| Ratings can help you decide between competing | | | | "Triple-A" rating are considered to have very |
| and competitive health plans. Many believe that | | | | strong financial stability characteristics and of |
| the best way to be sure that you get the right | | | | course, those with the "CC" rating are believed to |
| health coverage for your needs is to compare | | | | have weak or poor financial stability |
| the ratings of several different insurance | | | | characteristics. Those companies with health |
| companies. | | | | insurance ratings of "BBB+" or higher are still |
| The individual company's competitive forces, | | | | considered secure, while those that have "BB+" or |
| changing fundamentals and financial strength are all | | | | even lower are considered to be vulnerable. |
| taken into account when they are compared | | | | The plus or minus sign (+, -) that may follow the |
| through the use of health insurance ratings. This is | | | | ratings in the "AA" to "CCC" categories show |
| imperative because if the health insurance | | | | what the relative standing is within the major |
| company will no longer be able to pay out future | | | | categories that are rated. There are times when |
| benefits or claims then naturally any other | | | | some companies will have health insurance ratings |
| considerations become completely unimportant. | | | | of "DDD" and it is normally used to designate that |
| These various ratings are available online and | | | | the company has either been given some kind of |
| there are several different ways of computing | | | | regulatory intervention or that they may have |
| these ratings, using companies such as Standard | | | | failed to pay out benefits in a timely manner. |
| and Poor's Insurer Financial Health Strength Rating, | | | | You should keep in mind that these health |
| Credit Watch and Fitch Ratings Insurer Financial | | | | insurance ratings do no take into consideration any |
| Strength Rating. These company's ratings offer | | | | kind of cancellation or surrender penalties, the |
| you their opinions on the health insurance | | | | likelihood of whether or not fraud may be used in |
| company's financial strength and what the | | | | order to deny any claims or the amount of the |
| potential is for them being able to meet the | | | | deductibles. Other things not taken into |
| obligations that it has to their policy holders in a | | | | consideration are what the possible potential would |
| timely manner. These health insurance ratings do | | | | be of certain foreign exchange restrictions |
| not take into consideration how willing the | | | | possibly preventing or delaying any financial |
| insurance company is to pay out on their | | | | responsibilities being met. |
| obligations nor does it rate the quality of how well | | | | Any of these ratings can be suspended, |
| they service the handling of claims. | | | | withdrawn or changed due to the change in the |
| Ratings are normally done on a scale of "Triple-A" | | | | information that is provided by the health |
| to "CC"; the insurance companies that have the | | | | insurance companies; so be sure that you check |
| notations "NR" have not yet been rated. Naturally, | | | | the ratings that were done at different times. |
| the health insurance companies that have the | | | | |