Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard: what each tier represents and the factors that determine which one you're in.
Insurance carriers organize term life pricing by rate class. Company names differ slightly, but the structure is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, plus table ratings for above-standard risk. Tobacco users occupy a parallel set of tiers at higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements, blood pressure and cholesterol, family history of early heart disease or cancer, your driving record, prescription history, job and hobbies, and tobacco or nicotine use. The top class requires essentially clean numbers across the board. Preferred allows modest variations. Standard Plus and Standard permit well-managed conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question asks for an honest self-assessment: Excellent typically lines up with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Your quotes are based on that class; the carrier sets the final class during underwriting. Unsure? Quote both classes side by side, then let the full application reveal your true class. Picking a better class than you deserve won't lower your eventual premium—it just makes the estimate wrong.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you identify carriers whose underwriting is more favorable to your particular situation, which often matters more than just the advertised rate.