Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard: what these categories mean and how you fit into them.
Carriers set term life pricing using rate classes. Names shift between companies, but the structure is the same: Preferred Plus (also labeled Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, then table ratings for extra risk. Tobacco users sit in a separate ladder at higher cost.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, family heart disease or cancer before 60, driving history, medications, job and activities, and any tobacco or nicotine use. The top class requires excellent results on nearly everything; Preferred is more forgiving; Standard Plus and Standard accept managed conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question needs an honest self-rating: Excellent goes to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Quotes show that class; the carrier sets the final class after underwriting. Unsure? Quote both classes and compare, then let the application determine it. Picking an optimistic class will not cut your final premium; it just muddles the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency can assist in finding carriers with more lenient rules for your situation, which frequently matters more than the base rate.