WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois, issued the following news release:

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today led 23 Senators and 11 U.S. Representatives in pressing 15 major health insurers for information regarding what pregnancy and postpartum health care services are covered by their insurance plans in order to better understand what steps they are taking to reduce racial disparities and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The members also urged the health insurers to reject the Trump Administration's efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act's consumer protections and commit to covering the full range of health care services needed to ensure successful maternal and infant health outcomes for all enrollees.

The United States is one of only 13 developed countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality--the death of a woman related to pregnancy or childbirth either during pregnancy or up to a year after the end of the pregnancy--is worse today than it was 25 years ago. Each year, an estimated 700 to 900 women nationwide now die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth, with black women being three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes. Further, black infants in America are now more than twice as likely to die as white infants.

"The United States is one of the very few developed countries where deaths related to pregnancy or childbirth are increasing--and there is a greater racial gap in infant mortality rates today than there was during slavery in America. This is simultaneously unacceptable and heart-breaking. More must be done to help women and infants--especially black mothers and babies--and we look forward to hearing what United Healthcare plans to do to assist in these efforts," the members wrote in their letter to Steve Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of United Healthcare.

Along with Durbin and Duckworth, the letters were also signed by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Tina Smith (D-MN).

Along with Rep. Kelly, the letters were also signed by U.S. Representatives Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Tim Ryan (D-OH-13), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM-01), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09).

A recent report from nine maternal mortality review committees, entitled "Building U.S. Capacity to Review and Prevent Maternal Deaths," found that nearly 50 percent of all pregnancy-related deaths were caused by hemorrhage, cardiovascular and coronary conditions, cardiomyopathy, or infection. Further, the report found that the leading causes of death varied by race--with preeclampsia, eclampsia, and embolism the leading underlying causes of death among black women, and mental health conditions among the leading underlying causes of death among white women. Perhaps most shocking of all, the report estimated that more than 60 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.

Full text of the letter to Aetna is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Aetna.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=nGrV59jdd2UaE5X4OY6K58KQ8M9N7NDUwceKcZO4nXE&e=).

Full text of the letter to Anthem is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Anthem.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=B55YlZ4hj6WO3Nqg0iHQ6Q-1i0ZH3CuuQZHGS6lIP_s&e=).

Full text of the letter to Blue Shield of California is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Blue-2520Shield-2520of-2520CA.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=3Ve4-OdnnZrAf28gHFPB5jQkoeHePpbwu8f_EX303_g&e=).

Full text of the letter to CareFirst is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_CareFirst.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=kDtL-avnLD7FnLp9pHSiDR3KocT2L3aT6cq829KzVJw&e=).

Full text of the letter to Caresource is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_CareSource.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=gLp9d2qX7sgEcwJXq1kDXYOwGdrezrzKfJv62hHiwA4&e=).

Full text of the letter to Centene Corporation is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Centene.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=GZnlDCKZwFQ8KfNB9SZUMTOQ27bFhgKhg1pUsuGHhB0&e=).

Full text of the letter to Cigna Corporation is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Cigna.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=fljJ2EFRu12mvYSWA3zA29RukfMA65rAHcBcon1piDI&e=).

Full text of the letter to Health Care Service Corporation is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_HCSC.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=ayBMOhxstRQCsOJtXytGpVQs9FsurBtu9TIF36rzfLU&e=).

Full text of the letter to Highmark is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Highmark.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=B4fax8QG3O8R0Zj5UDkMPl-4s0Jh2zcfQYNNXZwjQxA&e=).

Full text of the letter to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Horizon.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=aarwgQTKvjUYMmTJ3Je6R2Id_iPSk737N-S251VPM64&e=).

Full text of the letter to Humana is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Humana.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=-Dx8ZHv_10zDmSZn1B_1_u1gjZ-XYIUg9qcqpFPZihA&e=).

Full text of the letter to Kaiser Permanente is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Kaiser-2520Permanente.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=TYntBgPeRwBIXtRsUXXOFN_G8HS1jLLIgwLWDny5IJg&e=).

Full text of the letter to Molina Healthcare, Inc. is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_Molina.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=m5KnqiZZdCKDzEUm_2VX8u-Ddy0P51TxwkpqgVWhe_Q&e=).

Full text of the letter to United Healthcare is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_United.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=Co181eymFDVEKimCmlX_gqcovBMBgXYTPHHdKeoLr8w&e=).

Full text of the letter to WellCare Health Plans is available here (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.durbin.senate.gov_imo_media_doc_WellCare.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=L93KkjKsAC98uTvC4KvQDTmmq1mJ2vMPtzuTpFgX8gY&r=0lHunnpyeJUnzUu35vH5dIsaAecpmAWQk7TSyJ9LAbM&m=D4x-tfKwnOpPyS7PKXySac3xWPfBrjPfFrjjcMBmZJ0&s=9s0Mx8Ll9rZo1UgcEzGOp89KgNgABqh4IsUg4f1I474&e=).

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has commented that the Short Term Issuer Credit Ratings of AMB-1+ (Strongest) of Pacific Life Insurance Company’s recently amended commercial paper program remain unchanged following the announcement of an increase in its size to $2.25 billion from the previous $1 billion level, which took effect Sept. 30, 2026.

AM Best recognizes that the amended program will provide benefit to the company’s liquidity profile by matching the size of its commercial paper program to its enterprise revolving credit facility backstop and also increase the financial flexibility through diversification of funding sources, while leverage and coverage calculations remain within levels supportive of the Credit Ratings.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261002087903/en/

Stephen Vincent
Associate Director
+1 908 882 1705
stephen.vincent@ambest.com

Erik Miller
Senior Director
+1 908 882 2120
erik.miller@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

Source: A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc.