Guide
Health classes explained
What the four rate classes mean, the factors that determine which one you're in, and how to move to a better class.
Insurance carriers price term life using rate classes. Names vary slightly, but the order is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, then table ratings for higher risk. Tobacco users have a separate set at higher costs.
What underwriters look at
Weight relative to height, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, close relatives with heart disease or cancer before age 60, your driving record, medications you take, what you do for work, hobbies, and any tobacco or nicotine use. Best rates need clean results across almost everything; Preferred allows a little slack; Standard Plus and Standard allow some managed conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
When asked to describe your health, be honest: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Quotes reflect your chosen class; the carrier verifies it during underwriting. If you're not sure which fits, quote both and compare—picking a higher class doesn't reduce the final cost, only makes your estimate less reliable.
Susman Insurance Agency knows which carriers are more flexible with specific health histories—this often matters more than comparing rates for the headline class.