More Than Meets The Eye: What Is Behind The Long-Term Credit Erosion In The North American Life-Insurance Sector? May 12
Standard & Poors, May 2012
Abstract
Due to their generally strong capitalization and liquidity, North American life insurers have comprised one of Standard & Poor's highest-rated sectors. However, the sector has experienced incremental credit deterioration for a protracted period. Since 2000, we have taken 159 rating downgrades in the sector compared to just 46 upgrades. This equates to roughly 3.5 downgrades for each upgrade. The current average financial strength rating, which takes into account quantitative and qualitative factors and future risks, for the life insurers that we rate is 'A+'. This denotes a strong ability to meet policyholder claims. However, in 2000, the average financial strength rating was 'AA'. We believe several factors are behind the deterioration: Increased risk acceptance, particularly among firms that converted to...
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- AGL Life Assurance Co.
- American Heritage Life Insurance Co.
- American Investors Life Insurance Co. (KS)
- American National Life Insurance Co. of Texas
- American Pioneer Life Insurance Co. (FL)
- American Progressive Life & Health Insurance Co. of NY
- American Public Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- American Republic Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Senior Health Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania
- Atlanta Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Auto Club Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Auto-Owners Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Bankers Life & Casualty Co.
- Aviva Life & Annuity Co. of New York
- Banner Life Insurance Co.
- Trustmark Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Conseco Health Insurance Co.
- Annuity Investors Life Insurance Co.
- Central States Health & Life Co. of Omaha (Unsolicited Ratings)
- American Equity Investment Life Insurance Co.
- Chesapeake Life Insurance Co.
- Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Co.
- Cincinnati Life Insurance Co.
- John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Co.
- Colonial Penn Life Insurance Co.
- Pacificare Life & Health Insurance Co.
- Combined Life Insurance Co. of NY
- Companion Life Insurance Co. (NY)
- EquiTrust Life Insurance Co.
- Country Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Deseret Mutual Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Equitable Life & Casualty Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- AXA Life and Annuity Co.
- Erie Family Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.
- Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. of MI (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Federated Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Pacificare Life Assurance Co.
- Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co.
- Fidelity Security Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- MedAmerica Insurance Co. of New York
- First Investors Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- The First Rehabilitation Life Insurance Co. of America
- First Sunamerica Life Insurance Co.
- Dearborn National Life Insurance Co.
- Garden State Life Insurance Co.
- Gerber Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- ING U.S. Annuity and Life Insurance Co.
- Government Personnel Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Grange Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Great American Life Insurance Co. (OH)
- Settlers Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Harleysville Life Insurance Co.
- Homesteaders Life Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- RiverSource Life Insurance Co.
- RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York
- Indianapolis Life Insurance Co.
- Jackson Griffin Insurance Co.
- Stonebridge Life Insurance Co.
- Kanawha Insurance Co.
- Wellmark Community Insurance Inc.
- Zurich American Life Insurance Co.
- Lafayette Life Insurance Co.
- Laurel Life Insurance Co.
- Life Insurance Co. of the Southwest
- Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Madison National Life Insurance Co. Inc. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Conseco Life Insurance Co.
- MEGA Life & Health Insurance Co.
- Mid-West National Life Insurance Co. of TN
- Midwestern United Life Insurance Co.
- MONY Life Insurance Co. of America
- Motorists Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Mutual Service Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- MTL Insurance Co.
- NACOLAH Life Insurance Co.
- National Guardian Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- National Life Insurance Co.
- Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Co.
- New Era Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- North American Co. for Life & Health Insurance
- North American Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America
- Pacific Life & Accident Insurance Co.
- Pekin Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Pennsylvania Life Insurance Co.
- Pacific Life & Annuity Co.
- American Memorial Life Insurance Co.
- Allianz Life Insurance Co. of New York
- Mission Life Insurance Co. of America (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Pyramid Life Insurance Co.
- Health Net Life Insurance Co.
- Reliable Life Insurance Co. (MO)
- SCOR Life Insurance Co.
- Rooney Life Insurance Co.
- SCOR Global Life Reinsurance Co. of America Inc.
- Sentry Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Sentry Life Insurance Co. of NY (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Shelter Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Southern Life & Health Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Standard Life & Accident Insurance Co.
- Standard Security Life Insurance Co. of NY (Unsolicited Ratings)
- State Farm Life & Accident Assurance Co.
- State Life Insurance Co.
- Tennessee Farmers Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Tennessee Farmers Life Reassurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Tower Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Trans-Oceanic Life Insurance Co.
- Aurora National Life Assurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- MedAmerica Insurance Co.
- Trustmark Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- New Era Life Insurance Co. of the Midwest (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Union National Life Insurance Co. (LA)
- United Farm Family Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- United Insurance Co. of America
- United World Life Insurance Co.
- U.S. Financial Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- USAble Life
- HCC Life Insurance Co.
- Washington National Insurance Co.
- First MetLife Investors Insurance Co.
- West Coast Life Insurance Co.
