Guide
Health classes explained
The four tiers—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard—explained: what each signifies and which health factors determine your class.
Term life pricing hinges on rate classification. Naming conventions differ slightly across insurers, but the structure stays consistent: Preferred Plus (Super Preferred, Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with adjustments for elevated risk. Smokers occupy a separate tier with higher costs.
What underwriters look at
Key factors include body metrics, blood pressure and lipid levels, family cardiac or cancer history before age 60, driving record, medication history, job and pastimes, and smoking status. Top classes demand excellent scores across the board; Preferred tolerates minor variations; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health prompt requests honest self-assessment: Excellent typically targets Preferred Plus, Very good aligns with Preferred, Good suggests Standard Plus, and Average points to Standard. Quotes assume that classification; underwriting finalizes it. Uncertain? Run quotes for two tiers and compare; the app then settles which applies. Inflating your health status won't reduce the final rate—it just muddles the estimate.
Susman Insurance Agency assists in finding carriers with favorable underwriting for your particular health picture—often more impactful than the advertised rate.