This COUNTRY Insurance review will evaluate, for the most recent six year period where reliable statistics are available (2009 – 2014), the home & auto insurance complaints for the subsidiary companies of Country Financial Group, to determine whether each subsidiary, such as Country Mutual Insurance Company, has a better-than-average, average, or worse-than-average customer complaint record.
In addition to reviewing & rating its most recent six year complaint record, I’ll analyze the change in the JD Power home & auto insurance scores & ratings for COUNTRY insurance from 2012 to 2016, and compare them to the scores of leading competitors, like State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, Nationwide, Progressive, & GEICO. I’ll review the AM Best Financial Strength ratings for Country Financial, too.
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I update my reviews throughout the year as new data becomes available, so be sure to bookmark or place my website in your favorites, so you can keep up on how Country Insurance and other major insurance companies perform in the future.
COUNTRY Insurance Review
COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company, and the other Country Financial subsidiaries, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company, offer auto and home insurance through COUNTRY financial representatives located in these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Country Financial is NOT related to Country-Wide Insurance Company, or has any association with Countrywide Mortgage, the company now owned by Bank of America, that was a notorious player in the 2008 financial crisis.
Illinois Agricultural Association, the parent company of Country Financial, also owns Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company and Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company in Salem, Mass, marketed as the MiddleOak insurance group, selling home & auto insurance through local independent insurance agencies in a number of states, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. The complaint ratings for Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company and Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company in Salem, Mass. are included in this review.
Country Financial has been affiliated with Cotton States Insurance since 2005. The policyholders of Cotton States Mutual Insurance Company and Shield Insurance Company were assumed by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company and COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company on December 31, 2012. Cotton States Mutual Insurance Company policies became COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company policies. Shield Insurance Company policies became COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company policies.
This COUNTRY Insurance Companies review is divided into four sections, considering its: 1. AM Best Financial Strength Ratings 2. JD Power insurance customer & claims satisfaction scores & ratings for COUNTRY Insurance compared to competing companies 3. auto & home insurance customer complaint record over the last five years, and 4. competitiveness of its auto & home insurance rates compared to other major auto & home insurance companies.
1. AM Best Financial Strength Ratings for the COUNTRY Insurance Companies
These Country Financial companies (COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company, COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company, COUNTRY Life Insurance Company, COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company, Holyoke Mutual Insurance Co in Salem, Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company, and Modern Service Insurance Company) had their A+ (Superior) AM Best Financial Strength Rating with a stable outlook (no ratings upgrade or downgrade is expected in the near future) reaffirmed on 02/27/2015. A+ is the second highest rating for AM Best. Cotton States Life Insurance Company has the lower AM Best financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) also reaffirmed on 02/27/2015 with a stable outlook. A- is the fourth highest rating for AM Best. I become concerned with any auto, home, or life insurance company / subsidiary with less than an A- rating for financial strength from AM Best.
AM Best financial strength ratings are not a measure of customer service or the quality of the claims adjusting for any of the COUNTRY companies, but an opinion about their ability to pay claims, remain financially solvent, and stay in business. I recommend avoiding, if possible or practical, any auto, life, or homeowners insurance company with lower than an “A-” rating for financial strength from AM Best. Other major auto & home insurance companies may have a higher or lower financial strength rating than the COUNTRY companies, but the difference in financial strength among A++, A+, A, & A- rated companies is not significant to me unless higher rated companies are the same or better in terms of price, coverage, claims handling, and customer service.
2. COUNTRY Insurance JD Power Auto & Home Insurance Ratings for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016
This section of the review will analyze the JD Power ratings & numerical scores for COUNTRY Insurance, in all the JD Power insurance studies where the company was included from 2012 to 2016, to see if its JD Power ratings truly reflect the quality of the claims & customer service for the company.
