Guide
Health classes explained
Rate classes: what they mean and what each one requires.
Term life pricing follows rate classes. Different carriers use slightly different names, but the hierarchy is standard: Preferred Plus (or Super Preferred, Preferred Best), then Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with extra charges called table ratings for applicants above standard risk. Tobacco users have their own set of classes at higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Carriers consider your height and weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, whether your parents or siblings had heart disease or cancer before age 60, your driving record, medications you take, your job and hobbies, and any tobacco or nicotine use. The top classes require nearly everything to look clean; Preferred allows minor variations; Standard Plus and Standard accept well-controlled conditions like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
When you describe your health, be honest: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Your quotes will reflect that choice; the carrier's underwriting may confirm it or adjust it. Unsure of yourself? Try quoting two classes to see the difference, then let the application handle the final decision. Overstating your health won't bring your real rate down—it just makes the comparison less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you find carriers whose underwriting is known to be favorable to your specific situation—sometimes that matters more than the best advertised rate.