Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—what the tiers represent and what factors determine your placement.
Term premiums depend on rate class. Company names differ marginally, but the structure is universal: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, then table ratings for elevated risk. Tobacco applicants occupy a separate tier at higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Carriers examine build, blood pressure, lipids, family history of early cardiac or cancer events, driving history, medications, work and activities, and nicotine exposure. The highest tier demands clean marks on nearly everything; Preferred tolerates slightly more variation; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health prompt invites candid self-assessment: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Quoted premiums correspond to that class; underwriting confirms the final placement. Uncertain? Quote multiple classes to see the range, then let the formal process settle it. Inflating your health status doesn't reduce the final bill; it only skews the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency can connect you with carriers whose rules fit your health profile, often a bigger factor than the advertised headline rate.