A.M. Best Takes Various Public Data Rating Actions on 48 Health Maintenance Organizations

Business Wire, August 21, 2006

OLDWICK, N.J. -- A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the public data (pd) financial strength ratings of 19 health maintenance organizations (HMO), upgraded 22, downgraded four and assigned three. (See below for a detailed list of the ratings.)

These ratings are based solely upon public information and present the most informed view A.M. Best can offer, short of an insurer participating in the full interactive rating process.

A.M. Best's pd ratings are assigned to insurers in select markets that do not subscribe to A.M. Best's interactive rating process. A.M. Best uses the same rating scale and definitions as it does for its long-term financial strength interactive ratings but applies a pd rating modifier to ensure the user is aware of the more limited information basis for the rating.

An interactive A.M. Best rating is produced at the request of the insurer. The interactive rating process includes detailed interviews of senior management and access to non-public data and other information. Currently, the companies that participate in the interactive rating process collectively represent a significant percentage of market share in the U.S. health insurance industry. The pd rating process is based on the statutory filings of the companies and an A.M. Best committee review of the company's financial strength, along with current market conditions in which the company operates.

A.M. Best's HMO pd ratings will be released regularly over the next two months. Each month, A.M. Best will provide an update of these recent rating actions.

A.M. Best has affirmed the pd ratings of the following HMOs:

Cook Children's Health Plan                             C   (Marginal)
Coordinated Care Corp Indiana, Inc.                     C  (Marginal)
Driscoll Children's Health Plan                         C   (Marginal)
FirstGuard Health Plan, Inc.                            C   (Marginal)
Florida Health Care Plan, Inc.                          B (Fair)
Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin B   (Very Good)
Health Plan of Michigan                                 B- (Fair)
Health Right, Inc.                                      B- (Fair)
Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation           C   (Marginal)
McLaren Health Plan, Inc.                               B- (Fair)
Midwest Health Plan, Inc.                               B (Fair)
Neighborhood Health Plan, Inc.                          B- (Fair)
Physicians Health Plan of South Michigan                B (Fair)
UCare Minnesota                                         B (Fair)
Union Health Service, Inc.                              C   (Marginal)
Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Inc.                       C  (Marginal)
UTMB Health Plans, Inc.                                 C  (Marginal)
Vantage Health Plan, Inc.                               C   (Marginal)
VIVA Health, Inc.                                       C   (Marginal)

     A.M. Best has upgraded the pd ratings of the following HMOs:

Cape Health Plan, Inc.                                  C   (Marginal)
Community First Health Plans, Inc.                      C   (Marginal)
Community Health Choice, Inc.                           C   (Marginal)
DC Chartered Health Plan, Inc.                          B- (Fair)
Geisinger Health Plan                                   B- (Fair)
Health Plus of Louisiana, Inc.                          B (Fair)
HealthPlus of Michigan, Inc.                            B- (Fair)
Hometown Health Plan                                    B (Fair)
Inland Empire Health Plan                               C   (Marginal)
Managed Health, Inc.                                    C   (Marginal)
Medical Associates Health Plan, Inc.                    B- (Fair)
Medical Health Insuring Corporation of Ohio             B  (Very Good)
Mount Carmel Health Plan, Inc.                          B (Fair)
Neighborhood Health Plans of Rhode Island, Inc.         C   (Marginal)
Parkland Community Health Plan, Inc.                    C  (Marginal)
Preferred Health                                        B- (Fair)
Seton Health Plan, Inc.                                 B- (Fair)
Sioux Valley Health Plan                                C   (Marginal)
Superior Health Plan, Inc.                              C  (Marginal)
Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Organization, Inc.  B (Fair)
University Health Plans, Inc.                           C   (Marginal)
Virginia Premier Health Plan                            C   (Marginal)

    A.M. Best has downgraded the pd ratings of the following HMOs:

Athens Area Health Plan Select, Inc.                    C (Weak)
Cariten Health Plan Inc.                                C   (Marginal)
Central Oregon Independent Health Services              C   (Marginal)
Educators Health Care                                   B- (Fair)

       A.M. Best has assigned pd ratings to the following HMOs:

Denver Health Medical Plan, Inc.                        C  (Marginal)
FirstGuard Health Plan Kansas, Inc.                     C   (Marginal)
Superior Dental Care, Inc.                              B- (Fair)