Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard: what the classifications mean and what determines which class you fall into.
Insurers organize term coverage pricing by health class. Specific names differ among carriers, but the framework stays the same: Preferred Plus (also known as Best Preferred or Super Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, then extra charges for worse outcomes. Tobacco users get a separate parallel set of classes at increased rates.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements (height and weight), BP and cholesterol numbers, family cardiac or cancer history before age 60, motor vehicle record, medication history, line of work and recreational activities, and smoking or nicotine consumption. Top-tier classes need clean marks across nearly everything; Preferred permits a bit more; Standard Plus and Standard can accommodate treated medical issues like controlled high BP.
How to use the quote tool
Your answers describe your current state frankly: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very Good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Fair to Standard. Quotes use that classification; carriers confirm it following underwriting. When in doubt, compare two classes, then let the application determine the real class. Choosing a better class doesn't reduce the final charge; it just makes your estimate less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can assist you in finding carriers that are more accommodating toward your specific circumstances, which frequently makes more difference than the advertised base price.