Guide
Health classes explained
Four levels—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard—define your rate: what they mean and the factors that determine which tier fits you.
Insurance carriers establish term life rates using rating tiers. While terminology shifts between companies, the structure remains standard: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Best Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, and table adjustments for elevated risk. Tobacco users get their own tier system at higher costs.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements (height and weight), blood pressure and cholesterol readings, family heart disease or cancer history (before age 60), traffic violations, prescription records, job type and leisure activities, and use of tobacco products or nicotine. The premium tier requires good results across nearly every factor; Preferred allows some flexibility; Standard Plus and Standard accept managed disorders such as controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Your health answer maps to a rating tier: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Your quotations reflect this tier; carriers verify the final tier after underwriting. Unsure about your category? Run quotes for multiple levels to compare, then let underwriting finalize it. Overestimating your health will not decrease your premium—it only makes the estimate off target.
Susman Insurance Agency specializes in matching you with carriers that have more favorable assessments for specific health situations—a factor that often carries more weight than base rate comparisons.