AM, Best Web site at www.ambest.com. You may also obtain Best's Company Reports by calling our Customer Service Department at (908) 439-2200, Ext. 5742. To expedite ex·pe·dite tr.v. ex·pe·dit·ed, ex·pe·dit·ing, ex·pe·dites 1. To speed up the progress of; accelerate. 2. your request, please provide the company's identification number (AMB AMB Ambient AMB Ambassador AMB Amber AMB Ambulance AMB Associação Médica Brasileira (Brazil) AMB Ambulatory AMB Advanced Memory Buffer (FBDIMM control unit on DRAM) #). * All rating actions are published in the Rating Monitor section of Best Weeks[R]. Selected rating changes and new ratings are published in Best's Review[R] (our monthly magazine). BESTS RATINGS AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE RATINGS See benchmark. (FPR FPR Ford Performance Racing FPR Front Patriotique Rwandais (Rwanda Patriotic Front) FPR Floating-Point Register (CPU architecture) FPR Fuel Pressure Regulator (automotive) ) A.M. Best assigns Individuals to whom property is, will, or may be transferred by conveyance, will, Descent and Distribution, or statute; assignees. The term assigns is often found in deeds; for example, "heirs, administrators, and assigns to denote the assignable nature of to insurance related organizations one of two types of rating opinions, a Best's Rating (A++ to F) or a Financial Performance Rating (9 to 1). The Best's Rating represents an opinion based on a comprehensive quantitative quantitative /quan·ti·ta·tive/ (kwahn´ti-ta?tiv) 1. denoting or expressing a quantity. 2. relating to the proportionate quantities or to the amount of the constituents of a compound. and qualitative qualitative /qual·i·ta·tive/ (kwahl´i-ta?tiv) pertaining to quality. Cf. quantitative. qualitative pertaining to observations of a categorical nature, e.g. breed, sex. evaluation of a company's balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. The FPR represents an opinion based primarily on a quantitative evaluation of a company's balance sheet strength and operating performance for companies that do not meet the minimum size and/or and/or conj. Used to indicate that either or both of the items connected by it are involved. Usage Note: And/or is widely used in legal and business writing. operating experience requirements for a Best's Rating. Secure Best's Ratings A++ and A+ Superior A and A- Excellent B++ and B+ Very Good Vulnerable Best's Ratings B and B- Fair C++ and C+ Marginal (jargon) marginal - 1. Extremely small. "A marginal increase in core can decrease GC time drastically." In everyday terms, this means that it is a lot easier to clean off your desk if you have a spare place to put some of the junk while you sort through it. 2. C and C- Weak D Poor E Under Regulatory reg·u·late tr.v. reg·u·lat·ed, reg·u·lat·ing, reg·u·lates 1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law. 2. Supervision F In Liquidation The collection of assets belonging to a debtor to be applied to the discharge of his or her outstanding debts. A type of proceeding pursuant to federal Bankruptcy S Rating Suspended sus·pend v. sus·pend·ed, sus·pend·ing, sus·pends v.tr. 1. To bar for a period from a privilege, office, or position, usually as a punishment: suspend a student from school. Secure FPR Ratings FPR 9 Very Strong FPR 8 and 7 Strong FPR 6 and 5 Good Vulnerable FPR Ratings FPR 4 Fair FPR 3 Marginal FPR 2 Weak FPR 1 Poor RATING MODIFIERS Under Review (u) Rating Modifiers are assigned to Best's Ratings and Financial Performance Ratings to identify companies whose rating opinions are Under Review and may be subject to near-term near-term adj. Of, for, or involving a short period of time in the near future. change. Qualified (q) Rating Modifiers may be assigned to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Canadian Canadian (kənā`dēən), river, 906 mi (1,458 km) long, rising in NE New Mexico. and flowing E across N Texas and central Oklahoma into the Arkansas River in E Oklahoma. insurers and UK insurers that meet the minimum size and operating experience requirements for a Best's Rating but 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"; our interactive rating process. Qualified Best's Ratings are therefore based primarily on a quantitative analysis Quantitative Analysis A security analysis that uses financial information derived from company annual reports and income statements to evaluate an investment decision. Notes: of a company's balance sheet strength and operating performance. Syndicate Syndicate organized crime unit throughout major cities of the United States. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2018] See : Gangsterism (s) Rating Modifiers are assigned to syndicates operating at Lloyd's Lloyd's, London insurance underwriting corporation of many separate syndicates; often called Lloyd's of London. Founded in the late 17th cent. by a group of merchants, shipowners, and insurance brokers at the coffeehouse of Edward Lloyd, the association is now . Rating Modifiers U Under Review q Qualified s Syndicate NOT RATED CATEGORIES (NR) Companies not assigned a Best's Rating or FPR are assigned to one of five NR categories which identifies the primary reason a rating opinion was not assigned to the company. For additional information, refer to the Preface. NR-1 Insufficient in·suf·fi·cient adj. 1. Not sufficient. 2. Incapable of proper functioning. Data NR-2 Insufficient Size and/or Operating Experience NR-3 Rating Procedure Inapplicable in·ap·pli·ca·ble adj. Not applicable: rules inapplicable to day students. in·ap NR-4 Company Request NR-5 Not Formally Followed FINANCIAL SIZE CATEGORIES (FSC FSC See: Foreign Sales Corporation ) Assigned to all insurance companies and reflects their size based on their capital, surplus and conditional Subject to change; dependent upon or granted based on the occurrence of a future, uncertain event. A conditional payment is the payment of a debt or obligation contingent upon the performance of a certain specified act. reserve funds. For information, refer to the Preface. Best's Ratings are proprietary and may not be reproduced without permission. |
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