Guide
Health classes explained
The ladder of rate classes—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard—explained, plus what determines your position on it.
Insurance companies organize term pricing into rate classes. Labels shift between insurers, yet the hierarchy stays the same: Preferred Plus (Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, with extra table ratings above standard. Tobacco applicants have a matching structure with elevated premiums.
What underwriters look at
Height-to-weight ratio, blood pressure and cholesterol readings, whether anyone in your family had heart disease or cancer before turning 60, your driving history, what drugs you take, your job and interests, and any tobacco or nicotine. The top tier wants clear marks on basically everything; Preferred is less strict; Standard Plus and Standard accept managed problems like medicated hypertension.
How to use the quote tool
When you describe your health, be truthful: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus, Average with Standard. Your quotes are built on that class, and the carrier verifies it through underwriting. In doubt? Run both classes, compare, and let your application be the final call. An inflated health pick won't cut your cost; it just throws off how useful the estimate is.
Susman Insurance Agency can guide you toward carriers who look favorably on your particular health picture, which often trumps comparing headline rates alone.