Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard: what these tiers mean and which factors move you between them.
Carriers set term premiums by rate class. The exact names differ slightly between companies, but the order is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, then table ratings for higher risk. Tobacco users face a parallel scale of higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, family heart or cancer before age 60, driving record, prescription history, work and hobbies, and tobacco or nicotine use. Top classes require excellent results across nearly everything; Preferred allows a little variation; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question invites you to pick your honest bracket: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Quotes match that class; the carrier sets the final class after underwriting. Unsure? Quote both classes and compare. An overconfident selection won't lower your actual premium—it just throws off the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency can identify carriers whose underwriting philosophy favors your particular situation, which often matters more than the lowest advertised rate.