Guide
Health classes explained
The rate classes: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard—what they mean and what determines where you fall.
Carriers tier term insurance using rate classes. Names differ slightly, but the rungs are steady: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, then table ratings for above-standard risk. Tobacco users face a separate, costlier ladder.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, family heart or cancer history before age 60, driving and Rx history, job, hobbies, and tobacco. The top class demands clean checkmarks on nearly everything; Preferred is more flexible; Standard Plus and Standard allow managed conditions like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health prompt asks for honesty: Excellent equals Preferred Plus, Very good is Preferred, Good is Standard Plus, Average is Standard. Quotes use that class; underwriting confirms your actual class. Unsure? Quote two classes and compare, then trust the application. Inflating your health does not lower the final cost—it just throws off the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency helps identify carriers with lenient rules for your situation—often more important than the base rate.