Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard: what each category means and what moves you between tiers.
Insurance companies tier term life by rate class. Names vary by company, but the steps are standard: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Premier), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, then higher table ratings for above-standard risk. Tobacco users face a parallel set of higher tiers.
What underwriters look at
Build (height-to-weight), blood pressure and lipids, family medical history (heart disease or cancer under 60), motor vehicle record, prescription medications, job and hobbies, tobacco or nicotine use. The highest class requires strong results across nearly everything; Preferred permits some latitude; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
You pick a health category honestly: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Quotes match your choice; the carrier confirms the final class post-underwriting. Unsure? Quote both and compare; the application reveals the actual class. Picking an inflated category doesn't lower your rate—it just makes the estimate less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency helps identify carriers with favorable guidelines for a particular health profile, which typically impacts the quote more than the headline rate.