I’ll compare the numerical scores (instead of the power circle rating) for Country auto & home insurance, to the industry average and the scores of competing insurance companies, for each JD Power insurance study (2012-2016) where it was rated. COUNTRY was included in the following annual JD Power insurance studies:
The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study
The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study
The Annual JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study
The Annual JD Power Property (Home) Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study
You can scroll down to read my analysis or summaries of the studies most interesting to you.
The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study
Country Financial is usually rated in only one of the eleven regional studies (The North Central Region) composing the annual JD Power US Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study. If your state is not included in the North Central region, the results for COUNTRY in this region may still be a good proxy for how COUNTRY performs in your state.
North Central Region (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
2015: COUNTRY scored 14 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1.4% above the 2015 North Central region average, at 822 out of 1,000 points.
Here is how COUNTRY rated in the North Central Region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2015:
Policy Offerings: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Price: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Billing & Payment: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Interaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Claims: Three Power Circles (about average)
Overall Customer Satisfaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Indiana Farm Bureau, Hartford, and American Family scored about the same (within 3 points) as Country Financial in the 2015 North Central Region study.
These companies scored .6% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2015 North Central Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): USAA, Auto-Owners, and Nationwide.
These companies scored .6% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2015 North Central Region study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): State Farm, Erie, Progressive, Farmers, GEICO, Allstate, Grange, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Michigan Farm Bureau, Automobile Club Group (AAA), Hanover, and Safeco.
2014: COUNTRY scored 8 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .8% above the 2014 North Central region average, at 824 out of 1,000 points.
Here is how COUNTRY rated in the North Central Region for the five factors used to determine its overall auto insurance customer satisfaction score in 2014:
Policy Offerings: Three Power Circles (about average)
Price: Three Power Circles (about average)
Billing & Payment: Three Power Circles (about average)
Interaction: Three Power Circles (about average)
Claims: Five Power Circles (among the best)
Overall Customer Satisfaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
These companies scored 1.6% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2014 North Central Region study: USAA and Auto-Owners.
These companies scored 1.5% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2014 North Central Region study: American Family, GEICO, Michigan Farm Bureau, Nationwide, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Farmers, Automobile Club, The Hanover, and Metlife.
2013: COUNTRY scored 12 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1.2% below the 2013 North Central region average, at 785 out of 1,000 points.
These companies scored .9% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2013 North Central Region study: USAA, Auto-Owners, State Farm, Erie, Michigan Farm Bureau, The Hartford, Nationwide, GEICO, and Grange.
These companies scored 1% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2013 North Central Region study: Auto Club and The Hanover.
2012: COUNTRY scored 10 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1% above the 2012 North Central region average, at 814 out of 1,000 points.
These companies scored .9% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2012 North Central Region study: USAA, Auto-Owners, State Farm, and Erie.
These companies scored 1.6% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2012 North Central Region study: Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Progressive, American Family, The Hanover, Auto Club, Michigan Farm Bureau, Nationwide, The Hartford, and Farmers.
North Central Region Auto Insurance Satisfaction Summary: COUNTRY scored 1% above, 1.2% below, .8% above, and 1.4% above the north central region average in the 2012, 2013, 2014, & 2015 studies respectively, showing inconsistent, but above average auto insurance customer satisfaction in three of the last four years, for the north central region states of IL, IN, MI, OH, and WI.
The Annual JD Power Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Study
2015: COUNTRY scored 6 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .6% below the 2015 US auto claims satisfaction study average, at 851 out of 1,000 points.
Here is how COUNTRY rated in the six factors used to determine its overall auto insurance claims satisfaction score in 2015:
First Notice of Loss: Three Power Circles (about average)
Service Interaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Appraisal: Three Power Circles (about average)
Repair Process: Three Power Circles (about average)
Rental Car Experience: Three Power Circles (about average)
Settlement: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)
Overall Auto Claims Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)
These insurance companies scored about the same (from three points above to three points below) as COUNTRY in the 2015 US Auto Claims Satisfaction study (listed in order from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): GEICO, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Mercury, Travelers, and CSAA Insurance Group.
