Frequently Asked Questions

Life Insurance Company Ratings

DESCRIPTION BY BUREAU
Rank	A.M. Best	Standard & Poor's	Duff & Phelps	Moody's	Weiss Ratings
Area	Financial Strength	Claims Paying Ability	Claims Paying Ability	Repayment Punctuality	Safety
1	A++ Superior	AAA Extremely Strong	AAA Highest	Aaa Exceptional	A+ Excellent
2	A+ Superior	AA+ Very Strong	AA+ Very High	Aa1 Excellent	A Excellent
3	A Excellent	AA Very Strong	AA Very High	Aa2 Excellent	A- Excellent
4	A- Excellent	AA- Very Strong	AA- Very High	Aa3 Excellent	B+ Good
5	B++ Very Good	A+ Strong	A+ High	A1 Good	B Good
6	B+ Good	A Strong	A High	A2 Good	B- Good
7	B Fair	A- Strong	A- High	A3 Good	C+ Fair
8	B- Fair	BBB+ Good	BBB+ Adequate	Baa1 Adequate	C Fair
9	C++ Marginal	BBB Good	BBB Adequate	Baa2 Adequate	C- Fair
10	C+ Marginal	BBB- Good	BBB- Adequate	Baa3 Adequate	D+ Weak
11	C Weak	BB+ Marginal	BB+ Uncertain	Ba1 Questionable	D Weak
12	C- Weak	BB Marginal	BB Uncertain	Ba2 Questionable	D- Weak
13	D Poor	BB- Marginal	BB- Uncertain	Ba3 Questionable	E+ Very Weak
14	E Under State Supervision	B+ Weak	B+ Possessing Risk	B1 Poor	E Very Weak
15	F In Liquidation	B Weak	B Possessing Risk	B2 Poor	E- Very Weak
16	S Rating Suspended	B- Weak	B- Possessing Risk	B3 Poor	F Failed
17	-	CCC+ Very Weak	CCC Substantial Risk	Caa Very Poor	-
18	-	CCC Very Weak	DD Liquidating	Ca Extremely Poor	-
19	-	CCC- Very Weak	-	C Lowest	-
20	-	CC Extremely Weak	-	-	-
21	-	R Regulatory action	-	-	-
NOTE: A BUREAU'S RATING IS NOT A WARRANTY OF AN INSURER'S CURRENT OR FUTURE ABILITY TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS TO POLICYHOLDERS. IT IS ALSO NOT A RECOMMENDATION OF A PARTICULAR COMPANY OR POLICY.