A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Access Dental Plan and Premier Access Insurance Company;...

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Access Dental Plan and Premier Access Insurance Company; Revises Outlook of Premier Access to Stable

OLDWICK, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of
A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a-" of Access Dental
Plan (Access Dental) and Premier Access Insurance Company (Premier
Access) (both of Sacramento, CA). The rating outlook for Premier
Access has been revised to stable from negative, while the rating
outlook for Access Dental Plan remains negative.

The revised outlook for Premier Access reflects the company's
increasing premium revenue and earnings trend in a competitive
commercial dental market. Premier Access has been growing its group
dental business primarily in California and Arizona. The continuation
of the negative outlook for Access Dental reflects a potential decline
in future earnings from a proposed 10% reduction to the California
Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal reimbursement rates to health plans later in 2008
and continuing payments of sizeable stockholder dividends. Access
Dental's business is confined to three government contracts in
California.

For Best's Ratings, an overview of the rating process and rating
methodologies, please visit www.ambest.com/ratings.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a global full-service credit
rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care
service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals
and health care system providers. For more information, visit
www.ambest.com.

A.M. Best Co.
Analysts
Brian Virostek
(908) 439-2200, ext. 5531
brian.virostek@ambest.com
or
Carl Austin
(908) 439-2200, ext. 5500
carl.austin@ambest.com
or
Public Relations
Jim Peavy
(908) 439-2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com
or
Rachelle Morrow
(908) 439-2200, ext. 5378
rachelle.morrow@ambest.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008