Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard: what each label represents and what shifts you across them.
Term insurance is priced by underwriting tier. Carriers use slightly different labels, but the structure stays the same: Preferred Plus (sometimes labeled Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, then table bumps for above-standard cases. Tobacco applicants move into a separate, pricier set of tiers.
What underwriters look at
Your body measurements, blood pressure and lipids, any family cardiac or cancer history before age 60, your driving record, medications you take, what you do for work and play, and nicotine intake. The top tier requires clean marks across the board; Preferred relaxes this slightly; Standard Plus and Standard permit controlled disorders like managed high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health query asks for a frank self-assessment: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, and Average with Standard. Quotes assume that tier; the carrier sets the actual tier after underwriting. When uncertain, request both classes to weigh them, and allow the application to settle it. Picking a rosier tier does not drop the final rate; it just softens the quote.
Susman Insurance Agency can assist you in finding carriers with rules more lenient toward a specific circumstance — frequently a bigger factor than the posted rate.