Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard: what each tier represents and what shifts you from one to the next.
Insurance companies price term coverage by rate class. Names shift between carriers, but the progression is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Premium), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, plus table ratings for elevated risk. Tobacco users occupy a separate, higher rate class.
What underwriters look at
BMI (height/weight), blood pressure and lipid levels, family cancer or heart disease before age 60, driving record, current prescriptions, job and pastimes, and nicotine or tobacco use. Top ratings demand clean results across almost everything; Preferred allows a bit of variance; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question asks you to rate yourself honestly: Excellent → Preferred Plus, Very good → Preferred, Good → Standard Plus and Average → Standard. Quotes reflect this level; underwriting afterward may confirm, upgrade or adjust. If uncertain, quote both classes and compare. Picking a generous class won't lower your final premium; it just makes the quote less realistic.
Susman Insurance Agency can point you to carriers whose guidelines are more accommodating for your specific situation, which can matter more than the advertised rate.