Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard: how these categories work and what factors determine your placement among them.
Carriers establish prices for term life by assigning a rate class. Though names differ slightly between companies, the hierarchy remains: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, plus table adjustments for elevated risk. Tobacco users are assigned to parallel classes at higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements (height and weight), blood pressure and cholesterol levels, family history of early heart disease or cancer, driving history, medication records, job and pastimes, and smoking or nicotine usage. Reaching the top class requires excellent results across nearly all categories; Preferred allows some flexibility; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
When answering the health question, be truthful about your current state: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus and Average to Standard. The quotes reflect that assigned class; the carrier validates the final class during underwriting. If unsure, obtain quotes for two classes to evaluate the difference, then allow the underwriting to finalize it. Overstating your health doesn't reduce the final premium; it only makes the estimate inaccurate.
Susman Insurance Agency assists in identifying carriers whose underwriting guidelines are better suited to your specific circumstances, which often makes a bigger difference than the advertised rate.