Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—what each category means and what factors move you between them.
Carriers set term life prices using underwriting rate classes. While names shift slightly between companies, the hierarchy remains consistent: Preferred Plus (occasionally called Preferred Best or Super Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, with additional table ratings for higher risk. Tobacco users occupy a separate classification ladder with higher costs.
What underwriters look at
Build (how your height and weight compare), blood pressure readings, cholesterol levels, family history of major illness before age 60, motor vehicle history, prescription medication history, work and hobbies, and any nicotine or tobacco consumption. Best rates require clean results across virtually all categories; Preferred allows some flexibility; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions such as controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health assessment requests that you describe yourself truthfully: Excellent typically corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus and Average to Standard. Quotes align with that class; the underwriting review confirms your final class. When uncertain, request quotes in two different classes and compare—let the underwriting process determine the accurate rating. Stating a better class than reality doesn't reduce your final premium; it merely makes the estimate less dependable.
Susman Insurance Agency can guide you toward carriers whose guidelines are most favorable for your particular health profile, which often carries more impact than comparing the headline rates alone.