This edition of Best's Rating Changes reflects all rating changes--assignments, changes or placed under review--that occurred for life, health and property/casualty insurers domiciled in North America, as well as international insurance companies, since this section last appeared in the July 2007 edition of Best's Review.
See page 23 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 Chanced Rating Current Previous Action Company Name & Domicile AMB# Rating Rating Life + Companion Life Insurance Company 06258 A+ A US: New York + Eastern Life and Health Insurance 06325 A- B++ Co US: Pennsylvania + Employers Reassurance Corporation 06976 A- B++ US: Kansas + Genworth Life and Health Insurance 08474 A+ A u Co US: Connecticut + Greater Beneficial Union of 08161 B++ B+ Pittsburgh US: Pennsylvania New Humana Insurance Co of New York 60595 A- NR-2 US: New York + Investors Life Insurance Co of NA 06412 B B- US: Texas - MII Life Incorporated 09495 A- A US: Minnesota + Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company 07369 A+ A US: Nebraska + Professional Insurance Company 06950 A+ A u US: Texas + Securian Life Insurance Company 09064 A+ A US: Minnesota + Settlers Life Insurance Company 09322 A- B++ US: Wisconsin - Unified Life Insurance Company 60366 B++ A- US: Texas + United of Omaha Life Insurance Co 07164 A+ A US: Nebraska + United World Life Insurance Company 07528 A+ A US: Nebraska HMO + Aloha Care 64224 B+ pd B pd US: Hawaii Arnett HMO Inc 64262 NR-3 C++ pd US: Indiana + Athens Area Health Plan Select Inc 64556 C+ pd C pd US: Georgia + Bluegrass Family Health Inc 68747 B++ B+ US: Kentucky Care Choices HMO 68556 NR-3 B+ US: Michigan - Cariten Health Plan Inc 64425 C+ pd C++ pd US: Tennessee - Columbia United Providers Inc 64106 C++ pd B- pd US: Washington Community Choice Michigan 64042 C+ pd NR-5 US: Michigan - Community First Health Plans Inc 64049 C+ pd C++ pd US: Texas - Driscoll Children's Health Plan 64519 C- pd C++ pd US: Texas + Group Health Cooperative 64044 B++ pd B+ pd US: Washington - Health First Health Plans 64115 B B+ US: Florida + Health Plan of the Upper Ohio 64201 B pd B- pd Valley US: West Virginia - Health Right Inc 64611 C++ pd B- pd US: District Of Columbia Hometown Health Plan 68576 NR-5 B pd US: Ohio - Inland Empire Health Plan 64578 C+ pd C++ pd US: California + McLaren Health Plan Inc 64616 B pd B- pd US: Michigan + Mount Carmel Health Plan Inc 64112 B+ pd B pd US: Ohio + New West Health Services 64398 C+ pd C- pd US: Montana - Physicians Health Plan of South 64621 B- pd B pd Michigan US: Michigan - PreferredOne Community Health Plan 64054 B pd B+ pd US: Minnesota + Seton Health Plan Inc 64252 B pd B- pd US: Texas - Sharp Health Plan 64064 C++ pd B- pd US: California + Upper Peninsula Health Plan Inc 64619 C++ pd C+ pd US: Michigan + UTMB Health Plans Inc 64511 C++ pd C+ pd US: Texas + Vantage Health Plan Inc 64282 B- pd C++ pd US: Louisiana + Virginia Premier Health Plan 64251 B- pd C++ pd US: Virginia Property/Casualty New 1st Choice Auto Insurance Company 12427 B++ NR-2 Inc US: Pennsylvania + Alamo Title Insurance 12373 A A- US: Texas Alpha Assurance Company 84241 NR-5 A- pd Canada: Quebec + American Inter-Fidelity Exchange 01776 B++ B+ US: Indiana American Merchant Casualty 00699 NR-5 NR-3 Company * US: Ohio BCAA Insurance Corporation 87017 B+ pd NR-5 Canada: British Columbia + Blue Ridge Indemnity Company 02839 A A- u US: Wisconsin + Blue Ridge Insurance Company 02420 A A- u US: Wisconsin + Certas Direct Insurance Company 87026 B++ pd B+ pd Canada: Quebec + Chicago Title Insurance Company 04645 A A- US: Missouri + Chicago Title Insurance Company 12222 A A- of OR US: Oregon + Commonwealth Contractors Group 55025 A- B++ Self Ins US: Virginia New Delphi Casualty Company 12696 B- NR-2 US: Illinois - Echelon Prop & Cas Insurance 12679 B- B Company US: Illinois + ECM Insurance Group 18547 B++ B+ US: Pennsylvania + Electric Insurance Company 02146 A A- US: Massachusetts + Electric Insurance Group 18556 A A- US: Massachusetts + Electric Lloyd's of Texas 12326 A A- US: Texas - Elite Insurance Company 85742 B+ pd B++ pd Canada: Ontario + Everett Cash Mutual Insurance 04351 B++ B+ Company US: Pennsylvania + Fidelity National Financial Group 18525 A A- US: Florida + Fidelity National Title Insurance 11977 A A- Co US: California First North American Insurance 87846 B++ pd NR-5 Company Canada: Ontario + General Casualty Company of 04242 A A- u Illinois US: Illinois + General Casualty Company of 02416 A A- u Wisconsin US: Wisconsin Green Shield Canada 84989 B++ pd NR-5 Canada: Ontario + Hoosier Insurance Company 00543 A A- u US: Indiana New Jefferson Insurance Company 04001 A NR-3 US: New York Liberty Northwest Group 18589 NR-5 A US: Oregon - Mapfre Insurance Company 