Best’s News & Research Service - June 29, 2007 04:02 PM (EDT)
A.M. Best Takes Various Rating Actions on HMOs
OLDWICK, N.J. //BestWire// - A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of 25 health maintenance organizations (HMO), downgraded four HMO FSRs, upgraded 10 HMO FSRs, assigned one HMO FSR and withdrawn one HMO FSR. In addition, A.M. Best has assigned each company an issuer credit rating (ICR). (See below for a detailed list of the companies and ratings.)
These ratings are based solely upon public information and present the most informed view A.M. Best can offer, short of an insurer participating in the full interactive rating process. A.M. Best uses the same rating scale and definitions as it does for its long-term financial strength interactive ratings but applies a pd modifier to ensure the user is aware of the more limited information basis for the rating.
A.M. Best’s HMO pd ratings will be released regularly over the next three months. Each month, A.M. Best will provide an update of the recent rating actions.
A.M. Best has affirmed the FSRs and assigned ICRs to the following HMO companies:
Company FSR ICR
Community Health Choice, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
Community Health Plan of Washington B+ (Good) “bbb-”
CommunityCare HMO, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
Cook Children’s Health Plan C++ (Marginal) “b”
DC Chartered Health Plan, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
DentiCare, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b+”
Fallon Community Health Plan, Inc. B (Fair) “bb+”
Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire B- (Fair) “bb-”
Health Alliance Plan of Michigan B++ (Good) “bbb”
Health Partners of Philadelphia, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
HealthPlus of Michigan, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
HealthPlus Partners, Inc. C (Weak) “ccc”
HMO of Northeastern Pennsylvania B (Fair) “bb+”
Managed Health, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b+”
MDwise, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Midwest Health Plan, Inc. B (Fair) “bb+”
Neighborhood Health Plan, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation B (Fair) “bb”
Preferred Health B- (Fair) “bb-”
Preferred Plus of Kansas, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Santa Clara County C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Scripps Clinic Health Plan Services, Inc. C (Weak) “ccc”
Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Tufts Associated Health Maintenance
Organization, Inc. B (Fair) “bb+”
Union Health Service, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b+”
A.M. Best has upgraded the FSRs and assigned ICRs to the following HMO companies:
Aloha Care B+ (Good) “bbb-”
Group Health Cooperative B++ (Good) “bbb”
The Health Plan of the Upper
Ohio Valley, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
Inter Valley Health Plan, Inc. C- (Weak) “cc”
M-Plan, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
New West Health Services C+ (Marginal) “b-”
SelectHealth, Inc. B+ (Good) “bbb-”
Seton Health Plan, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
UTMB Health Plans, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
A.M. Best has downgraded the FSRs and assigned ICRs to the following HMO companies:
Columbia United Providers, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b+”
Driscoll Children’s Health Plan C- (Weak) “cc”
PreferredOne Community Health Plan B (Fair) “bb”
Sharp Health Plan C++ (Marginal) “b”
A.M. Best has assigned an FSR and ICR to the following HMO company:
El Paso First Health Plans C (Weak) “ccc”
A.M. Best has withdrawn the FSR from the following HMO company:
Hometown Health Plan NR-5 (Not Formally Followed)