Best's rating changes.This edition 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 reflects all rating changes--assignments, changes or placed under review--that occurred for life, health 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 insurance companies, since this section last appeared in the January January: see month. 2005 edition of Best's Review. See page 14 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 also are available free of charge at www.ambest.com/ratings/access.html.
Ratings Changed
Rating
Action Company Name & Domicile
Life/Health
New Advance Insurance Company of Kansas
US: Kansas
+ Blue Cross BS of KS Inc
US: Kansas
- Censtat Life Assurance Company
US: Arizona
- Central States Health & Life Cc of Omaha
US: Nebraska
+ Financial American Life Insurance Cc
US: Kansas
New First British American Reinsurance Co
US: South Carolina
- Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company
US: Illinois
Metropolitan Insurance and Annuity Cc
US: Delaware
- North American Co for Life & Health NY
US: New York
Protective Industrial Insurance Cc of AL
US: Alabama
+ United Security Life Insurance Cc of IL
US: Illinois
Washington Security Insurance Company
US: District of Columbia
HMO
+ CIGNA HealthCare of Colorado Inc
US: Colorado
New CIGNA HealthCare of Delaware Inc
US: Delaware
+ CIGNA HealthCare of Indiana Inc
US: Indiana
+ CIGNA HealthCare of Massachusetts Inc
US: Massachusetts
+ CIGNA HealthCare of Ohio Inc
US: Ohio
+ CIGNA HealthCare of Pennsylvania Inc
US: Pennsylvania
+ CIGNA HealthCare of South Carolina Inc
US: South Carolina
+ CIGNA HealthCare of Texas Inc
US: Texas
+ CIGNA HealthCare of Utah Inc
US: Utah
+ Kaiser Fdn Hlth PI Mid-Atlantic States
US: Maryland
+ Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc
US: California
+ Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of CO
US: Colorado
+ Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia
US: Georgia
+ Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio
US: Ohio
+ Premier Health Inc
US: Kansas
Property/Casualty
American Vehicle Insurance Company *
US: Florida
- Cascade National Insurance Company
US: Washington
- Farmers Mutual Fire Ins Cc of Dug Hill
US: Maryland
Federated National Insurance Company **
US: Florida
New Great Northwest Insurance Cc
US: Indiana
New HARRG-HAPI Group
US: Vermont
+ Imperial Fire and Casualty Insurance Co
US: Louisiana
+ Marysville Mutual Insurance Company
US: Kansas
New McMillan-Warner Mutual Insurance Company
US: Wisconsin
New Middle Georgia Group
US: Georgia
New Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Co
US: Missouri
+ Northwest G F Mutual Insurance Company
US: South Dakota
Potomac Insurance Company of Illinois
US: Illinois
Royal Lloyds of Texas
US: Texas
+ Seven Seas Insurance Company, Inc
US: Florida
- Sompo Japan Insurance Company of America
US: New York
- Southern Family Insurance Company Inc
US: Florida
New Vinings Insurance Company
US: South Carolina
New WestGUARD Insurance Company
US: Pennsylvania
New XL Lloyds Insurance Company
US: Texas
International
New ACE Tempest Life Reinsurance Ltd
Bermuda
Allied Dunbar Assurance plc ***
United Kingdom
New Arab Reinsurance Company S.A.L.
Lebanon
- Cayman General Insurance Co Ltd
Cayman Islands
New Coastal Medical Insurance Ltd
Bermuda
Crown Insurance Corporation Ltd
New Zealand
Eagle Star Life Assurance Company Ltd ****
United Kingdom
New Glacier Reinsurance AG
Switzerland
- Groupama Assurance Credit
France
- Groupama S.A.
France
- Groupama Transport
France
- Groupama Vie
France
+ Knight Insurance Company Ltd
Cayman Islands
New NGT Insurance Company (IM) Limited
Isle of Man
New Quanta Europe Ltd
Ireland
Unimutual
Australia
New Wind River Insurance Company (BB) Ltd
Barbados
New Wind River Insurance Company, Ltd.
