Guide
Health classes explained
How the four rate tiers—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—work and what determines where you fall.
Insurers organize term life pricing by rate class. Though names differ slightly across companies, the ranking is universal: Preferred Plus (occasionally called Super Preferred or Best Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, then rated increases for elevated risk. Nicotine users fall into a parallel tier structure with higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Physical dimensions (height and weight), heart function and lipid levels, family health background going back to age 60, motor vehicle history, medication use, job type and leisure activities, and smoking or nicotine use. Preferred Plus requires solid readings on essentially everything; Preferred is flexible on a few items; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate regulated health issues like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question asks for your honest self-assessment: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Your quote assumes that class; the carrier verifies it during their underwriting. When in doubt, quote at two different levels and see the difference, then let the actual application determine your real class. Picking too optimistic a level doesn't reduce your ultimate cost; it only makes the quote less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can help identify carriers with underwriting practices that favor your particular health situation, which typically matters more than the advertised price.