These insurance companies scored .7% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2015 US Auto Claims Satisfaction study (listed in order from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): New Jersey Manufacturers, Auto Owners, USAA, Amica, Auto Club of Southern California, Hartford, Nationwide, Erie, Allstate, American Family, Farmers, Safeco, and State Farm.
These insurance companies scored .8% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2015 US Auto Claims Satisfaction study (listed in order from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): New Jersey Manufacturers, Auto Owners, USAA, Amica, Auto Club of Southern California, Hartford, Nationwide, Erie, Allstate, American Family, Farmers, Safeco, State Farm, GEICO, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, Country Financial, Mercury, Travelers, CSAA Insurance Group, 21st Century, Hanover, Metlife, Automobile Club Group, Esurance, and MAPFRE-Commerce Insurance.
2014: COUNTRY scored 5 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .5% below the 2014 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study average, at 852 out of 1,000 points.
Here is how COUNTRY rated in the six factors used to determine its overall auto insurance claims satisfaction score in 2014:
First Notice of Loss: Three Power Circles (about average)
Service Interaction: Three Power Circles (about average)
Appraisal: Five Power Circles (among the best)
Repair Process: Five Power Circles (among the best)
Rental Car Experience: Two Power Circles (lowest rating)
Settlement: Three Power Circles (about average)
Overall Auto Claims Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)
These companies scored 1.4% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2014 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: Amica, USAA, Auto-Owners, State Farm, American Family, Auto Club of Southern California, and The Hartford.
These companies scored 1% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2014 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: Metlife, Farmers, Progressive, Auto Club, CSAA/AAA NCNU, 21st Century, Liberty Mutual, Esurance, and MAPFRE-Commerce.
2013: COUNTRY was not included in the 2013 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study average.
2012: COUNTRY scored 22 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 2.2% above the 2012 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study average, at 874 out of 1,000 points.
These companies scored 1.3% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2012 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: NJ Manufacturers, USAA, and Auto-Owners.
These companies scored 1.1% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2012 JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study: Allstate, Travelers, CSAA/AAA NCNU, Nationwide, GMAC (Now called National General), Auto club, The Hanover, Liberty Mutual, GEICO, Progressive, Metlife, Safeco, Farmers, Mercury, 21st Century, Encompass, Esurance, and Commerce (MAPFRE).
Auto Insurance Claims Satisfaction Summary: COUNTRY scored 2.2% above the national average in 2012, was not rated in 2013, and scored .5% & .6% below the national average in 2014 and 2015 respectively, showing a recent history of inconsistent satisfaction, slightly below average in 2014 & 2015, in the national JD Power Auto Claims Satisfaction study.
The Annual JD Power US National Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study
2015: COUNTRY scored 15 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1.5% above the 2015 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study average, at 802 out of 1,000 points.
Here is how COUNTRY rated in the five factors used to determine its overall homeowners insurance customer satisfaction score in 2015:
Policy Offerings: Three Power Circles (about average)
Price: Three Power Circles (about average)
Billing & Payment: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Contacting the Insurer: Three Power Circles (about average)
Claims: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Overall Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
American Family scored the same as COUNTRY Financial in the 2015 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study.
These companies scored .4% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2015 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): USAA, Amica, Auto-Owners, Erie, Auto Club of Southern California, and GEICO.
These companies scored .2% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2015 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): Shelter, State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate, California State Auto Association (CSAA), Hartford, Chubb, Progressive, Cincinnati, Mercury, Farmers, Encompass, Automobile Club Group, Metlife, Kemper, Liberty Mutual, Safeco, Travelers, and Hanover.
2014: COUNTRY scored 2 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .2% above the 2014 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study average, at 792 out of 1,000 points.
Here is how COUNTRY rated in the five factors used to determine its overall homeowners insurance customer satisfaction score in 2014:
Policy Offerings: Three Power Circles (about average)
Price: Three Power Circles (about average)
Billing & Payment: Three Power Circles (about average)
Interaction: Three Power Circles (about average)
Claims: Three Power Circles (about average)
Overall Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction: Three Power Circles (about average)
These companies scored 1.2% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2014 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, Auto-Owners, State Farm, Erie, American Family, and Auto Club of Southern California.
