Guide
Health classes explained
Understanding rate classifications—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard—and what factors determine which one applies to you.
Term insurance pricing is based on rate classifications. Naming conventions differ between carriers, but the rating ladder is universal: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with additional table ratings for higher-risk situations. Tobacco and nicotine users fall into a separate rating structure with higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements and vitals (build, blood pressure, cholesterol), family medical history (heart disease or cancer before age 60), traffic record, medication history, work and recreational activities, and any nicotine or tobacco use. The highest classification demands clean results in nearly every area. The next tier allows minor room; lower tiers accommodate controlled health issues like blood pressure that's being treated.
How to use the quote tool
When answering the health question, be truthful in describing yourself: Excellent translates to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. The quotes match that classification; the actual classification gets confirmed through underwriting. If you're uncertain, request quotes in two different categories and examine the difference. Selecting a favorable self-assessment won't reduce your eventual rate—it just makes the estimate less reliable.
Susman Insurance Agency can guide you toward carriers with underwriting guidelines that are more favorable to your particular situation, which often makes more difference than the base quote.