Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard: what each category represents and which factors determine your placement.
Insurance companies assign rate classifications to price term coverage. Although naming conventions shift somewhat from one company to another, the ranking stays similar: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Best Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, then additional charges for applicants presenting heightened danger. Smokers get assessed into comparable tiers with noticeably higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Weight-to-height ratios, blood pressure and cholesterol readings, whether close relatives had serious illness before turning 60, your motor vehicle history, what medications you take, work environment and recreational choices, and use of any tobacco or nicotine. Landing the highest tier demands excellent findings in practically every category; Preferred tolerates minor imperfections; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed diseases such as regulated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
On the health question, be truthful when rating yourself: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus and Fair to Standard. Estimates use this classification; the company nails down your final tier during review. If you're uncertain, check both tiers and see how they differ, then allow underwriting to decide. Inflating your health rating won't bring down the ultimate charge; it just makes the quote less dependable.
Susman Insurance Agency helps you identify carriers with more favorable guidelines for your particular medical situation—which often has a bigger impact on cost than the starting rate alone.