I've found that JD Powers and Weiss Ratings rate companies but I've found no other way of determining which company I should go with. Are there other sites that have some type of rating system for insurance carriers or underwriters?
I have no clue about health insurance.
The ratings services for life insurance are:
AM Best
Standard and Poor's
Fitch
Moody's
No other ratings services matter.
I assume you want term life insurance.
The cheapest/best carriers are going to be:
Lincoln Financial
Genworth
Banner
Prudential
Metlife
Axa
They are all basically equal so just go with the cheapest for your state, age, amount, and expected health rating.
The main stuff that will affect your rating is:
Smoking (anytime in the last ten years)
Heart disease
Cancer
Diabetes
Arthritis
Major depression (any suicidal plans in MD notes will get you declined period), Bi-polar spectrum illness, addiction, schizophrenia, or worse.
Family history of diabetes, heart disease, or cancer especially with a death prior to age 60 of your mother father or siblings.
If by some odd chance you want permanent insurance the only companies to go with are Northwestern Mutual or Guardian.
Getting insurance while unemployed may be quite difficult.