Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard—what these labels mean and what factors determine your assigned rating.
Insurance companies organize term-life pricing by rate classification. Terminology shifts slightly among carriers, but the scale follows a standard order: Preferred Plus (occasionally called Super Preferred or Preferred Elite), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, with table ratings assigned for higher-risk scenarios. Tobacco users qualify for a separate pricing tier at higher costs.
What underwriters look at
BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol readings, whether close relatives developed heart disease or cancer before age 60, traffic record, medication history, work and leisure activities, and any nicotine or tobacco use. Top ratings require healthy measurements throughout; Preferred allows one or two minor variations; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate treated or controlled conditions such as managed high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health section asks you to characterize your wellness honestly: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Fair with Standard. Quotes mirror that classification; underwriting determines the final category. When in doubt, run quotes for two different health tiers and see the difference, then allow the underwriting process to settle the actual rating. Choosing an inflated health rating won't reduce your eventual premium; it just makes the quote less realistic.
Susman Insurance Agency specializes in pairing you with carriers whose underwriting preferences align with your specific situation, which frequently makes a bigger difference in your price than the quoted rate alone.