Friday, February 27, 2009

Health Insurance Ratings To Help Pick A Provider

By Michelle Jackson

The moment one decides to buy health insurance, the question of which health insurance company to approach comes to mind. One of the best ways to choose the right health insurance company is to compare the ratings of the different health insurance companies.

To find the best insurance policy available at an affordable price, you should start by going to an insurance comparison website. Here, you'll get fast quotes from multiple A-rated health insurance companies by completing a simple online form with your insurance information.

When you compare, you can see the differences between the strength of the companies financials, benefits, and changes in industry. You can also find out how well the company is suited to being able to pay future claims and other member benefits. If a company does not look poised to pay in the future, then it is not a viable option. It is really important to know whether or not a company can pay, because you don't want to be stuck in the position of having to make good on a benefit that your company was not able to make.

There are various rating schemes available online to get the ratings of health insurance companies, like Fitch Ratings Insurer Financial Strength Rating, Standard & Poor's Insurer Financial Strength Rating and Credit Watch. These ratings provide an opinion on the financial strength of the health insurance company and whether it can meet the obligations of its policyholders on a timely basis. It does not address the willingness of the insurance company to honor its company's obligations, or its quality of claim handling services.

The ratings for different companies are relatively easy to comprehend. Companies are rated from a scale of AAA all the way to CC. If a company has a NR, it means the company has not yet been rated. A tripe A rating is a strong measure of a companies financials, while a CC means that there are opportunities for improvement. Finding the companies with the highest ratings usually mean better quality.

When looking, ratings from BBB+ and higher are considered to be decent. Anything under that means that there is potential vulnerability. The + or the minus sign after a rating just shows the relative standings for the major categories. If you see a DDD rating, that means that there has been a failure to make payments, and there has been some regulatory intervention.

Keep in mind that a health insurance rating does not take into account canellation penalties, deductibles, or fraudulent claims. It also doesn't take into account any potential restrictions of foreign exchange which may prevent financial obligations to being met.

When there are any changes in the insurance companies positions, the ratings can and usually change. If something drastic happens, it can also be suspended or even withdrawn. Once you have a company chosen, it is not a bad idea to periodically check to see whether or not your insurance company continues to hold onto it's ratings.

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