Guide
Health classes explained
Understanding the four rating tiers—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—and the criteria that determine your placement.
Insurance pricing for term coverage operates on rating categories. While terminology differs between providers, the structure follows a similar sequence: Preferred Plus (sometimes labeled Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, with additional ratings for unusually elevated risk. Nicotine users fall into a separate tier structure with elevated premiums.
What underwriters look at
Body composition, blood pressure and cholesterol readings, parental history of significant diseases like cardiac events or malignancies under age 60, driving record, current medications, job type and recreational activities, and nicotine consumption. Achieving the top classification requires favorable indicators in nearly every category; Preferred allows limited concerns; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions such as blood pressure controlled with medication.
How to use the quote tool
When answering the health assessment, provide a truthful self-evaluation: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Your quote assumes that classification; the actual tier is finalized following underwriting. When uncertain, obtain quotes for multiple tiers to evaluate differences, then proceed through the application process. Overstating your health status doesn't reduce what you'll ultimately pay; it simply makes the initial estimate less reliable.
Each insurer applies different guidelines based on specific health conditions. Susman Insurance Agency has expertise in matching applicants to carriers with more accommodating criteria for your situation, often yielding more favorable results than simply comparing published rates.