Guide
Health classes explained
The four main rate classes: what they mean and what determines which one you land in.
Carriers price term coverage by rate class. The names differ slightly between companies, but the structure stays consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, and then table ratings for above-standard risk. Tobacco users get a separate tier of classes with higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Build (height and weight), blood pressure, cholesterol, family disease history before age 60, driving record, prescription medications, your job and hobbies, and any tobacco or nicotine use. The top class requires nearly perfect marks across all of these; Preferred allows some minor issues; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
When you describe your health, pick honestly: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Quotes show that class, though the carrier may adjust after underwriting. Unsure which fits you? Quote both, compare the numbers, and let underwriting make the call. Inflating your health to a better class won't lower your final premium — it just makes your estimate wrong.
Susman Insurance Agency can help you find carriers whose underwriting is more flexible for your particular health situation — sometimes more important than chasing the lowest headline rate.