Guide
Health classes explained
A guide to the four primary underwriting tiers, what each one represents, and the factors that determine which level you fall into.
Term life pricing is organized by rate class, a system that differs slightly between carriers but follows a universal pattern: Preferred Plus (sometimes branded Super Preferred or Preferred Best) at the top, followed by Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with additional table ratings for applicants carrying above-standard risk. Tobacco and nicotine users have a corresponding tier system at elevated premiums.
What underwriters look at
Body composition (height and weight ratio), blood pressure and lipid levels, whether close relatives died of heart disease or cancer before age 60, your driving and criminal history, any medications you take, your occupation and pastimes, and any past or present tobacco or nicotine use. The highest class demands nearly perfect marks across all of these; Preferred allows some minor variations; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed medical conditions like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
When describing your health status, be truthful: Excellent indicates Preferred Plus, Very good points to Preferred, Good corresponds to Standard Plus, and Average maps to Standard. The quotes you receive are based on that self-assessed tier; the carrier will determine your final class during their review. When in doubt, request quotes at two different levels to see the range, and let the formal application settle the actual tier. Inflating your health assessment will not reduce your ultimate premium—it only makes the estimate you see less meaningful.
When a particular health situation is involved, Susman Insurance Agency can help steer you toward carriers whose underwriting rules are more forgiving for that condition—often a more meaningful factor than the advertised lowest price.