Strongest and Weakest HMOs		Back

A weak HMO represents a potential for financial loss to its policyholders, as well as the possibility for substandard treatment or service as the company struggles to improve its finances. Therefore, it is important to check the financial security offered by an HMO 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. HMOs received the highest ratings from Weiss Ratings.

Strongest HMO's Data as of 04/22/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating HEALTH CARE SVC CORP A MUT LEG RES   IL  A+   BLUE CROSS OF CALIFORNIA   CA  A+   HORIZON HEALTHCARE SERVICES INC   NJ  A+   EXCELLUS HEALTH PLAN INC   NY  A+   GROUP HOSP & MEDICAL SERVICES INC   DC  A+   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS (NY) INC   NY  A+   BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE   TN  A+   GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE   WA  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF GEORGIA   GA  A+   ARKANSAS BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD   AR  A+   HORIZON HEALTHCARE OF NEW JERSEY INC  NJ  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA   AZ  A+   ANTHEM HEALTH PLANS OF KENTUCKY INC   KY  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEBRASKA   NE  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF RI   RI  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF KC   MO  A+   ANTHEM HEALTH PLANS OF MAINE INC   ME  A+   CAREFIRST BLUECHOICE INC   DC  A+   INDEPENDENT HEALTH ASSOC INC   NY  A+   NORIDIAN MUTUAL INS CO   ND  A+

The following U.S. HMOs received the lowest ratings from Weiss Ratings.

Weakest HMO's Data as of 04/22/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating ATLANTIS HEALTH PLAN   NY  E-   MMM HEALTHCARE INC   PR  E   SANTA BARBARA REGIONAL HEALTH AUTH   CA  E   NEW WEST HEALTH SERVICES   MT  E   INTERVALLEY HEALTH PLAN   CA  E   DRISCOLL CHILDRENS HEALTH PLAN   TX  E   QUALITY HEALTH PLANS INC   FL  E   MDNY HEALTHCARE INC   NY  E   AMERICAN HEALTH INC   PR  E   FIRST MEDICAL HEALTH PLAN INC   PR  E+   COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN   MO  E+   WESTERN HEALTH ADVANTAGE   CA  D-   CITRUS HEALTH CARE INC   FL  D-   PREFERRED HEALTH PLAN INC   OR  D-   METCARE HEALTH PLANS INC   FL  D-   PIONEER EDUCATORS HEALTH TRUST   OR  D-   GOLDEN CROSS HEALTH PLAN CORP   PR  D-   HERITAGE PROVIDER NETWORK INC   CA  D   PARKLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN INC   TX  D   LEON MEDICAL CENTERS HEALTH PLANS   FL  D

Just because a particular insurer does not appear on this list of lowest rated HMOs, 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 HMOs.

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.