These companies scored 1.2% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2014 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: Nationwide, Safeco, Farmers, Metlife, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Auto Club, Progressive, and The Hanover.
2013: COUNTRY scored 8 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .8% above the 2013 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study average, at 795 out of 1,000 points.
These companies scored 1.3% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2013 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, State Farm, Auto-Owners, Erie, and Automobile Club of Southern California.
These companies scored .6% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2013 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: Allstate, GEICO, The Hartford, CSAA/AAA NCNU, Nationwide, Metlife, Safeco, Auto Club, Chubb, The Hanover, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, and Travelers.
2012: COUNTRY scored 9 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or .9% above the 2012 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study average, at 794 out of 1,000 points.
These companies scored .9% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2012 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, Auto Club of Southern California, Erie, American Family, Shelter, Cincinnati Insurance, State Farm, and Nationwide.
These companies scored .6% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2012 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study: Encompass, The Hartford, Safeco, Allstate, Mercury, Auto Club, CSAA/AAA NCNU, The Hanover, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Farmers, and Travelers.
Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction Summary: COUNTRY scored .9% , .8%, .2%, and 1.5 above the national average each year in the 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 studies respectively, showing only slightly better than average satisfaction in the national JD Power Homeowners Insurance Customer Satisfaction study in most years.
The Annual JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction Study
The 2016 Property Claims Satisfaction Study is based on more than 5,700 responses from homeowners insurance customers who filed a property claim between January 2014 & December 2015.
2016: Country scored 17 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1.7% above the 2016 US Property Claims Satisfaction study average, at 863 out of 1,000 points.
Here is how Country rated in the five factors used to determine its overall property claims satisfaction score in 2016:
First Notice of Loss: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Service Interaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Estimation Process: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Repair Process: Three Power Circles (about average)
Settlement: Three Power Circles (about average)
Overall Property Claims Satisfaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
These companies scored the same as Country in the 2016 US Property Claims Satisfaction study: Encompass and Erie.
These companies scored 1.2% or more higher than Country in the 2016 US Property Claims Satisfaction study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): Amica, Auto Club of Southern California, and USAA.
These companies scored .6% or more lower than Country in the 2016 US Property Claims Satisfaction study (from highest scoring company to lowest scoring company): Safeco, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, The Hanover, Nationwide, American Family, Chubb, California State Auto Association (CSAA), Farmers, Allstate, Metlife, Travelers, Auto-Owners, Hartford, and MAPFRE (Commerce).
2015: COUNTRY scored 30 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 3% above the 2015 US Property Claims Satisfaction study average, at 881 out of 1,000 points.
The 2015 Property Claims Satisfaction Study was based on more than 6,100 responses from homeowners insurance customers who filed a property claim between January 2013 & December 2014.
Here is how COUNTRY rated in the five factors used to determine its overall property claims satisfaction score in 2015:
First Notice of Loss: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Service Interaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Estimation Process: Five Power Circles (among the best)
Repair Process: Five Power Circles (among the best)
Settlement: Four Power Circles (better than most)
Overall Property Claims Satisfaction: Four Power Circles (better than most)
These companies scored .5% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2015 US Property Claims Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, and Nationwide.
These companies scored 1.3% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2015 US Property Claims Satisfaction study: Travelers, CSAA/AAA NCNU, Encompass, Allstate, State Farm, The Hartford, Metlife, Farmers, Safeco, Liberty Mutual, Auto Club of Southern California, American Family, The Hanover, Auto-Owners, and Auto Club.
2014: COUNTRY was not included the 2014 JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study average.
2013: COUNTRY scored 27 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 2.7% above the 2013 JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study average, at 859 out of 1,000 points.
