Guide
Health classes explained
The meanings of rate categories: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—how they differ and why carriers use them.
Insurers organize term life pricing around rate class. Though terminology differs slightly between carriers, the tier structure stays uniform: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard—plus surcharge slots for elevated risk circumstances. Smokers occupy a separate but parallel classification scheme with heightened premiums.
What underwriters look at
Weight and height proportions, blood pressure numbers and cholesterol readings, personal and family medical history, and your own medical background—these factors determine your rate classification.
How to use the quote tool
Answer the wellness question with candor: Excellent correlates to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus and Average to Standard. Your quotes are pegged to this grade; the insurer issues the definitive grade post-underwriting. Unsure which tier fits? Get quotes from both brackets, review side-by-side, then allow the underwriting to settle it. Being hopeful on your health won't cut costs—it merely inflates your quote figures.
Susman Insurance Agency specializes in matching you with carriers whose underwriting standards align well with your health profile and circumstances—helping you find the best possible rate.