Guide
Health classes explained
Rate classes explained: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard—what each category means and how health and history affect placement.
Carriers use rate classes to price term insurance. Naming shifts between carriers, yet the hierarchy stays similar: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, plus table adjustments for elevated risk. Tobacco users occupy a parallel tier at higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Factors include body composition, blood pressure, cholesterol, family disease history, driving record, medication use, job and leisure activities, and tobacco or nicotine exposure. The top class demands strong numbers across almost everything; Preferred permits some variation; Standard Plus and Standard accept managed issues like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health prompt asks for an honest self-assessment: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Your quote is based on that choice; the carrier sets your actual class once underwriting is complete. If you're unsure, obtain quotes for two classes to weigh them—the full application resolves it later. Picking a higher class won't reduce the final rate; it just makes the estimate less reliable.
Susman Insurance Agency assists in matching you with carriers whose health guidelines accommodate your situation—often a bigger factor than advertised rates.