These companies scored .8% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2013 JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study: Amica, USAA, Chubb, and Encompass.
These companies scored 1% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2013 JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study: Auto-Owners, American Family, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, Travelers, State Farm, Farmers, CSAA/AAA NCNU, and Safeco.
2012: COUNTRY scored 14 points (on a 1,000 point scale) or 1.4% above the 2013 JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study average, at 847 out of 1,000 points.
These companies scored 1.2% or more higher than COUNTRY in the 2012 JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, Auto-Owners, Nationwide, Erie, and Chubb.
These companies scored 1.3% or more lower than COUNTRY in the 2012 JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study: Safeco, Travelers, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Farmers, and The Hanover.
Homeowners Insurance Claims Satisfaction Summary: COUNTRY scored 1.4% , 2.7%, 3%, and 1.7% above the national average each year in the 2012, 2013, 2015, & 2016 studies respectively, showing a strong trend of above average satisfaction in the national JD Power Property Claims Satisfaction study, in spite of not being included in the study for 2014.
3. COUNTRY Insurance Customer Complaint Statistics & Ratings
Another measure of quality for an auto or home insurance company is the number of upheld complaints filed against it with a state’s insurance regulatory authority, adjusted for the company’s market share. This section of the review will show you if Country auto & home insurance has a better-than-average, average, or below-average complaint record for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014.
You may really like your car or home insurance company, or you may have heard from relatives or friends about the insurance companies they think are good, but you never really know how your insurance company will perform, until you have a serious claim. The good news is many insurance companies settle a good portion of their claims in a manner acceptable to the majority of their customers. However, the wise consumer should avoid insurance companies with a worse than average history of auto or home insurance complaints.
The most common reasons, for people to file auto & home insurance complaints with a state insurance department against insurance companies, are for delays in a claim payment, unsatisfactory payment of a claim, and denial of a claim. The complaint statistics used in this Country Financial Group review are the number of upheld complaints filed against the Country companies, with a state’s insurance regulatory authority, adjusted for the company’s market share, as determined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This review provides valuable information to help you decide if COUNTRY is best for you. By choosing a company with a better-than-average complaint history, or at least avoiding companies with consistent, worse-than-average complaint records, you decrease the likelihood you will have a negative experience, when you need your car or home insurance company.
The auto & homeowners insurance complaint statistics for the COUNTRY insurance subsidiary companies listed below were calculated by the NAIC, and display the ratio of the company’s U.S. market share of closed complaints compared to its U.S. market share of premiums for a specific policy type. Complaint ratios lower than “1” have less complaints than average, and complaint ratios over “1” have more complaints than average. The lower the complaint ratio, the less complaints against the company. Ideally, you want to choose an insurance company with complaint ratios much less than 1.00 each year, over the last three years.
Don’t worry about comparing complaint ratio numbers, I devised a rating system to help you identify if a COUNTRY Insurance subsidiary has a good or poor complaint record.
Here’s how I establish my auto & homeowners insurance complaint ratings:
B = Better than average. Insurance companies with complaint ratios less than 75% of the average insurance company.
C = Average. Insurance companies with complaint ratios from 75% to 125% of the average insurance company. I use a minus sign (-) to indicate auto insurance complaint ratios slightly worse than average (1.05 to 1.25) and a plus sign (+) for auto insurance complaint ratios slightly better than average (.95 to .75).
W = Worse than average. Insurance companies with complaint ratios more than 125% of the average insurance company.
I prefer companies with the longest recent history of “B” ratings each year (or at least in the most recent three years). Companies with “B” or “C+” ratings are okay, too, particularly if they have less market share, with less than $50,000,000 in premiums for that line of insurance (auto or home) each year. I prefer to avoid companies with a consistently higher than average number of complaints, or with inconsistent complaint records, unless there are mitigating factors, such as a very small market share.
