Guide
Health classes explained
What carrier rate classifications mean and the factors that determine how insurers rank your application.
Carriers use rate classifications to price term insurance. Company-specific terminology exists, but the framework remains consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Premium Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with table adjustments for increased risk. Tobacco applicants occupy a separate pricing tier with higher costs.
What underwriters look at
Build (height and weight), blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels, a family history of heart or cancer diagnoses before age sixty, your driving history, medication history, your line of work and hobbies, and any nicotine or tobacco consumption. Optimal classifications demand strong results across virtually all factors; Preferred status allows some variability; Standard Plus and Standard admit controlled health conditions such as managed hypertension.
How to use the quote tool
The health question on the application asks you to describe your current condition truthfully: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Your quote reflects this tier; carriers verify it during underwriting. If you're unsure of your category, quote at two levels and compare the results; the carrier's underwriting determines your final tier. Overstating your health status does not reduce the eventual premium—it simply produces a less reliable estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency knows which carriers have underwriting guidelines suited to specific health situations, which often matters more than looking only at the advertised rate.