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 June June: see month. 2004 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 19 for the current 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 any 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
Equitabie Reserve Association 06346 NR-5 B++
US: Wisconsin
(-) Heritage Life Insurance Company 06523 A- A
US: Arizona
(-) Kemper Investors Life Insurance 06225 A- A (u)
Company US: Illinois
(+) Mission Life Insurance Co of 09114 A- B++
America US: Texas
(+) Pharmacists Life Insurance Company 08946 B++ B+
US: Iowa
(+) Pyramid Life Insurance Company 06977 B++ B+
US: Kansas
(-) Resource Life Insurance Company 06176 B++ A-
US: Illinois
(New) River Lake Insurance Company 76111 A+
US: South Carolina
(-) Union Fidelity Life Insurance 06297 A- A+
Company US: Illinois
HMO
Capital District Physicians' 68563 NR-4 B++
Health Plan US: New York
(New) Mercy Health Plans of Missouri Inc 64419 B++ C++ pd
US: Missouri
(New) Pacific Hospital Association 64500 B++ B+ pd
US: Oregon
PrimeHealth of Alabama Inc 64256 E NR-5
US: Alabama
QualChoice of North Carolina Inc 64271 NR-5 C pd
US: North Carolina
Property/Casualty
(+) Agri General Insurance Company 01935 A A-
US: Iowa
(New) Alea Group - U.S. 18590 A-
US: New York
Alliance Assurance Company of 12466 NR-3 B++
America US: New York
(-) American Concept Insurance Company 03606 B- (u) B+ (u)
US: Rhode Island
(+) American Guaranty Title Ins 11833 A+ A
Company US: Oklahoma
(+) American Hallmark Insurance Co of 01728 B B-
TX US: Texas
(-) Ascentus Insurance Ltd 84726 B+ A-
Canada: Ontario
(+) Atlantic Casualty Insurance 01780 A- B++
Company US: North Carolina
Cadillac Mountain Insurance 11491 NR-5 A
Company US: Maine
(+) Cameron Mutual Group 05715 B++ B+
US: Missouri
(+) Cameron Mutual Insurance Company 00861 B++ B+
US: Missouri
(+) Clermont Insurance Company 02586 A+ A
US: Iowa
(New) Community Insurance Corporation 12529 B+ NR-2
US: Wisconsin
(New) Dakota Group 18347 B+ NR-5
US: South Dakota
(-) Dakota Truck Underwriters 11130 B+ B++
US: South Dakota
(+) Dallas Fire Insurance Company 01790 B++ B+
US: Texas
(+) Discovery Insurance Company 11631 B- C++
US: North Carolina
(-) Doctors Company An Interinsurance 03686 B++ A-
Exch US: California
(-) Doctors Company Insurance Group 18083 B++ A-
US: California
Fairmont Insurance Company 04293 NR-5 B+ (u)
US: California
(New) Fairmont Insurance Company 12693 B++
US: California
(New) Fairmont Specialty Group 18641 B++
US: California
(+) Farmers Mutual Insurance Company 03523 C++ E
(WV) US: West Virginia
(-) FFG Insurance Company 11110 A- A
US: Texas
(-) Fire Districts of NY Mutual Ins 03788 B B+
Co, Inc US: New York
(-) Forestry Mutual Insurance Company 12251 C B- (u)
US: North Carolina
(-) Heritage Casualty Insurance 03595 A- (u) A (u)
Company US: Illinois
(New) Intrepid Insurance Company 12332 A- NR-3
US: Michigan
(+) Kansas Bankers Surety Company 00533 A++ A+
US: Kansas
(+) Le Mars Insurance Company 00556 A B+
US: Iowa
MAPFRE Praico Group 03866 NR-5 A
US: Puerto Rico
(+) McM Group 00580 B++ B+
US: North Carolina
Millennium Insurance Company 12207 NR-3 A-
US: California
(+) Mississippi Valley Title 11423 A+ A
Insurance Co US: Mississippi
(+) Mt Hawley Insurance Company 02591 A+ A
US: Illinois
(+) NAU Country Insurance Company 11098 A- B++
US: Minnesota
(-) NIPPONKOA Insurance Company of 01909 A- A
America US: New York
(-) NLC Mutual Insurance Company 11291 A- A
US: Vermont
(+) Occidental F & C Co of NC 02312 B++ B+
US: North Carolina
Old Lyme Insurance Co of RI , Inc 10361 NR-3 A-
US: Rhode Island
(+) Old Republic General Title 11562 A+ A
Insurance Co US: Ohio
Old Republic Mercantile Insurance 02032 NR-3 B++
Co US: Wisconsin
(+) Old Republic National Title Ins Co 11924 A+ A
US: Minnesota
(+) Old Republic Title Insurance Group 18390 A+ A
US: Minnesota
(New) Oriska Insurance Company 11741 C+ NR-1
US: New York
(New) Premier Group Insurance Company 12124 B++ NR-1
US: Tennessee
(-) Producers Agriculture Insurance 12485 B+ B++
Company US: Texas
(-) Producers Agriculture Insurance 18575 B+ B++
Group US: Texas
(-) Producers Lloyds Insurance Company 02729 B+ B++
US: Texas
