Guide
Health classes explained
The four rate classes explained: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, what each represents, and what affects your placement.
Insurance companies use rate classes to price term policies, with slight naming differences between carriers but a standard hierarchy: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, and table ratings for above-standard risk. Tobacco users occupy their own tier of higher-priced classes.
What underwriters look at
Carriers examine body mass, blood pressure and lipids, any family history of early heart disease or cancer, your driving history, medication use, job and activities, and tobacco or nicotine. Top class requires clean marks in almost every area; Preferred gives leeway; Standard Plus and Standard accept managed conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
When asked about your health, be truthful: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Quotes follow that class; underwriting later confirms your actual class. Unsure? Quote both classes and see the comparison, then let the application settle it. Picking a rosier class won't reduce your final bill—it just skews the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency can guide you toward carriers with more favorable rules for your particular situation, which frequently matters more than any single quoted rate.