Life and Health Insurers' Earn $26 Billion in First Nine Months of 2004

JUPITER, Fla., January 17, 2006 — Despite mounting losses from another devastating hurricane season, property and casualty insurance company failures¹ declined 44%, dropping from 16 to nine, while solid economic growth resulted in no bank closures in 2005, according to Weiss Ratings, Inc., the nation's leading independent provider of ratings and analyses of financial services companies, mutual funds, and stocks. Three life and health insurers failed compared to four in 2004, while the number of HMO insolvencies remained level at three.

Company	Headquarters	Co. Type	Date of Failure (2005)	At Date of Failure
Company	Headquarters	Co. Type	Date of Failure (2005)	Total Assets* ($ Mil)	Weiss Safety Rating
Realm National Ins. Co.	New York, N.Y.	PC	Jun. 15	31.2	U
Senior Citizens Mutual Ins. Co.	Miami, Fla.	PC	May 9	21.9	C-
Reliant American Ins. Co.	Ft. Worth, Texas	PC	May 6	21.5	E-
South Carolina Ins. Co.	Columbia, S.C.	PC	Mar. 8	19.3	E+
Omnicare Health Plan	Memphis, Tenn.	HMO	Apr. 21	12.3	C+
Employers Life Insurance Corp.	Spartanburg, S.C.	LH	July 24	12.1	E-
Financial Insurance Co.	Dallas, Texas	PC	Apr. 18	10.6	D
Amil International Inc.	Austin, Texas	HMO	Mar. 7	9.9	E
Top Flight	Stockton, Calif.	PC	May 10	5.9	E+
States General Life Ins. Co.	Ft. Worth, Texas	LH	Mar. 9	5.8	D-
Hospitality Mutual Captive Ins. Co.	Atlanta, Ga.	PC	Aug. 24	4.1	E+
Consolidated American Ins. Co.	Columbia, S.C.	PC	Mar. 8	4.0	D
PrimeGuard Ins. Co. RRG	Honolulu, Hawaii	PC	Dec. 19	3.3	D-
MagnaHealth of NY Inc.	Garden City, N.Y.	HMO	Aug. 24	2.4	D
Benton Life Ins. Co., Inc.	Shreveport, La.	LH	June 23	n/a	U

Weiss Safety Rating: A=Excellent; B=Good; C=Fair; D=Weak; E=Very Weak; F=Failed; U=Unrated
*Figures are as of the most recent data available at time of failure.

"Overall economic strength has contributed to solid industry performances by banks, insurers, and HMOs, creating a more favorable environment in which companies can operate," said Melissa Gannon, vice president of Weiss Ratings, Inc. "However, an individual company's financial situation doesn't necessarily mirror the performance of the industry, so consumers must continue to monitor the financial safety of any company with which they choose to work."

To avoid financially weak companies, Weiss Ratings recommends that consumers and businesses examine the financial health of their HMO, insurance company, and bank using safety ratings with a solid track record for accuracy. The Weiss ratings are based on an analysis of a company's capital, profitability, quality of investments, liquidity, and stability.

Weiss Ratings, Inc. reviews more than 8,000 stocks daily, including all those traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq. Weiss also issues investment ratings on more than 12,000 mutual funds, covering equity, fixed-income, and closed-end funds, and provides financial safety ratings on more than 15,000 financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies. It is the only major rating agency that receives no direct or indirect compensation from the companies it rates for issuing its ratings. Ratings and analyses, consumer financial and investment guides, and other products are available for purchase through www.weissratings.com or by calling 800-289-9222.

¹The company is deemed to have failed if, during the year, it either 1) was taken under the supervision of an insurance regulatory authority; 2) was placed into rehabilitation; 3) began the process of liquidation under the order of a regulatory body; or 4) voluntarily dissolved after disciplinary or other regulatory action by an insurance regulatory authority. Once Weiss Ratings has been advised that a company under supervision or rehabilitation has been released from supervision or successfully rehabilitated, it will be rated based upon our evaluation of the released or rehabilitated company.