Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard: what the names mean and how you move between them.
Carriers set term life premiums by rate class. Exact names differ by carrier, but the structure is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, then table ratings for higher risk. Tobacco users have their own parallel classes at higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Your build (height to weight ratio), blood pressure and cholesterol, any early cancer or heart disease in your family, driving record, medications you take, your work and hobbies, and tobacco or nicotine use. The best class needs clean results across nearly everything; Preferred allows a bit more variance; Standard Plus and Standard accept controlled conditions like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
We ask how you'd describe your health. Excellent puts you in Preferred Plus, Very good in Preferred, Good in Standard Plus, and Average in Standard. Quotes reflect that class, and the carrier verifies it after underwriting. If you're unsure, quote in two classes to compare, then let the application determine which fits. Overstating your health doesn't lower the final premium; it just makes the estimate less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you find carriers whose underwriting guidelines are more forgiving of a particular condition, and that often matters more than the headline rate you see.