AM Best


A.M. Best Affirms, Upgrades, Downgrades, Assigns and Withdraws Public Data Ratings on HMOs


CONTACTS:

Analyst(s)

Jason Hopper

(908) 439-2200, ext. 5016

jason.hopper@ambest.com

Carl Austin

(908) 439-2200, ext. 5500

carl.austin@ambest.com



Public Relations

Jim Peavy

(908) 439-2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com

Rachelle Morrow

(908) 439-2200, ext. 5378

rachelle.morrow@ambest.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLDWICK, N.J. - SEPTEMBER 08, 2008 12:00 AM (EDT)
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of 46 health maintenance organizations (HMOs), upgraded eight, downgraded five, assigned three and withdrew three. (See below for a detailed list of the companies and ratings.)

A.M. Best's HMO public data ratings (pd) will be released regularly over the next two months. Each month, A.M. Best will provide an update of the recent rating actions.

A.M. Best has affirmed the FSRs and ICRs of the following HMO companies:

Company FSR ICR

Advantage Health Solutions, Inc.
C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Alliance for Community Health, LLC B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

AMERIGROUP Maryland, Inc.

a Managed Care Organization C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

AMERIGROUP New Jersey, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

AMERIGROUP Texas, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Avera Health Plans, Inc. B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

Bravo Health Mid-Atlantic, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Bravo Health Pennsylvania, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Care 1st Health Plan, Inc. B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

CareSource C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Cariten Health Plan, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Children's Mercy's Family Health

Partners C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Chinese Community Health Plan C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Community First Health Plans, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Community Health Group C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Cox Health Systems HMO C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Denver Health Medical Plan, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

FirstCarolinaCare Insurance Company, Inc. B+ pd (Good) "bbb-" pd

Geisinger Health Plan B+ pd (Good) "bbb-" pd

Good Health HMO, Inc. B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

Grand Valley Health Plan, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Group Health Plan, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Health Partners of Philadelphia, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Health Plus of Louisiana, Inc. B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

Health Tradition Health Plan C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

HealthPartners, Inc. B+ pd (Good) "bbb-" pd

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic

States, Inc. B++ pd (Good) "bbb" pd

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan

of the Northwest B++ pd (Good) "bbb" pd

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. A- pd (Excellent) "a-" pd

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan

of Georgia, Inc. B+ pd (Good) "bbb-" pd

Kaiser Foundation Health

Plan of Ohio B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

Kern Health Systems B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

Medical Associates Health

Plan, Inc. B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

Molina Healthcare of

Michigan, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Molina Healthcare of Utah, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Molina Healthcare of

Washington, Inc. B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

OPTIMA Health Plan B+ pd (Good) "bbb-" pd

Paramount Care, Inc. B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

Paramount Care of Michigan B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

Physicians Health Plan of

Mid-Michigan FamilyCare C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Physicians Health Plan of

Mid-Michigan B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc. C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Superior Dental Care, Inc. B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

Tenet Choices, Inc. C pd (Weak) "ccc" pd

WINhealth Partners B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

A.M. Best has upgraded the FSRs and ICRs of the following HMO companies:

Company FSR ICR

Colorado Access
C pd (Weak) "ccc" pd

Elderplan, Inc. B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

Lovelace Health System, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Medica Health Plans B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

Medical Health Insuring

Corporation of Ohio B++ pd (Good) "bbb" pd

Molina Healthcare

New Mexico B- pd (Fair) "bb-" pd

Molina Healthcare of

California, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

SCAN Health Plan B++ pd (Good) "bbb" pd

A.M. Best has downgraded the FSRs and ICRs of the following HMO companies:

Company FSR ICR

CareSource Michigan
C pd (Weak) "ccc" pd

Kaiser Foundation Health

Plan of Colorado B+ pd (Good) "bbb-" pd

MMM Healthcare, Inc. C- pd (Weak) "cc" pd

Sanford Health Plan C+ pd (Marginal) "b-" pd

Texas Children's

Health Plan, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

A.M. Best has assigned an FSR and ICR to the following HMO companies:

Company FSR ICR

AMERIGROUP


Ohio, Inc. C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

Kern Health Systems

Group Health Plan B pd (Fair) "bb" pd

Paramount Advantage C++ pd (Marginal) "b" pd

A.M. Best has withdrawn the FSRs from the following HMO companies:

Company

Central Oregon Independent Health Services, Inc. NR-5 (Not Followed)

MDNY Healthcare, Inc. NR-5 (Not Followed)

NevadaCare, Inc. NR-5 (Not Followed)

The companies' Best's public data rating assignments reflect a quantitative analysis of the company's results based on publicly available financial information. This quantitative analysis includes a review of important tests in three categories: balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. Best's public data ratings do not include analysis based on interaction with insurance company management or non-public financial information.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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