A rating agency is a private company that takes a look at the finances of an insurance company and gives it a grade or rating.  These grades are opinions and, therefore, provide no guarantee.  However, they can give you some information on how these private analysts view the health of a particular company.  You can call a rating agency or go to its website, check with your public library for reports and information, or ask your agent or broker for the latest reports.  Below are some commonly used rating agencies:

A.M. Best Company
Ambest Road
Oldwick, NJ 08858
909-489-2200
www.ambest.com 

Demotech, Inc.
2715 Tuller Parkway
Dublin, OH 43017-2310
614-761-8602 / 800-354-7207
www.demotech.com  

Fitch Ratings
One State Street Plaza
New York, NY 10004
212-908-0500
www.fitchratings.com 

Moody's Investors Service
7 World Trade Center at
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
212-553-1658
http://v3.moodys.com/Pages/default.aspx 

Standard & Poor's
55 Water Street
New York, NY 10041
212-438-1000 / 212-438-2000
www.standardandpoors.com 

Weiss Group, LLC.
15430 Endeavour Drive
Jupiter, FL 33478
877-925-4833 / 561-627-3300
www.weissgroupinc.com