Bermuda
Rating Current Previous
Action AMB# Rating Rating
Life/Health
New 60404 A-
+ 60070 A- B++
- 60246 B++ A-
- 6206 B++ A-
+ 7376 B++ B+
New 76681 A+
- 6503 B+ u B++
8689 NR-5 A
- 9044 A- A
7941 NR-5 C+
+ 8442 C++ C+
12651 NR-3 A-
HMO
+ 68864 A- B++
New 68866 A- NR-2
+ 68536 A- B++
+ 60201 A- B++
+ 68788 A- B++
+ 68876 A- B++
+ 68594 A- B++
+ 68828 A- B++
+ 68881 A- B++
+ 68551 B+ pd C++ pd
+ 64585 B+ pd B pd
+ 68516 B+ pd B pd
+ 68528 B+ pd B pd
+ 68577 B+ pd B- pd
+ 64072 A- B++
Property/Casualty
711 NR-4 B-
- 11683 E C++
- 4736 B- B
11420 NR-4 C
New 10019 B+
New 18656 A-
+ 11376 B++ B+
+ 578 B+ B
New 12380 A- NR-2
New 18654 A
New 11718 A- NR-5
+ 717 B B-
2760 NR-5 A
2702 NR-5 B
+ 11517 A A-
- 3060 A A+
- 11916 B+ u B++
New 4761 A- NR-5
New 10009 A-
New 12708 A+
International
New 77030 A+
85950 NR-4 A-
New 89190 B+
- 86807 B- u A- u
New 73205 B++
86362 NR-3 A
85813 NR-4 B++
New 77461 A-
- 86541 B++ A+
- 85588 A A+
- 86868 A- A+
- 85587 A- A+
+ 72139 B++ B+
New 86910 A
New 89855 A-
86647 NR-4 B++
New 76117 A
New 76297 A-
Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded;
(New) Assigned initial rating; (u) Rating placed under review
* Rating was downgraded from B+ u to B- on Dec. 22.
Current rating effective Dec. 23.
** Rating was downgraded from B u to C on Dec. 22.
Current rating effective Dec. 23.
Rating Under Review
Rating
Action Company Name & Domicile
Property/Casualty
Atlantic Preferred Insurance Cc
US: Florida
Proformance Insurance Company
US: New Jersey
St Paul Guarantee Insurance Company
Canada: Ontario
Travelers Casualty & Surety Co of Canada
Canada: Ontario
Workmens Auto Insurance Company
US: California
Rating Current Previous
Action AMB# Rating Rating
12202 B+ u B
11674 B u B
86417 A u A
86921 A+ u A+
00980 B++ u B++
Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded; (New)
Assigned initial rating; (u) Rating placed under review
*** Rating was downgraded from A to A- on Dec. 21.
Current rating effective Dec. 21.
**** Rating was downgraded from A to B++ on Dec. 21.
Current rating effective Dec. 21.
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 financial strength and
ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders.
Rating Descriptor
Secure A++, A+ Superior
A, A- Excellent
B++, B+ Very Good
Vulnerable B, B- Fair
C++, C+ Marginal
C, C- Weak
D Poor
E Under
Regulatory
Supervision
F In Liquidation
S Suspended
A Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR) is an
opinion of an insurer's financial strength and
ability to meet ongoing obligations to policyholders.
Definition
Secure Assigned to companies that have, in our opinion,
a superior ability to meet their ongoing obligations
to policyholders.
Assigned to companies that have, in our opinion, an
excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations
to policyholders.
Assigned to companies that have, in our opinion, a
good ability to meet their ongoing obligations
to policyholders.
Vulnerable 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.
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.
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.
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.
Assigned to companies (and possibly their subsidiaries/
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.
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.
Assigned to companies that have experienced sudden and
significant events affecting their balance sheet
strength or operating performance whereby the 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
Rating u Under Review
Modifiers pd Public Data
s Syndicate
Affiliation Codes 9 Group p
Definition
Rating
Modifiers A modifier that generally 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.
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.
Assigned to syndicates operating at Lloyd's.
Affiliation Codes 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 NR-3: Rating Procedure
Data Size and/or Operating Inapplicable.
Experience
NR-4: Company Request. NR-5: Not Formally
Followed.
Rating Outlook
Best's 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. Public Data Ratings are not assigned an Outlook. 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 com-pany 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] 2004 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. Version 121304
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