(-) Professional Underwriters Liab Ins 10763 B++ A-
Co US: Utah
(-) Providence Washington Insurance Co 03784 B- (u) B+ (u)
of NY US: New York
(-) Providence Washington Insurance 02411 B- (u) B+ (u)
Company US: Rhode Island
(-) Providence Washington Insurance 00786 B- (u) B+ (u)
Cos US: Rhode Island
(New) Ranger Insurance Company 12694 B++
US: Delaware
Ranger Insurance Company 03118 NR-5 B++ (u)
US: Delaware
Ranger Insurance Group 18309 NR-5 B++ (u)
US: Delaware
Ranger Lloyds 03364 NR-5 B++ (u)
US: Texas
(New) Ranger Lloyds 12695 B++
US: Texas
(+) RLI Group 03883 A+ A
US: Illinois
(+) RLI Indemnity Company 00267 A+ A-
US: Illinois
(+) RLI Insurance Company 04210 A+ A
US: Illinois
(+) Rural Community Insurance Company 02647 A A-
US: Minnesota
(+) SECURA Insurance A Mutual Company 00483 A A-
US: Wisconsin
(+) SECURA Insurance Companies 18381 A A-
US: Wisconsin
(+) SECURA Supreme Insurance Company 11792 A A-
US: Wisconsin
(New) Sooner Insurance Company 56744 A
US: Vermont
(-) Southern States Insurance Exchange 00848 A- (u) A
US: Virginia
(New) TIG Premier Insurance Company 12692 B++
US: California
TIG Premier Insurance Company 02504 NR-5 B+ (u)
US: California
(New) Tower Hill Preferred Insurance 10600 A- NR-2
Company US: Florida
(New) Tower Hill Prime Insurance Company 12359 A- NR-2
US: Florida
U.S. AEGIS Energy Insurance 11557 NR-5 A
Company US: Delaware
(-) Underwriter for the Professions 11091 B++ A-
Ins Co US: Colorado
(-) Unifund Assurance Company 86836 B++ A-
Canada: Newfoundland
(-) Virginia Surety Company, Inc. 02314 A- A
US: Illinois
(-) Virginia Surety Group 18588 A- A
US: Illinois
(+) Wilshire Insurance Company 00975 B++ B+
US: North Carolina
(-) York Insurance Company 02409 B- (u) B+ (u)
US: Illinois
International
(+) BF&M General Insurance Company Ltd 84739 A A-
Bermuda
(+) BF&M Life Insurance Company 84740 A A-
Limited Bermuda
(+) BF&M Limited 84104 A A-
Bermuda
(+) Caisse Centrale de Reassurance 85834 A+ A
France
SPS Reassurance 86670 NR-3 A-
France
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 Federated Life Insurance Company 66802 B++ (u) B++
of CA Canada: Manitoba
U Health Net Insurance of 11825 B++ (u) B++
Connecticut Inc US: Connecticut
U Health Net Insurance of New York 11859 B++ (u) B++
Inc US: New York
U Health Net Life Insurance Company 06722 A- (u) A-
US: California
HMO
U Health Net Health Plan of Oregon 68947 B++ (u) B++
Inc US: Oregon
U Health Net of Arizona Inc 68713 B++ (u) B++
US: Arizona
U Health Net of California Inc 68507 A- (u) A-
US: California
U Health Net of Connecticut Inc 68520 B++ (u) B++
US: Connecticut
U Health Net of New Jersey Inc 64005 B++ (u) B++
US: New Jersey
U Health Net of New York Inc 68568 B++ (u) B++
US: New York
Property/Casualty
U Merastar Insurance Company 03596 A- (u) A-
US: Tennessee
U Permanent General Assurance Corp 11303 B++ (u) B++
of OH US: Ohio
U Permanent General Assurance 01894 B++ (u) B++
Corporation US: Tennessee
U Permanent General Pool 08329 B++ (u) B++
US: Tennessee
U Tennessee Insurance Company 03179 B- (u) B-
US: Tennesse
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.
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.
Vulnerable 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 under-
writing 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
have, in our opinion, a poor
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
Regulatory possibly their subsidiaries/
Supervision affiliates) that have been
placed by an insurance
regulatory authority under
a significant form of
supervision, control or
restraint whereby 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 Liquidation Assigned to companies that
have been placed 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 u Under Review A modifier that generally
Modifier is event-driven (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 Code 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 Data.
NR-2: Insufficient Size and/or Operating Experience.
NR-3: Rating Procedure Inapplicable.
NR-4: Company Request.
NR-5: Not Formally 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.
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