Strongest and Weakest Business Insurers		Back

A weak business insurance company represents a potential for financial loss to its policyholders, as well as a number of headaches and hassles. In addition to the loss of their premium dollars, the policyholders with a failed insurer are forced to scramble to purchase replacement coverage from other carriers, often at higher rates. And those who were unfortunate enough to have a claim outstanding with the failed company can end up footing the bill themselves.

That's why it is important to check the financial security offered by an insurer prior to purchasing a policy and then periodically monitor the company's condition going forward. Low-rated companies should be avoided in favor of highly rated companies.

The following U.S. business insurance underwriters received the highest ratings from Weiss Ratings.

Strongest Business Insurers Data as of 02/28/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating HASTINGS MUTUAL INS CO  MI  A+  AUTO-OWNERS INS CO  MI  A  SENTRY INS A MUTUAL CO  WI  A  COUNTRY MUTUAL INS CO  IL  A  KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INS CO  KY  A  HOME-OWNERS INS CO  MI  A  FRANKENMUTH MUTUAL INS CO  MI  A  ALFA INS CORP  AL  A  ALLSTATE INS CO  IL  A-  CINCINNATI INS CO  OH  A-  MERCURY CASUALTY CO  CA  A-  GRANGE MUTUAL CAS CO  OH  A-  NORTH CAROLINA FARM BU MUTUAL INS CO  NC  A-  WEST BEND MUTUAL INS CO  WI  A-  ALFA MUTUAL INS CO  AL  A-  NATIONAL LIABILITY & FIRE INS CO  CT  A-  CHURCH MUTUAL INS CO  WI  A-  MERRIMACK MUTUAL FIRE INS CO  MA  A-  BITUMINOUS CASUALTY CORP  IL  A-  GEORGIA FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INS CO  GA  A-

The following U.S. business insurance underwriters received the lowest ratings from Weiss Ratings.

Weakest Business Insurers Data as of 02/28/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating UNITED PROPERTY & CASUALTY INS CO  FL  E  NEVADA CAPITAL INS CO  NV  E  MISSISSIPPI FARM BU MUTUAL INS CO  MS  E  AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS MUTUAL INS CO  IL  E  COLONIAL COOPERATIVE INS CO  NY  E  PADDINGTON LIABILITY RRG  NV  E  NUCLEAR ELECTRIC INS LTD  DE  E+  UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYDS LONDON  IL  E+  QBE SPECIALTY INS CO  ND  E+  WASHINGTON COUNTY CO-OPERATIVE INS  NY  E+  GIBRALTAR NATIONAL INS CO  AR  E+  UNION MUTUAL INS CO  OK  E+  STEWARD RRG  DC  E+  AMERICAN CAPITAL ASR CORP  FL  D-  CALIFORNIA MUTUAL INS CO  CA  D-  OPTIMA INS CO  PR  D-  GENESEE PATRONS COOP INS  NY  D-  KENSINGTON INS CO  NY  D-  MANITOWOC MUTUAL INS CO  WI  D-  MONROE CO-OP INS CO  NY  D-

Just because a particular insurer does not appear on this list of lowest rated business insurance companies, it does not necessarily mean that the company is safe or highly rated.  To check the rating of a specific company, Weiss Ratings offers several online options and publications covering property and casualty insurers.

A =  Excellent B =  Good C =  Fair D =  Weak E =  Very Weak

For more information about Weiss Ratings and our products, contact our Customer Hotline at 1-800-289-9222.