Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard: what the categories mean and what determines which you qualify for.
Carriers determine term life pricing by rate class. Company names change slightly, but the scale stays the same: Preferred Plus (sometimes labeled Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, then table ratings for greater-than-standard risk. Tobacco users get their own rate classes, set at higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Weight relative to height, blood pressure and lipid levels, family background of cardiac or cancer disease before 60, license and safety record, medication record, job and activities, and tobacco or nicotine consumption. Reaching the best class requires favorable results on virtually all of these; Preferred permits more variation; Standard Plus and Standard cover regulated conditions including managed blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question asks you to self-describe truthfully: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Quotes match that classification; the underwriter sets the final class. When in doubt, quote at two classes to see the difference, then let underwriting decide. Choosing a higher class does not reduce the final cost; it only makes the estimate less realistic.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you select carriers with guidelines that work better for a particular diagnosis, which frequently has more impact than the base rate.