A.M. Best is the oldest insurance rating agency in the world and has been reporting on the financial condition of virtually all life and health insurance companies since 1899. It evaluates a company’s relative financial strength and overall performance in comparison to other companies. Unlike other rating services, A.M. Best rates almost all insurance companies and does so whether the company wants to be rated or not. For this reason the Insurance Answer Center regards A.M. Best as the key rating agency and only offers products from companies rated B+ (very good) or better by A.M. Best.