Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard: the meaning of these tier designations and the factors determining your classification.
Term life carriers establish pricing by rate class. Company naming conventions differ slightly, but the hierarchy follows a consistent pattern: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, then table ratings for above-standard risk factors. Tobacco consumers occupy a separate, higher-priced tier structure.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight proportion, blood pressure and cholesterol measurements, ancestry factors including early-onset heart disease or cancer, motor vehicle incidents, prescription medications, job duties and recreational pursuits, and nicotine or tobacco use. The elite classification demands excellent outcomes in virtually every category; Preferred permits some variance; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Our health inquiry requests honest self-assessment: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Quotes are calculated using that classification; the carrier verifies your actual class following underwriting. Uncertain about your placement? Obtain quotes at multiple levels, compare them, and let the formal application determine final classification. Selecting an inflated health class doesn't reduce the actual premium; it merely makes the estimate less trustworthy.
Susman Insurance Agency helps identify carriers whose underwriting guidelines are more accommodating for particular medical histories, which frequently matters more than the published rate.