Best’s News & Research Service - August 09, 2007 11:25 AM (EDT)
A.M. Best Takes Various Rating Actions on Health Maintenance Organizations
OLDWICK, N.J. //BestWire// - A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of 34 health maintenance organizations (HMO), downgraded 11 HMO FSRs, upgraded 11 HMO FSRs, assigned one HMO FSR and withdrew two HMO FSRs. 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 two 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
America’s Health Choice Medical Plans, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Avera Health Plans, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Care 1st Health Plan, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Children’s Mercy’s Family Health Partners C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Chinese Community Health Plan C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Colorado Access C- (Weak) “cc”
Coordinated Care Corporation Indiana, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Cox Health Systems HMO C++ (Marginal) “b”
Denver Health Medical Plan, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Florida Health Care Plan, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
Good Health HMO, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
Grand Valley Health Plan, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
Group Health Cooperative of South
Central Wisconsin B+ (Good) “bbb-”
Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Harmony Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
Health Plan of Michigan B- (Fair) “bb-”
Health Plus of Louisiana, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
Health Tradition Health Plan C++ (Marginal) “b”
Healthy Palm Beaches, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Kern Health Systems B (Fair) “bb”
Lovelace Health System, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Managed Health Services
Insurance Corporation C++ (Marginal) “b”
Medical Health Insuring
Corporation of Ohio B+ (Good) “bbb-”
OPTIMA Health Plan B+ (Good) “bbb-”
Physicians Health Plan
Mid-Michigan Family Care C++ (Marginal) “b”
Preferred Medical Plan C++ (Marginal) “b”
PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-“
SafeGuard Health Plans, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Sioux Valley Health Plan C++ (Marginal) “b”
Superior Dental Care, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
VIVA Health, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
WellCare of Florida, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
WellCare of New York, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
WINhealth Partners B (Fair) “bb”
A.M. Best has upgraded the FSRs and assigned ICRs to the following HMO companies:
Athens Area Health Plan Select, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Community Health Group C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Elderplan, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
HealthEase of Florida, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
McLaren Health Plan, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
Mount Carmel Health Plan, Inc. B+ (Good) “bbb-”
SCAN Health Plan B+ (Good) “bbb-”
Texas Children’s Health Plan, Inc. B (Fair) “bb”
Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
Vantage Health Plan, Inc. B- (Fair) “bb-”
Virginia Premier Health Plan B- (Fair) “bb-”
A.M. Best has downgraded the FSRs and assigned ICRs to the following HMO companies:
Cariten Health Plan Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Community First Health Plans, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Health Right, Inc. C++ (Marginal) “b”
Inland Empire Health Plan C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Medica Health Plans B- (Fair) “bb-”
Missouri Care L.C. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
Physicians Health Plan of South Michigan B- (Fair) “bb-”
Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan B- (Fair) “bb-”
Superior Health Plan, Inc. C (Weak) “ccc”
University Health Plans, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
WellCare of Connecticut, Inc. C+ (Marginal) “b-”
A.M. Best has assigned an FSR and ICR to the following HMO company:
Community Choice Michigan C+ (Marginal) “b-”
A.M. Best has withdrawn the FSRs from the following HMO companies:
FirstGuard Health Plan, Inc NR-5 (Not Followed)
FirstGuard Health Plan Kansas, Inc. NR-5 (Not Followed)