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WilHamory FounderShield
Financial Practice Lead

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Can You Provide a Ranking of A.M. Best Ratings Along With Financial Size Categories?

Asked by: Isabella V.

WilHamory FounderShield
Wil Hamory

A.M. Best Ratings are a comprehensive measure used in the insurance industry to assess the financial strength and creditworthiness of insurance companies. The ratings are a key indicator for stakeholders to determine how well an insurance company can meet its ongoing insurance obligations. The ratings scale combines an indicator of financial strength (with a rating ranging from "A++" to "D") with a financial size category (denoted by Roman numerals I through XV). Below is a breakdown of both the A.M. Best Ratings and the Financial Size Categories:

A.M. Best Ratings (Financial Strength)
•   A++ and A+ (Superior): This rating is assigned to companies that have a superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.
•   A and A- (Excellent): Companies with an excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.
•   B++ and B+ (Good): Good ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.
•   B and B- (Fair): Fair ability to meet their ongoing obligations, but are more vulnerable to adverse business conditions compared to higher-rated insurers.
•   C++ and C+ (Marginal): Marginal ability to meet their ongoing obligations. These companies are more vulnerable to adverse business conditions.
•   C and C- (Weak): Weak ability to meet their ongoing obligations.•   D (Poor): Poor ability to meet their ongoing obligations.
•   E (Under Regulatory Supervision): The insurance company is under regulatory supervision.
•   F (In Liquidation): The company is in the process of liquidation.
•   S (Suspended): The rating has been suspended.

Financial Size Categories (FSC)The Financial Size Categories are determined based on the adjusted policyholders' surplus in USD. These categories help to give a sense of the size of a company in terms of its financial capacity.

•   Category XV: Greater than $2 billion
•   Category XIV: $1.5 billion to $2 billion
•   Category XIII: $1 billion to $1.5 billion
•   Category XII: $750 million to $1 billion
•   Category XI: $500 million to $750 million
•   Category X: $250 million to $500 million
•   Category IX: $100 million to $250 million
•   Category VIII: $50 million to $100 million
•   Category VII: $25 million to $50 million
•   Category VI: $10 million to $25 million
•   Category V: $5 million to $10 million
•   Category IV: $2 million to $5 million
•   Category III: $1 million to $2 million
•   Category II: $500,000 to $1 million
•   Category I: Up to $500,000

Combining the financial strength rating with the financial size category gives a comprehensive view of an insurer's financial health and operational scale, which can be crucial for policyholders, stakeholders, and regulators.

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