- William Penn Life Insurance Co. of NY
- SCOR GLOBAL LIFE AMERICAS REINSURANCE COMPANY
- Vantis Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Anthem Blue Cross Life & Health Insurance Co.
- American Interstate Insurance Co. of GA (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Canal Indemnity Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Indemnity Insurance Co. of North America
- Generali (U.S. branch)
- Republic Indemnity Co. of California
- Western United Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Americo Life Inc.
- Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Co.
- Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada (U.S. branch)
- Swiss Re Life & Health America Holding Co.
- Hartford International Life Reassurance Corp.
- American Maturity Life Insurance Co.
- Empire HealthChoice Assurance Inc. d/b/a Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- PHL Variable Insurance Co.
- Noridian Mutual Insurance Co. (d/b/a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota)
- Ameritas Life Insurance Corp of New York
- Security-Connecticut Corp.
- First Security Benefit Life Insurance and Annuity Co. of New York
- SunAmerica Life Insurance Co. (Separate Accounts) I
- Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Co. (d/b/a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana)
- MetLife Investors Insurance Co.
- London Insurance Group Inc.
- FBL Financial Group Inc.
- Jefferson-Pilot Corp.
- Unum Group
- Nationwide Life & Annuity Insurance Co.
- Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co.
- John Hancock Life Insurance Co. of New York
- Kaiser Permanente Insurance Co.
- Grange Indemnity Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Louisiana Workers Compensation Corp. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Employers Preferred Ins Co (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Workers Compensation Fund of Utah (Unsolicited Ratings)
- AmerUs Group Co.
- Penn Treaty American Corp.
- Nationwide Financial Services Inc.
- BMO Life Assurance Company
- Hartford Life Inc.
- TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Co.
- Jackson National Life Insurance Co. of New York
- USAA Life Insurance Co. of New York
- Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of New York
- Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Co.
- Aflac Inc.
- California Physicians' Service (d/b/a Blue Shield of California)
- HealthMarkets Inc.
- Bridgefield Employers Insurance Co.
- Canada Life Assurance Co. (U.S. branch)
- Great-West Life Assurance Co. (U.S. Branch)
- Key Risk Insurance Co.
- Preferred Employers Insurance Co.
- Admiral Indemnity Co.
- MetLife Inc.
- Power Corp. of Canada
- Transamerica Life Canada
- Manulife Financial Corp.
- Western Assurance Co.
- John Hancock Financial Services Inc.
- Power Financial Corp.
- Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
- Great-West Lifeco Inc.
- Prudential Financial Inc.
- Canada Life Financial Corp.
- Ohio National Financial Services Inc.
- Sun Life Financial Inc.
- American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.
- Phoenix Cos. Inc.
- StanCorp Financial Group Inc.
- Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.
- NLV Financial Corp.
- Pacific LifeCorp
- OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc.
- Principal Financial Group Inc.
- Aetna Health Inc. (an Oklahoma corporation)
- HealthCare Partners LLC
- Standard Life Assurance Co. of Canada
- Co-operators Life Insurance Co.
- Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc.
- Symetra Financial Corp.
- American General Assignment Services Trust
- Prodigy Health Group Inc.
- Securian Life Insurance Co.
- Universal Health Care Insurance Co. Inc.
- Dearborn National Life Insurance Co. of New York
- MedAmerica Insurance Co. of Florida
- Principal National Life Insurance Co.
- American National Life Insurance Co. of New York
- Medical Card System Inc.
- MCS Life Insurance Co.
- MCS Health Management Options Inc.
- MCS Advantage Inc.
- Primerica Inc.
- SunAmerica Financial Group Inc.
- Commonwealth General Corp.
- Combined Insurance Co. of America
- Equitable of Iowa Cos.
- Insurance Co. of North America
- Lincoln National Corp.
- Nationwide Life Insurance Co.
- New England Mutual Life Insurance Co.
- Reliastar Life Insurance Co.
- Protective Life Corp.
- Torchmark Corp.
- Transamerica Corp.
- Aetna Life Insurance Co.
- Connecticut General Life Insurance Co.
- AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co.
- John Hancock Life Insurance Co.
- John Hancock Capital Corp.
- Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.
- Metlife Funding Inc.
- Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
- Minnesota Life Insurance Co.
- MONY Life Insurance Co.
- ING U.S., Inc.
- New York Life Insurance Co.
- Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
- Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.
- Prudential Funding LLC
- Prudential Insurance Co. of America
- First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Co.
- MetLife Insurance Co. of Connecticut
- National Life Insurance Co. (VT)
- Aviva Life and Annuity Co.
- Kentucky Central Life Insurance Co.
- Protective Life Insurance Co.
- Mutual of America Life Insurance Co.
- Hartford Life Insurance Co.
- SunAmerica Life Insurance Co.
- American Life Insurance Co. (DE)
- CNO Financial Group Inc.
- Executive Life Insurance Co. CA
- Midland National Life Insurance Co.
- Pacific Life Insurance Co.
- Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada
- Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co.
- Great-West Life Assurance Co.
- Primerica Life Insurance Co.
- The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co.
- Principal Life Insurance Co.
- Insurance Co. of the State of Pennsylvania
- Reassure America Life Insurance Co.
- Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co.
- Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.
- Allstate Life Insurance Co.
- Lincoln Benefit Life Co.
- Presidential Life Corp.
- Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Co.
- Union Labor Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Valley Forge Insurance Co.
- United States Life Insurance Co. in the City of New York
- John Alden Life Insurance Co.
- The Canada Life Assurance Co.
- UNUM Life Insurance Co. of America
- Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co.
- Pruco Life Insurance Co.
- Northbrook Life Insurance Co.
- Surety Life Insurance Co.
- Clarica Life Insurance Co.
- Citizens Insurance Co. of America (MI)
- Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Co.
- United American Insurance Co.
- Liberty National Life Insurance Co.
- Reliastar Life Insurance Co. of New York
- Presidential Life Insurance Co. (NY)
- TIG Indemnity Co.
- Delphi Financial Group Inc.
- Republic Indemnity Co. of America
- ReliaStar Financial Corp.
- Jackson National Life Insurance Co.
- Globe Life & Accident Insurance Co.
- Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America
- Integrity Life Insurance Co.
- National Integrity Life Insurance Co.
- Genworth Life Insurance Co.
- MetLife Life and Annuity Co. of Connecticut
- Variable Annuity Life Insurance Co.
- Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada (U.S.)
- ING Life Insurance & Annuity Co.
- Union Central Life Insurance Co.
- Ohio National Life Insurance Co.
- Transamerica Life Insurance & Annuity Co.
- Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Co. of NY
- Security Mutual Life Insurance Co. of NY
- American General Life Insurance Co.
- General American Life Insurance Co.
- London Life Insurance Co.
- Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America
- Canada Life Insurance Co. of America
- Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co.
- Americo Financial Life & Annuity Insurance Co.
- Symetra Life Insurance Co.
- USAA Life Insurance Co.
- United of Omaha Life Insurance Co.
- Guardian Insurance & Annuity Co.
- National Western Life Insurance Co.
- Security Benefit Life Insurance Co.
- Life Investors Insurance Co. of America
- Monumental Life Insurance Co.
- Transamerica Life Insurance Co.
- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
- Conseco Insurance Co.
- Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland
- Independence Life & Annuity Co.
- Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Co.
- Lincoln Life & Annuity Co. of NY
- Jefferson Pilot Financial Insurance Co.
- Transamerica Life Insurance Co. of NY
- New York Life Insurance & Annuity Corp.
- First Penn-Pacific Life Insurance Co.
- American International Life Assurance Co. of New York
- C.M. Life Insurance Co.
- XL Life Insurance and Annuity Co.
- Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Co.
- Pruco Life Insurance Co. of New Jersey
- New England Life Insurance Co.
- Sun Life Insurance & Annuity Co. of New York
- John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Co.
- Commonwealth Annuity and Life Insurance Company
- Penn Insurance & Annuity Co.
- Paul Revere Life Insurance Co.
- Western and Southern Life Insurance Co.
- Sun Life and Health Insurance Co. (U.S.)
- Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
- Ohio National Life Assurance Corp.
- John Hancock Life Insurance Co. (USA)
- Ameritas Variable Life Insurance Co.
- Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Co.
- Northbrook Indemnity Co.
- Allstate Life Insurance Co. of New York
- First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co.
- Texas Pacific Indemnity Co.
- Western-Southern Life Assurance Co.
- Columbus Life Insurance Co.
- Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio
- Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co.
- American General Life & Accident Insurance Co.
- MML Bay State Life Insurance Co.
- SunAmerica Annuity and Life Assurance Co.
- American United Life Insurance Co.
- Knights of Columbus
- Savings Bank Life Insurance Co. of Massachusetts
- United Investors Life Insurance Co.
- American General Life Insurance Co. of Delaware
- Genworth Life Insurance Co. of New York
- First UNUM Life Insurance Co.
- Standard Insurance Co.
- Time Insurance Co.
- Pacific Guardian Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
- Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co.
- Teachers Insurance Co.
- Horace Mann Life Insurance Co.
- Phoenix Life Insurance Co.
- Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston
- Maritime Life Assurance Co.
- Kansas City Life Insurance Co.
- Pacific Insurance Co. Ltd.
- Forethought Life Insurance Co.
- Great American Financial Resources Inc.
- Sunset Life Insurance Co. of America
- Old American Insurance Co.
- AAA Life Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- Acacia Life Insurance Co.
- CSI Life Insurance Co.
- Alfa Life Insurance Corp.
- Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Co.
- American Bankers Life Assurance Co. of FL
- American Community Mutual Insurance Co. (Unsolicited Ratings)
- MAMSI Life & Health Insurance Co.
- American Family Life Assurance Co. of Columbus
- American Family Life Assurance Co. of NY
- Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Co.
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