Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard: what they mean and what changes your class.
Carriers price term life by rate class. The names vary slightly, but the ladder is the same: Preferred Plus (also called Super Preferred or Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, followed by table ratings for higher-than-standard risk. Tobacco users have a parallel set of classes at higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Build (height and weight), blood pressure and cholesterol, family history of heart disease or cancer before age 60, driving record, medication history, occupation and hobbies, and tobacco or nicotine use. The best class needs clean results in nearly all of them; Preferred allows a little more room; Standard Plus and Standard allow controlled conditions like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question asks you to describe yourself truthfully: Excellent matches Preferred Plus, Very good matches Preferred, Good matches Standard Plus and Average matches Standard. Your quote reflects that class; the carrier will confirm the final class after underwriting. If you're unsure, quote two classes and compare, then let the application decide. Choosing optimism doesn't lower the final premium; it just makes your estimate less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you find carriers whose guidelines are more forgiving of specific health conditions, which often matters more than the advertised rate.