Guide
Health classes explained
Learn what Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard signify and what determines which level you receive.
Term pricing is organized by rate class. Terminology differs slightly between companies, but the structure is the same: Preferred Plus (sometimes labeled Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, and table ratings for elevated risk. Smokers occupy a distinct tier with elevated rates.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight proportions, BP and cholesterol readings, family cardiac or cancer history prior to age 60, traffic history, medications you take, your job type and leisure activities, and nicotine or tobacco consumption. Top-tier rating demands solid marks on virtually everything; Preferred is more lenient; Standard Plus and Standard permit managed ailments like regulated blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Rate yourself truthfully on the health question: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Your quote assumes that tier, though underwriting will verify it afterward. Unsure? Get quotes at both tiers, weigh them, and let the formal application finalize your rating. Being too optimistic won't reduce your cost—it just makes the quote less reliable.
When a particular medical situation is part of your profile, Susman Insurance Agency can steer you toward carriers with more flexible standards—frequently a bigger factor than the advertised rate.