Guide
Health classes explained
What classifications mean: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard. Understand what determines placement into each tier.
Insurance carriers price term policies by rate tier. Naming conventions differ slightly between companies, but the structure is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, followed by rate tables for elevated risk. Tobacco users occupy a separate tier structure with higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Build (height-to-weight ratio), blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, family cancer or heart disease history before age 60, traffic violation history, medication history, job and leisure activities, and any tobacco or nicotine consumption. Superior rate classes need favorable results across virtually all dimensions; Preferred allows some variation; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate controlled health conditions such as well-managed blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The application's health question asks that you describe your condition truthfully: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good aligns with Preferred, Good aligns with Standard Plus, and Average aligns with Standard. Your quotes reflect the selected category; the carrier will determine the actual tier after underwriting. When in doubt, request quotes at two different health levels to compare, then let your application results determine the final tier. An inflated health assessment doesn't reduce the ultimate premium; it just makes your estimate inaccurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you identify carriers whose underwriting criteria are most favorable for your specific health situation, which often matters as much as the published rates.