Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—what each tier signifies and which factors determine your classification.
Underwriting tier, called rate class by the industry, sets your cost for term insurance. Though naming varies slightly from company to company, the structure stays consistent: Preferred Plus (Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, plus table ratings for greater risk. Current smokers face a separate rate ladder.
What underwriters look at
Your measurements relative to height, blood pressure and cholesterol readings, family health history (heart disease or cancer before age 60), driving history, current prescriptions, job category and leisure activities, and nicotine or tobacco consumption. Top-tier rates demand favorable markers across essentially all dimensions; the next tier permits a few minor findings; lower tiers accommodate managed conditions including controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Your health self-assessment tells the story: Excellent indicates Preferred Plus, Very good points to Preferred, Good aligns with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Quotes match that tier; after underwriting, the carrier confirms your final tier. When you're uncertain, obtain quotes for two tiers and examine both; let the application process settle the final assignment. Choosing a rosier tier won't reduce your ultimate premium; it just makes estimates less dependable.
Susman Insurance Agency can help identify carriers with underwriting guidelines favorable to your particular health situation, which often proves more valuable than pursuing the cheapest published rate.