Health Insurers Take Ratings Hit On Reform Fears


There have been several articles recently published about stability of health insurance carriers based on the health care reform.  The only thing I have to question is if the health insurance companies are making so much profit, why are most of the carriers being downgraded in stability ratings?  These ratings have nothing to do with how they pay claims. It’s about their financial stability based on an opinion.  

From 2008 to 2009 a bulk of the industries main players have been down graded, but making it an even playing field for the carriers.  There were only a few exceptions with the nation’s biggest carriers, such as WellPoint (Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Unicare), United Healthcare, Health Net and Healthcare Service Corp (Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio and Texas).  These carriers have recently been downgraded by certain rating companies.

Check out the articles:
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/health-insurers-take-ratings-hit-fitch-reform-fears/2009-08-07  

http://industry.bnet.com/healthcare/1000730/sp-maintains-negative-outlook-on-health-insurance/   

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090724005429&newsLang=en