{"id":402173,"date":"2020-12-17T12:33:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T17:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=402173"},"modified":"2020-12-17T12:33:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-17T17:33:23","slug":"am-best-affirms-credit-ratings-of-cvs-health-corporations-aetna-subsidiaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/am-best-affirms-credit-ratings-of-cvs-health-corporations-aetna-subsidiaries\/","title":{"rendered":"AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of CVS Health Corporation\u2019s Aetna Subsidiaries"},"content":{"rendered":"

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AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of CVS Health Corporation\u2019s Aetna Subsidiaries<\/b><\/p>\n

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–AM Best <\/b>has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of \u201ca\u201d of Aetna Life Insurance Company (ALIC) (Hartford, CT) and the other operating entities of Aetna Inc. (Aetna) that are now wholly owned subsidiaries of CVS Health Corporation (CVS Health) [NYSE: CVS]. These entities include the members of Aetna Health & Life Group. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of \u201ca-\u201d Aetna Insurance Company Limited(AICL) (United Kingdom). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Please see below for a detailed listing of the companies.\n<\/p>\n

\nAM Best also has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of \u201ca\u201d of Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company (Arlington, TX), as well as Texas Health + Aetna Health Plan, Inc., (Arlington, TX) (collectively referred to as Texas Health Aetna), and Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Company (St. Louis Park, MN), all of which are joint ventures with subsidiaries of Aetna Inc. The outlook of these ratings is stable.\n<\/p>\n

\nLastly, AM Best has assigned an FSR of A (Excellent) and a Long-Term ICR of \u201ca\u201d to Accendo Insurance Company (Accendo) (West Valley City, UT). Accendo is a newly added member to the Aetna Health & Life Group. The outlook assigned to these ratings is stable. Accendo, licensed in 50 states, has assumed Medicare Part D premium from an affiliate under CVS Health; however, the company recently started writing direct Medicare Supplement business in multiple states. The business written by Accendo targets the senior demographic, and the company expects additional complementary life insurance products to be offered along with traditional Medicare Supplement insurance products.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe majority of Aetna\u2019s operating entities are part of Aetna Health & Life Group. The ratings of Aetna Health & Life Group reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).\n<\/p>\n

\nThe ratings also reflect Aetna Health & Life Group\u2019s very strong level of risk-adjusted capitalization, which is driven by strong operating performance. However, this is offset by dividend payments, which have exceeded $2 billion in each of the past three years as the entities have distributed a larger percentage of earnings as dividends compared with prior periods. These higher dividends followed the sale of life and disability business in 2017, as well as lower commercial premium due to exit from individual exchange market. The lead company, ALIC, has reported a decline in risk-based capital to under 200% company action level; however, the company has a planned strategy to increase this above 200% by 2020 and maintain this level.\n<\/p>\n

\nAM Best considers the group\u2019s operating performance to be strong, with return on equity measures annually at or exceeding 25% with underwriting income that has been greater than $2 billion annually since the acquisition by parent company CVS Health was finalized in 2018. Aetna Health & Life Group reported strong growth in net premiums in 2019, partially attributed to consistent double-digit growth in the Medicare Advantage line of business. Furthermore, SilverScript Insurance Company, a member of the Aetna Health & Life Group, remains the leading stand-alone Medicare Part D plan in the United States, based on market share. Through nine months ended Sept. 30, 2020 and similar to industry trends, CVS\u2019 Health Care Benefits segment has reported lower medical benefit ratios attributed to the decline in utilization during the first half of 2020 as elective procedures were delayed and the health care providers focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline contributed to very strong earnings through the end of the third quarter; however, the company reported an uptick in utilization in the third quarter to more normal levels due to increase in elective procedures and emergency care outside of COVID-19 hot spots.\n<\/p>\n

\nAetna is one of the top three U.S. health insurers in terms of medical membership, which has increased to 23.3 million individuals for commercial, Medicare and Medicaid products. Aetna\u2019s Medicare Advantage membership growth has outpaced the industry over the past five years, moving Aetna to the number three insurer from the fifth position in the Medicare Advantage market. As of Sept. 30, 2020, Aetna\u2019s Medicare Advantage members are in plans with a Star rating of 4.0 or higher, exceeding peers and the industry average. The company also has recently reported strong membership growth in Medicaid managed care business, which is due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in the unemployment rate as businesses have laid off or furloughed their workforces. The rate has stayed persistently high since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Similar to industry trends, Aetna has seen consistent membership decline in its commercial business.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe ratings of Aetna Health & Life Group reflect high financial leverage and goodwill at the ultimate parent, CVS Health. Financial leverage at the end of third-quarter 2020 was approximately 49%. While AM Best considers that to be high, it remains lower than year-end 2019 as the CVS Health organization is focused on deleveraging. The execution risk related to the Aetna-CVS Health merger has declined over the past year, as many aspects of the management of Aetna\u2019s legacy business is on track and following the transformation plans outlined by management. However, while CVS Health stated its intention to maintain the capitalization level at the insurance entities in aggregate at the NAIC\u2019s company action level of 275%, actual risk-based capital at year-end 2019 was lower than target and the company\u2019s capital plan now includes increasing its risk-based capital ratio in 2020. CVS Health is doing this while keeping to its accelerated deleveraging plan through robust operating earnings at the insurance entities, strong cash flows from operations and suspension of its share repurchase program. CVS Health is expected to play a major part in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines in long-term care facilities, as an official COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe ratings of AICL reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. Furthermore, the ratings of AICL factor in rating enhancement from the Aetna organization. AICL has benefited from capital injections and the transfer of international business from the wider group.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe ratings of Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Company reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings include the enhancement from the Aetna organization.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe ratings of Texas Health Aetna reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings include the enhancement from the Aetna organization.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of \u201ca\u201d have been affirmed with a stable outlook for the following members of Aetna Health & Life Group:\n<\/p>\n