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Frequently Asked Questions: Best's Insurance Reports - Property/Casualty - United States & Canada (Print/Database/Web)
What is Best's Insurance Reports?
How will Best's Insurance Reports help me in assessing companies?
What information does each report in Best's Insurance Reports provide?
What does my purchase include?
I just want the book. Why can't I buy that alone?
Is there a difference between the information in an online AMB Credit Report and the individual reports contained in Best's Insurance Reports?
How much does it cost?
Why do subscribers to Best's Insurance Reports receive 10 updated online AMB Credit Reports?
Can I purchase additional online AMB Credit Reports individually?
What are Historical AMB Credit Reports?
I would like unlimited access to updated online AMB Credit Reports - Insurance Professional (Unabridged). How do I obtain that?
How do I purchase Best's Insurance Reports?
Is product training available?
What is BestAlert Service?
What does the online edition of Best's Insurance Reports provide?
What is Best's Insurance Reports?
Best's Insurance Reports is the most complete source of insurance company operating and performance profiles available. Detailed individual credit reports examine thousands of companies and groups, focusing on analysis and data generated by A.M. Best's team of insurance industry analysts and statistical experts. Best's Insurance Reports also contains overall industry reference information and financial rankings.
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How will Best's Insurance Reports help me in assessing companies?
You'll be able to:
· Evaluate income statements, balance sheets and underwriting experience of primary companies or reinsurers.
· Research a company's operating experience, Best's Rating (or Financial Performance Rating) and trends.
· Investigate the operations and distribution systems of competitors.
· Determine the creditworthiness of insurers (or their corporate structures) associated with securing loans.
· Compare asset allocation, reinsurance arrangements and licensing status among insurance companies.
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What information does each report in Best's Insurance Reports provide?
Each report provides:
· Five years' worth of our exclusive Best's Ratings and current Rating Rationale.
· Best's Financial Size Category designation.
· Best's Profitability, Leverage and Liquidity tests.
· Important financial statement data such as total assets and net premiums written.
· Review of the company's financial performance.
· Company history and management information.
· Full list of states where companies are domiciled or licensed.
· Complete company name and address information.
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What does my purchase include?
Subscribers to Best's Insurance Reports - Property/Casualty - United States & Canada or Best's Insurance Reports - Life/Health - United States & Canada receive the corresponding print edition. Ahead of the book, subscribers receive a CD-ROM containing full report information, plus additional quarterly data. The CD-ROM will be updated twice: with six-month data, and then with nine-month data.
Subscribers receive access to BestAlert Service, an online service that provides notice of rating changes, credit report updates and news items affecting the insurers of your choice. They also can access up to 10 current online AMB Credit Reports for insurers in their edition, and purchase additional online AMB Credit Reports at a 33% discount. Historical AMB Credit Reports are also available in print or online, at a 30% discount for any insurers in the edition purchased.
A Regular Service purchase includes a one-year subscription to Best's Review magazine. Full Service subscribers receive, along with one year of Best's Review, a one-year subscription to BestWeek.
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I just want the book. Why can't I buy that alone?
Because the book is only part of the information and value; Best's Insurance Reports is a multi-format product. The reports in the book are slightly condensed, and the CD-ROM contains complete report information and is updated twice per year. Access to 10 online AMB Credit Reports (and discounts on additional reports) means that current information is always available.
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Is there a difference between the information in an online AMB Credit Report and the individual reports contained in Best's Insurance Reports?
The detailed credit reports -- sold online as AMB Credit Reports - Insurance Professional (Unabridged) -- are identical to the reports included in the CD-ROM component of Best's Insurance Reports. Those reports will be slightly condensed for the print component, however. Since all subscribers receive both the book and CD-ROM, they will have access to every item of an AMB Credit Report.
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How much does it cost?
For 2008, a Regular Service subscription, which includes a year of Best's Review magazine (print and digital), or a Regular - Online subscription, which includes Best's Review (digital only) are both $1,325. A Full Service subscription, which includes Best's Review and BestWeek print/online, is $2,010. Full Service costs $1,910, and subscribers receive the online versions of Best's Review and BestWeek. Delivery Charges in the U.S. is $33.95; call Customer Service at (908) 439-2200, ext. 5742, for rates outside the U.S. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
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Why do subscribers to Best's Insurance Reports receive 10 updated online AMB Credit Reports?
Because we wanted to give subscribers the ability to stay current for the most-important companies that they follow. The updated CD-ROMs routinely contain hundreds of updated reports, but sometimes a subscriber needs a report that is current to the minute. We've found that most organizations closely follow a limited number of companies, which is why we offered the additional value. Larger organizations may have more extensive needs, which is why the local-area-network edition of Best's Insurance Report contains no limit on the number of online AMB Credit Reports available.
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Can I purchase additional online AMB Credit Reports individually?
Yes. When you subscribe to Best's Insurance Reports, you are entitled to a 33% discount on the purchase of the AMB Credit Report for any insurer covered in the edition of Best's Insurance Reports you've purchased (the first 10 of course are included at no charge). Local Area Network and Unlimited Access subscribers get complimentary online access to all the latest reports.
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What are Historical AMB Credit Reports?
An archive of Historical AMB Credit Reports dating back to 2001 is available online as part of A.M. Best's line of standard product offerings. The archived reports, previously available only on a custom basis, present A.M. Best's analysis and commentary on property/casualty, life and health insurers at the time of each report's release.
Each historical report costs $50; stand-alone and LAN purchasers of the following A.M. Best products can buy reports for $35 each for the companies listed in the product edition they've purchased: Best's Insurance Reports, Best's Captive Center - Premium Data & Reports, Best's Health Center - Premium Data & Reports, Best's Reinsurance Center - Premium Data & Reports and Best's Statement File - Global. Customers who have Unlimited subscriptions to these products can access archived reports free of charge.
Archived reports can be purchased in print or online. To purchase a printed report, call Customer Service at (908) 439-2200, ext. 5742. Online reports are available through Best's Rating Center, www.ambest.com/ratings, by typing the name of the desired company into the search box, selecting the specific company from the list of search results and choosing "AMB Credit Report - Insurance Professional (Unabridged) Archive" from the Reports and News section. Displayed in HTML format, the reports can be viewed online for 14 days from the date of purchase and printed for personal use.
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I would like unlimited access to updated online AMB Credit Reports - Insurance Professional (Unabridged). How do I obtain that?
Simply upgrade your account to a network license. Standard subscriptions have an annual limit of 10 updated AMB Credit Reports with a 33% discount on additional reports; network accounts have no limit.
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How do I purchase Best's Insurance Reports?
Order online by clicking the order icon at the top of the main product page, or call Customer Service at (908) 439-2200, ext. 5742. If you have any questions, e-mail us at customer_service@ambest.com.
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Is product training available?
Yes. A.M. Best offers a variety of training workshops for our online and CD-ROM-based products. You'll become familiar with product features, learn to navigate through the various screens and discover time-saving tips and shortcuts. To register for training or to arrange a session at your site, please call (908) 439-2200, ext. 5115. Or e-mail training@ambest.com.
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What is BestAlert Service?
BestAlert Service is the notification and tracking system offered to customers of select A.M. Best products. Registered customers can track and receive notice of selected insurance companies' rating changes, related news and other company-specific information.
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What does the online edition of Best's Insurance Reports provide?
This resource provides Network and Unlimited subscribers with a variety of tools to locate the latest AMB Credit Reports on insurers provided in the edition(s) registered. The online search feature lets customers locate insurers based on a variety of criteria.
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