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 12/18/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating HEALTH CARE SVC CORP A MUT LEG RES   IL  A+   BLUE CROSS OF CALIFORNIA   CA  A+   EXCELLUS HEALTH PLAN INC   NY  A+   OXFORD HEALTH PLANS (NY) INC   NY  A+   BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE   TN  A+   GROUP HOSP & MEDICAL SERVICES INC   DC  A+   GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE   WA  A+   ARKANSAS BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD   AR  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA   AZ  A+   LA HEALTH SERVICE & INDEMNITY CO   LA  A+   HORIZON HEALTHCARE OF NEW JERSEY INC  NJ  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF RI   RI  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF KC   MO  A+   CAREFIRST BLUECHOICE INC   DC  A+   ANTHEM HEALTH PLANS OF MAINE INC   ME  A+   INDEPENDENT HEALTH ASSOC INC   NY  A+   BLUE CROSS OF IDAHO HEALTH SERVICE   ID  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTHCARE GA  GA  A+   HEALTHKEEPERS INC   VA  A+   BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF DELAWARE   DE  A+

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

Weakest HMO's Data as of 12/18/2008 Company Name State Weiss Safety Rating ATLANTIS HEALTH PLAN   NY  E-   MMM HEALTHCARE INC   PR  E   UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INS CO INC   FL  E   FIRST MEDICAL HEALTH PLAN INC   PR  E   UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INC   FL  E   CITRUS HEALTH CARE INC   FL  E   QUALITY HEALTH PLANS INC   FL  E   MDNY HEALTHCARE INC   NY  E   AMERICAN HEALTH INC   PR  E   CENTRAL HEALTH PLAN OF CALIFORNIA   CA  E   SANTA BARBARA REGIONAL HEALTH AUTH   CA  E+   NEW WEST HEALTH SERVICES   MT  E+   WINDSOR HEALTH PLAN OF TN INC   TN  E+   DRISCOLL CHILDRENS HEALTH PLAN   TX  E+   INTERVALLEY HEALTH PLAN   CA  E+   MEDICA HEALTHCARE PLANS INC   FL  E+   COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN   MO  E+   CONTRA COSTA HEALTH PLAN   CA  D-   WESTERN HEALTH ADVANTAGE   CA  D-   PREFERRED HEALTH   PR  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.