Country Financial & MiddleOak Insurance Group have five subsidiary companies selling auto &/or home insurance in the USA. The use of more than one auto or home insurance subsidiary company is usually to offer different pricing to specific risk profiles (for example, drivers with a clean driving record vs. drivers with tickets and accidents), operate in a certain US state or group of states. Subsidiaries are also used sometimes to offer particular lines of insurance, such as commercial property or life insurance.
I. COUNTRY Auto Insurance Customer Complaints
Country auto insurance complaint record considering all subsidiaries:
Better than average
Country Financial & MiddleOak Insurance Group have five subsidiary companies insuring private passenger vehicles in the states where these companies sell auto insurance, and each subsidiary’s auto insurance complaint record is listed below.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
2015 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.42)
2015 US auto insurance premium = $377,417,313
2014 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.36)
2014 US auto insurance premium = $385,864,524
2013 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.30)
2013 US auto insurance premium = $398,007,257
2012 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.30)
2012 US auto insurance premium = $411,810,235
2011 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.43)
2011 US auto insurance premium = $320,206,829
2010 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.61)
2010 US auto insurance premium = $345,714,941
2009 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.31)
The Country Mutual Insurance Company subsidiary is the second largest Country Financial auto insurance subsidiary, about 20% smaller than Country Preferred Insurance Company (see below). Country Mutual Insurance Company has a better-than-average auto insurance complaint history over the last six years, with its number of auto insurance complaints in its worst year during this period, at 61% of the industry average. The auto insurance market share for Country Mutual Insurance Company has decreased each year since 2012, which may be an indication Country Mutual Insurance Company no longer has competitive pricing for its auto insurance, in at least some of the states where it sells auto insurance coverage.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
2015 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.20)
2015 US auto insurance premium = $567,096,793
2014 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.20)
2014 US auto insurance premium = $526,537,623
2013 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.24)
2013 US auto insurance premium = $493,292,879
2012 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.31)
2012 US auto insurance premium = $466,523,728
2011 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.30)
2011 US auto insurance premium = $421,821,726
2010 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.34)
2010 US auto insurance premium = $399,342,173
2009 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.18)
The Country Preferred Insurance Company subsidiary is the largest Country Financial auto insurance subsidiary, only somewhat larger (about 15%) than Country Mutual Insurance Company (see above). Country Preferred Insurance Company has a consistent, better-than-average auto insurance complaint history over the last six years, with its number of auto insurance complaints, in its worst year during this period, at 34% of the industry average. The auto insurance market share for Country Preferred Insurance Company has increased a lot each year since 2010, which may be an indication of competitive pricing for its auto insurance, in at least some of the states where it sells auto insurance coverage.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
2015 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.51)
2015 US auto insurance premium = $22,281,573
2014 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.54)
2014 US auto insurance premium = $19,723,554
2013 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = C- (1.13)
2013 US auto insurance premium = $19,251,252
2012 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.45)
2012 US auto insurance premium = $19,911,989
2011 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = W (1.54)
2011 US auto insurance premium = $22,114,281
2010 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.36)
2010 US auto insurance premium = $23,720,946
2009 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.64)
The Country Casualty Insurance Company subsidiary is a small Country Financial auto insurance subsidiary, about 20 times smaller than Country Mutual Insurance Company (see above). Country Casualty Insurance Company has a lower than average number of auto insurance complaints in four of the last six years, with its number of auto insurance complaints, in its worst year during the period (2011), at 54% more than the industry average. The auto insurance market share for Country Casualty Insurance Company has been flat since 2012, and smaller than it was in 2010, which may be an indication its auto insurance is not competitively priced, in at least some of the states where it sells auto insurance coverage.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
2014 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.21)
2014 US auto insurance premium = $51,651,221
2013 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2013 US auto insurance premium = $57,178,502
2012 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.45)
2012 US auto insurance premium = $60,154,888
2011 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.28)
2011 US auto insurance premium = $61,092,652
2010 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.28)
2010 US auto insurance premium = $60,192,379
2009 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.13)
Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company is a subsidiary of Middleoak Insurance Group, which is owned by Country Financial, but is sold through independent insurance agents appointed to represent the company.
Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company has a consistent better-than-average auto insurance complaint history over the last six years, with its number of auto insurance complaints, in its worst year during this period, still at only 45% of the industry average. The auto insurance market share for Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company has decreased each year since 2011, which may be an indication Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company no longer has competitive pricing for its auto insurance, in at least some of the states where it sells auto insurance coverage.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
Existing auto insurance policies acquired by MAPFRE insurance in 2015.
2014 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2014 US auto insurance premium = $1,742,820
2013 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2013 US auto insurance premium =$ 1,992,357
2012 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2012 US auto insurance premium = $2,303,906
2011 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2011 US auto insurance premium = $2,444,115
2010 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2010 US auto insurance premium = $2,569,163
2009 Auto Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company in Salem is a subsidiary of Middleoak Insurance Group, which is owned by Country Financial, but is sold through independent insurance agents appointed to represent the company.
Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company in Salem has a perfect auto insurance complaint history, with no auto insurance complaints over the last six years. However, Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company in Salem has an extremely small auto insurance market share, decreasing each year since 2010, which may be an indication Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company in Salem no longer has competitive pricing for its auto insurance.
II. COUNTRY Homeowners Insurance Complaints
Country home insurance complaint record considering all subsidiaries:
Better than average
Country Financial Group & MiddleOak Insurance Group sell home insurance through the four subsidiary companies, and each subsidiary’s home insurance complaint record is listed below.
Country Preferred Insurance Company had only $781,242 in 2013 US home insurance premiums (now $975,644 in 2014). Country Preferred Insurance Company has very few home insurance customers and may not be selling new home insurance policies, so it is not included in this home insurance complaints analysis.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
2015 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.27)
2015 US home insurance premium = $638,319,230
2014 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.32)
2014 US home insurance premium = $628,120,314
2013 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.53)
2013 US home insurance premium = $611,288,839
2012 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.28)
2012 US home insurance premium = $574,833,335
2011 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.42)
2011 US home insurance premium = $424,283,690
2010 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.47)
2010 US home insurance premium = $402,548,172
2009 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.46)
The Country Mutual Insurance Company subsidiary is the main Country Financial home insurance subsidiary, being much, much larger than the next largest Country Financial home insurance subsidiary, Country Casualty Insurance Company (see below). Country Mutual Insurance Company has a consistent better-than-average home insurance complaint history over the last six years, with its number of home insurance complaints in its worst year during this period at 53% of the industry average. The home insurance market share for Country Mutual Insurance Company has increased each year since 2010, which may be an indication of competitive pricing or advantages for its home insurance.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
2015 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.70)
2015 US home insurance premium = $14,141,941
2014 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2014 US home insurance premium = $14,563,464
2013 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.71)
2013 US home insurance premium = $15,795,690
2012 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = W (1.51)
2012 US home insurance premium = $16,070,274
2011 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.52)
2011 US home insurance premium = $15,568,464
2010 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = C- (1.23)
2010 US home insurance premium = $14,765,002
2009 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.62)
The Country Casualty Insurance Company subsidiary is a small Country Financial home insurance subsidiary, being more than 35 times smaller than the largest Country Financial home insurance subsidiary, Country Mutual Insurance Company (see above). Country Casualty Insurance Company has better-than-average home insurance complaint ratios in four of the last six years, and higher than average home insurance complaint ratios in the other two years.
Its number of home insurance complaints in its worst year during this period (2012), is 51% more than the industry average. Because of the small size of this subsidiary, only two more home insurance complaints in 2012, than the company received in 2011, gave it a worse-than-average home insurance complaint ratio, at 51% more than the average number of complaints expected for its size — up from its better-than-average home insurance complaint ratio in 2010. With small subsidiaries, look for a recent trend of consistent lower than average complaint ratios, but do not be concerned with the occasional year of high complaint ratios caused by only one or two extra complaints.
