Guide
Health classes explained
Understanding what rate classes are (Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard), what they mean, and what determines which class you fall into.
Carriers price term coverage according to rate class. While terminology varies slightly between companies, the general framework is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, followed by table adjustments for higher risk. Tobacco users have a separate set of rate classes at higher costs.
What underwriters look at
Body composition (measured by height and weight), blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels, whether heart disease or cancer runs in your family before age 60, your driving record, medications you take, your occupation and hobbies, and smoking or nicotine use. The highest-tier class requires clean results across almost every factor; the Preferred tier allows some variation; Standard Plus and Standard allow conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health section of the quote tool asks you to characterize yourself honestly: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. The quote reflects that selection, but the carrier will confirm your actual tier following underwriting. When in doubt, run quotes for two different tiers side by side, then allow the application process to validate your actual class. Choosing a more optimistic tier won't reduce your eventual premium; it just makes the estimate less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you identify carriers whose underwriting guidelines are more lenient toward a particular health condition, which often makes more difference to your final premium than the advertised rate.