Learning to Choose a Virginia Health Insurance Company

Firms that Rate Health Insurance Companies

Name	Telephone	Website
A.M. Best Company	1-908-439-2200	www.ambest.com
Moody's Investor Services	1-212-553-0377	www.moodys.com
Standard & Poor's Insurance Rating Services	1-212-438-2400	www.standardanpoors.com
Weiss Ratings, Inc.	1-800-289-9222	www.weissinc.com
Fitch Ratings	1-800-853-4824	www.fitchibca.com

Note: There may be a cost associated with obtaining rating information.

Before purchasing insurance, it is important to verify whether a company is an authorized insurer or managed care health insurance plan in Virginia. You can obtain a listing of authorized insurers and licensed HMOs from the Bureau of Insurance by telephone, or visit our web site, click on "Consumers" and "Want Information About An Insurance Company?"

The Virginia Department of Health also offers a listing of licensed Managed Care Health Insurance Plans.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an independent organization that assesses and reports on health plan quality, can provide information about the quality of care provided by an HMO. The NCQA can be contacted at 1-888-275-7585 or on-line at www.ncqa.org. Be sure to evaluate carefully whether the HMO operates in a service area that is accessible to you and for which you are eligible based on your residence or place of employment.

What are my out of pocket costs? Become familiar with any amount you will be required to pay when you obtain medical services under your policy or plan. Know your policy or plan deductible, co-payment, coinsurance amount, premiums, and any plan limitations or maximums. Review carefully the policy or plan features concerning premium increases.