Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard: what these tier names mean and what factors can move you between them.
Carriers set term life costs using rate class groupings. Names vary slightly from company to company, but the structure holds: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, then Standard, followed by table ratings for greater-than-standard risk. Tobacco users get a separate set of tiers with higher costs.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight ratio, blood pressure and cholesterol readings, family history of early-onset heart disease or cancer, driving record, medication list, occupation and recreational pursuits, and tobacco or nicotine consumption. Top tiers need excellent results across nearly all categories; Preferred allows for some minor deviations; Standard Plus and Standard accept managed illnesses including treated hypertension.
How to use the quote tool
When asked about your health, respond with care: Excellent maps to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. The quote follows that assumption; underwriting will confirm, possibly improve, or possibly lower the actual tier. If you're unsure where you fit, quote at two different levels to compare results, then let the application determine your final tier. Overstating your health doesn't reduce the final premium; it just makes the estimate less reliable.
Susman Insurance Agency can help locate carriers whose guidelines are more favorable for a specific health situation, which often matters more than the published rate for the best tier.