Strongest and Weakest Life Insurers		Back

A weak life insurance company represents a potential for financial loss to its policyholders, as well as a number of headaches and hassles. Failure could mean both loss of investment and loss of coverage. Therefore, 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 insurance companies should be avoided in favor of highly rated companies.

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

Strongest Life Insurers Data as of 05/05/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating TEACHERS INS & ANNUITY ASN OF AM  NY  A+  STATE FARM LIFE INS CO  IL  A+  COUNTRY LIFE INS CO  IL  A+  AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE INS CO  WI  A+  AMERICAN FIDELITY ASR CO  OK  A+  STATE FARM LIFE & ACCIDENT ASR CO  IL  A+  NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INS CO  WI  A  NEW YORK LIFE INS CO  NY  A  MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INS CO  MA  A  PACIFIC LIFE INS CO  NE  A  NEW YORK LIFE INS & ANNUITY CORP  DE  A  GUARDIAN LIFE INS CO OF AMERICA  NY  A  FIDELITY INVESTMENTS LIFE INS CO  UT  A  USAA LIFE INS CO  TX  A  SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU LIFE INS CO  MS  A  JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INS CO OF NY  NY  A  SENTRY LIFE INS CO  WI  A  BERKSHIRE LIFE INS CO OF AMERICA  MA  A  FORT DEARBORN LIFE INS CO  IL  A  AUTO-OWNERS LIFE INS CO  MI  A

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

Weakest Life Insurers Data as of 05/05/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating NORTH AMERICA LIFE INS CO OF TX  TX  E  KEY LIFE INS CO INC  IN  E  AMERICAN CENTURY LIFE INS CO  OK  E  AMERICAN HOME LIFE INS CO  AR  E  MELANCON LIFE INS CO  LA  E  BANKERS LIFE INS CO OF AMERICA  TX  E  COSMOPOLITAN LIFE INS CO  AR  E  CASS COUNTY LIFE INS CO  TX  E  CONTINENTAL LIFE INS CO OF SC  SC  E  HIGGINBOTHAM BURIAL INS CO  AR  E  LANDMARK LIFE INS CO  TX  E+  SOUTHERN SECURITY LIFE INS CO INC  MS  E+  UNIVERSAL LIFE INS CO  AL  E+  GREAT REPUBLIC LIFE INS CO  WA  E+  PROVIDENT AMERICAN INS CO  TX  E+  TEXAS INTERNATIONAL LIFE INS CO  TX  E+  ESCUDE LIFE INS CO  LA  E+  LIFE OF AMERICA INS CO  TX  E+  WONDER STATE LIFE INS CO  AR  E+  WILTON REASSURANCE LIFE CO OF NY  NY  D-

Just because a particular insurer does not appear on this list of lowest rated life 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 life and health 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.