What Are Insurance Ratings?

Insurance ratings are assessments of an insurer’s financial strength and stability. They are issued by independent credit rating agencies that specialize in evaluating the insurance industry. These ratings are not about an agency’s customer service—they’re about whether the company has the financial resources to pay claims, even in times of crisis.

How to Find Ratings and Rankings

Consumers can easily access this information online:

• AM Best Rating Center - Search by company name or insurance type

• Insure.com - Offers rankings by insurance type and customer reviews

• Forbes Insurance Rankings - Annual rankings based on consumer surveys

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Who Provides These Ratings?

The most recognized rating agencies include:

• AM Best– Specializes in the insurance industry

• Standard & Poor’s (S&P)– Global financial rating agency

• Moody’s– Focuses on creditworthiness

• Fitch Ratings– Offers financial strength and credit ratings

Each agency uses its own scale, but here’s a simplified version of AM Best’s:

Why Ratings Matter

• Higher-rated insurers are more likely to pay claims promptly and withstand economic stress.

• Lower-rated insurers may struggle during high-claim events or financial downturns.

• Ratings can also influence premium pricing—stronger companies often offer better rates due to lower risk.

Example: AM Best Ratings (2025)

• USAA– A++ (Superior) across auto, life, and homeowners’ insurance

• Travelers– A++ (Superior)

• Northwestern Mutual– A++ (Superior)

• Liberty Mutual– A (Excellent)

What Are Insurance Rankings?

While ratings focus on financial strength, rankings evaluate customer experience, service quality, and overall satisfaction. These are typically published by consumer-focused organizations and media outlets.

What Rankings Measure

• Customer service and responsiveness

• Claims handling and satisfaction

• Pricing and value

• Transparency and trust

• Digital tools and online experience

• Forbes(in partnership with Statista)
• Insure.com
• J.D. Power

These organizations conduct large-scale surveys of policyholders to gather real-world feedback.

Forbes 2025 Rankings

Forbes in collaboration with Statista surveyed over 18,000 U.S. policyholders across five categories: homeowners, renters, auto, permanent life, and term life. Respondents rated their insurers on:

• Agent guidance
• Customer service
• Claims experience
• Cost and transparency
• Digital services

Top-Ranked Insurers in 2025:

• Travelers– Best overall for auto insurance
• Amica– High customer satisfaction
• Northwestern Mutual– Top for life insurance
• Kaiser Permanente– Best in health insurance
• UnitedHealthcare– Strong digital tools and service

Why This Matters for You

Understanding insurance carrier ratings and rankings is essential for making confident, informed decisions about your coverage. A highly rated insurer offers strong financial backing, meaning they’re more likely to pay claims promptly—even during economic downturns or widespread disasters. Rankings, on the other hand, gives you insight into the real-world experiences of other policyholders, helping you gauge how well a company handles customer service, claims, and digital tools. By considering both ratings and rankings, you’re not just buying a policy—you’re choosing a partner you can trust to protect your financial future and provide peace of mind when it matters most. Blue Ridge Risk Partners, licensed in all 50 states and connected to over 150 of the nation’s top insurance carriers, can help you navigate these choices with confidence—matching you with a credible insurer and ensuring your coverage is both comprehensive and tailored to your needs