Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard: what each means and how insurers move applicants between them.
Insurance companies price term life using rate tiers. Names shift between companies, but the scale stays: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, then table ratings for above-standard risk. Tobacco users face a parallel scale with higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, family medical history (heart disease or cancer under 60), driving record, medication history, job and recreation, and tobacco or nicotine use. Preferred Plus wants clean results across nearly everything; Preferred allows a bit of flexibility; Standard Plus and Standard approve controlled illnesses like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question calls for honesty: Excellent maps to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. The quote shows that tier; the insurer confirms after underwriting. If you're unsure, quote both tiers to see the cost difference, and let the application establish the actual tier. Picking a higher tier doesn't lower your final premium; it just makes the quote estimate inaccurate.
Susman Insurance Agency understands which carriers are more flexible for specific health histories, which frequently makes a bigger difference than shopping based on headline rates.