The home insurance market share for Country Casualty Insurance Company has decreased each year since 2012, which may be an indication its home insurance is not competitively priced.
Country Preferred Insurance Company Home Insurance Complaint Statistics & Ratings
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
2015 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2015 US home insurance premium = $1,282,940
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
Existing home insurance policies acquired by MAPFRE insurance in 2015.
2014 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
2014 US home insurance premium = $10,097,157
2013 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = C (1.04)
2013 US home insurance premium = $10,857,636
2012 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.66)
2012 US home insurance premium = $12,357,800
2011 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.57)
2011 US home insurance premium = $14,309,448
2010 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = C- (1.18)
2010 US home insurance premium = $15,458,155
2009 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (0) (No complaints)
Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company in Salem is a subsidiary of Middleoak Insurance Group, which is owned by Country Financial, but is sold through independent insurance agents appointed to represent the company.
Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company has better-than-average home insurance complaint ratios in four of the last six years. Its number of home insurance complaints in its worst year during the six year period (2010), was 18% more than the industry average. Because of the small size of this subsidiary, only one more home insurance complaint in 2010, than the company received in 2011, gave it a higher than average home insurance complaint ratio in 2011, compared to its better-than-average home insurance complaint ratio in 2011. With small subsidiaries, look for a recent trend of consistent lower than average complaint ratios, but do not be too concerned with the occasional year of higher complaint ratios caused by only one or two extra complaints. The home insurance market share for Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company has decreased each year since 2010, which may be an indication its home insurance is not competitively priced.
B = Better than Average C = Average W = Worse than Average
Existing home insurance policies acquired by MAPFRE insurance in 2015.
2014 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.20)
2014 US home insurance premium = $47,048,669
2013 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = C (.95)
2013 US home insurance premium = $47,552,294
2012 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.33)
2012 US home insurance premium = $49,187,890
2011 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = W (1.32)
2011 US home insurance premium = $49,185,529
2010 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = B (.37)
2010 US home insurance premium = $49,091,132
2009 Home Insurance Complaint Ratio = C+ (.89)
Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company is a subsidiary of Middleoak Insurance Group, which is owned by Country Financial, but is sold through independent insurance agents appointed to represent the company.
Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company had a lower than average number of home insurance complaints in five of the last six years, with its number of home insurance complaints, in its worst year during this period, at 32% more than the industry average. The home insurance market share for Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company has been flat since 2010, which may be an indication Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company no longer has competitive pricing for its home insurance.
4. COUNTRY Auto & Home Insurance Rates & Pricing Compared to Competitors
Homeowners Insurance
COUNTRY received a rating of three power circles (about average) for homeowners insurance pricing in the national 2015 JD Power U.S. Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction study. The following companies rated better than average (4 power circles or 5 power circles) for lower homeowners insurance rates in the 2015 JD Power Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction study: USAA, Amica, Erie, Auto Club of SC, GEICO, Auto-Owners, and Mercury.
Auto Insurance
In the 2015 JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study, COUNTRY received a rating of four power circles (better than most) for auto insurance pricing in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin (if COUNTRY operates in the state). The following companies rated above average (4 power circles or 5 power circles) for lower auto insurance rates in the 2015 JD Power Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Study for the same states where COUNTRY was rated: USAA, Erie, GEICO, Grange, Indiana Farm Bureau, Progressive, and The Hartford.
Although COUNTRY was not included in this 2015 JD Power study, the following companies rated above average (4 power circles or 5 power circles) for lower auto insurance rates nationally in the 2015 JD Power Auto Insurance Purchase Experience Study: Ameriprise (available through Costco), Amica, Auto Club, CSAA, USAA, The Hartford, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, GEICO, and Erie Insurance.
However, the companies with the best rates for some people participating in a survey may not have low rates for you. To get lower auto or home insurance rates, the only way to know if any insurance company has high or low rates for you is to conduct your own pricing survey, by obtaining price quotes & reviewing your coverage with all the leading insurance companies in your state, to find the best company for you.