Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard: what these tiers mean and what determines your placement.
Carriers price term life using rate class. Names differ a bit among carriers, but the structure holds steady: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with table ratings for greater risk. Tobacco users get a matching set of classes at higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Body measurements, blood pressure and cholesterol, family heart disease or cancer history before age 60, driving history, prescription records, what you do for work and recreation, and any tobacco or nicotine use. The top class demands clear results on nearly everything; Preferred bends slightly; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate well-controlled conditions like managed high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question asks for an honest self-assessment: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Quotes match that category; the carrier verifies the final one through underwriting. If you're uncertain, quote both classes and evaluate the difference, then let the application determine it. Picking an inflated health rating doesn't cut your final premium; it just throws off the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency can guide you toward carriers whose rules fit a particular health situation better, which often outweighs the advertised rate.