Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard: what each tier represents and what determines your placement.
Insurers organize term life pricing into rate classes. While company names shift, the structure stays the same: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with table ratings above that for elevated risk. Tobacco users fall into a separate, higher-cost class tier.
What underwriters look at
Body composition (height and weight), blood pressure and cholesterol levels, whether a parent or sibling had heart disease or cancer before age 60, your driving history, medications you take, your line of work and leisure activities, and any nicotine or tobacco use. The top class demands clean numbers on almost everything; Preferred relaxes that slightly; Standard Plus and Standard approve managed health conditions like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question on the quote form asks for an honest self-assessment: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus and Average to Standard. Quotes are built around that tier; the carrier confirms your actual class during underwriting. When in doubt, get quotes for both classes and compare them; let the application process determine your real class. Overstating your health does not reduce the final price you'll pay—it just makes the quote less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can help identify carriers with more favorable underwriting criteria for your situation—sometimes more important than the advertised price.