How we score carriers

The four criteria and their weights

Each carrier gets a score from 1–5 on each criterion below. The four scores are combined using the weights shown — financial strength counts for the most, because a policy bought today may not be claimed for decades, so the insurer's ability to still be strong when you need it matters more than any other single factor.

How we turn that into a score

Each criterion is scored 1–5, then combined using the weights above into a single number from 1.0–5.0, rounded to the nearest half-point for display (so "4.5 / 5," not a false-precision number like "4.53" — the underlying inputs are integers, and half-point rounding is honest about that). We publish the tier labels this maps to:

• 4.5–5.0 — Excellent
• 4.0–4.49 — Very Good
• 3.5–3.99 — Good
• 3.0–3.49 — Fair
• Below 3.0 — Below Average

Every carrier's individual profile page shows its full sub-score breakdown, not just the final number — so you can see exactly why a carrier scored the way it did, and weigh the criteria yourself if one matters more to you than our default weighting (for example, if product breadth matters less to you because you already know you want a hybrid policy).

Where the facts came from

Every financial-strength rating is sourced to a specific, dated, public citation — either the carrier's own site or a reputable financial-news source reporting a rating agency's announcement — linked from that carrier's profile page. Where a fact was ambiguous, unconfirmable from a primary source, or came with a real caveat (a carrier's rating applying to a subsidiary, a rating affirmed under a former legal name, a negative outlook, an unrated new entity backed by a reinsurance arrangement), we disclose that directly on the carrier's page and reflect it in the score — we don't round up to make a carrier look better than the evidence supports. The full research notes and source list are also kept on file.

We never fabricate or guess a rating. If we couldn't verify a specific number from a real source, we say so on the carrier's page rather than publishing a plausible-sounding placeholder.

What this scoring does not tell you

• It doesn't tell you which carrier is cheapest for you — premiums depend entirely on your own age, health, and the coverage you design. Get a free comparison for real numbers.
• It doesn't account for underwriting flexibility for a specific health condition — see our condition-by-condition eligibility guides for that.
• It isn't a guarantee, endorsement, or offer of coverage from any carrier. Product availability, pricing, and features change over time and by state — always confirm current details with a licensed agent before deciding.

Last verified

Ratings and scores on this page were researched and sourced July 31, 2026. A.M. Best ratings are typically reaffirmed annually — if you're reading this more than a year later, treat the specific letter ratings as a starting point and verify the current figure with the carrier or A.M. Best directly.