02365 A- A US: New Jersey + MassWest Insurance Company Inc 10755 A A- u US: Wisconsin + MedAmerica Mut RRG Inc 11431 A- B++ US: Hawaii New Merchants Insurance Group 00590 A- US: New York New Merchants National Insurance 13588 A- Company US: New Hampshire New Merchants Preferred Insurance 13775 A- Company US: New York + Middle States Insurance Company Inc 10646 B+ B US: Oklahoma + National Title Insurance of NY 12440 A A- US: New York + Old Republic General Insurance Corp 02383 A+ A US: Illinois + Old Republic Insurance Co of Canada 86563 A A- Canada: Ontario + Pembridge Insurance Company 85774 B++ pd B+ pd Canada: Ontario + Portage La Prairie Mutual Ins Cc 85781 B++ pd B+ pd Canada: Manitoba + Primmum Insurance Company 87021 B+ pd B pd Canada: Ontario + QBE Regional Insurance Group 05658 A A- u US: Delaware + RBC Travel Insurance Company 86243 B++ pd B+ pd Canada: Ontario Realm National Insurance Company 00567 NR-5 F US: New York + Regent Insurance Company 02418 A A- u US: Wisconsin New RM Ocean Harbor Group 18695 B US: Florida + Security Union Title Insurance 11908 A A- Company US: California + Sheboygan Falls Mutual Insurance Co 00831 A B++ u US: Wisconsin Southern FB Property Ins Co 11666 NR-3 B++ US: Mississippi + Southern Fire & Casualty Company 02402 A A- u US: Wisconsin Southern Guaranty Insurance Co 02838 NR-5 A- of GA US: Georgia + Southern Guaranty Insurance Company 02007 A A- u US: Wisconsin + Southern Pilot Insurance Company 00770 A A- u US: Wisconsin + State Farm General Insurance 02478 A- B++ Company US: Illinois + State Farm Lloyds 01767 B++ B+ US: Texas - Teachers Auto Insurance Co of NJ 10093 B++ A- u US: New Jersey + Ticor Title Ins Co of Florida 12063 A A- US: Florida + Ticor Title Insurance Company 11918 A A- US: California - Tri-State Consumer Insurance 01971 A- A Company US: New York + Unifund Assurance Company 86836 C+ C Canada: Newfoundland, Labrador + Unigard Indemnity Company 04278 A A- u US: Washington + Unigard Insurance Company 02370 A A- u US: Washington + Unigard Pacific Insurance Company 00383 A A- u US: Washington + Wellington Insurance Company 10826 B+ B US: Oklahoma International New Amtrust International Underwriters 57399 A- NR-5 Ltd Ireland - CGRM (Compagnie Generale Re Monte 86100 A- A Carlo) Monaco + Electric Insurance Ireland Ltd 78224 A A- Ireland Farmers' Mutual Insurance Limited 86650 NR-3 A- New Zealand New PARIS RE Bermuda Limited 78726 A- Bermuda New PARIS RE S.A. 78728 A- France New PARIS RE Switszerland AG 78727 A- Switzerland Primary Insurance Company Ltd 77341 NR-4 B Ireland New Scandinavia Insurance Co Ltd Liab 78601 B- Co Russia New State Farm International Life Ins 78618 A+ Co Ltd Bermuda New TOWER Life (N.Z.) Limited 78699 A- New Zealand - Western Isles Insurance Company 72968 B+ B++ Limited Isle Of Man Property/Casualty American Live Stock Insurance 03030 A+ u A+ Company US: Illinois American Resources Insurance Co, 02856 B u B u Inc US: Alabama CastlePoint Insurance Company 13055 A- u A- US: New York Casualty Underwriters Insurance Co 10770 B u B US: Utah Kodiak Insurance Company 10620 B+ u B+ US: New Jersey Lincoln General Insurance Company 03723 A- u A- US: Pennsylvania International CastlePoint Reinsurance Coy Limited 78308 A- u A- Bermuda Kingsway Reinsurance Corporation 86853 A- u A- Barbados * Rating was downgraded to 'A-' from 'Au' and then went from 'A-' to 'NR-3' on June 14, 2007 prior to its 'NR-5' rating. Rating Action: (+) or (-) Rating upgraded or downgraded; (New) Assigned initial rating; (u) Rating under review GUIDE TO BEST'S FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATINGS A Best's Financial Strength 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 Financial Strength Ratings are not a warranty of a company's financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing obligations to policyholders. Financial Strength Ratings A Best's Financial Strength Rating (FSR) is an opinion as to an insurer's financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing obligations to policyholders. Rating Descriptor Secure A++, A+ Superior A, A- Excellent B++, B+ Good Vulnerable B, B- Fair C++, C+ Marginal C, C- Weak D Poor E Under Regulatory Supervision F In Liquidation S Suspended Rating Modifiers 'u' Under Review 'pd' Public Data 's' Syndicate Affiliation Codes 'g' Group 'p' Pooled 'r' Reinsured Not Rated Categories (NR) 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 Best's Financial Strength 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 Financial Strength Ratings are proprietary and may not be reproduced without permission. Copyright [c] 2007 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. Version 010207 For more information about A.M. Best Ratings visit www.ambest.com/ratings/about.asp
