Guide
Health classes explained
Rate classifications from top tier (Preferred Plus) to lower (Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard)—what each means and what drives movement among them.
Term pricing is organized by underwriting tier. Company names fluctuate, but the sequence stays similar: Preferred Plus (sometimes Elite or Premium Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, plus adjustment tiers for elevated risk. Smokers face separate tiers at elevated prices.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements (height and weight), blood sugar and lipid levels, family medical history (particularly heart conditions or cancers before age 60), moving violations and driving safety record, medicines you take now or have taken, line of work and leisure interests, and any nicotine consumption. The premium tiers demand virtually perfect marks; Preferred allows minor findings; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed health conditions like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question requests honest self-assessment: Excellent corresponds with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Your rates reflect this tier; final classification is confirmed by underwriting. If you're uncertain, get quotes from multiple tiers, analyze them, and allow the underwriting to determine the final result. Being overly optimistic about your health won't reduce what you ultimately pay—it just produces less accurate cost estimates.
Susman Insurance Agency has the expertise to match you with insurers whose underwriting criteria align better with your personal situation, which often makes a greater difference than the initial advertised rate.