Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard: how carriers rank applicants and which health factors push you up or down the scale.
Insurers organize term pricing into rate classes. Terminology differs between carriers, but the structure is predictable: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, plus specialized table ratings for above-standard risk. Tobacco users occupy a separate, higher-cost set of classes.
What underwriters look at
Body metrics (height, weight), blood pressure and cholesterol levels, family history of early heart disease or cancer, traffic violations, medications you take, your job and recreation, and any nicotine use. Top-tier rates demand excellent marks on almost all fronts; Preferred tier permits some variance; Standard Plus and Standard allow well-managed conditions like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Be honest when you rate your health: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Quotes follow that tier; the carrier sets your true class during review. If you're torn, quote yourself in both brackets and compare, then let the application take over. Bumping yourself up does not decrease the premium—it just throws off the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency can point you toward carriers with relaxed rules for your particular situation—sometimes that matters more than the advertised rate.