Guide
Health classes explained
Four classifications rank your health and risk: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, each with specific meaning and criteria.
Insurers assign underwriting tiers to price term policies. While names differ among companies, the structure remains uniform: Preferred Plus (occasionally called Preferred Elite or Best Class), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, plus escalated rates for elevated risk. Smokers occupy different classifications with higher charges.
What underwriters look at
Factors include body dimensions, cardiovascular measurements, cholesterol values, hereditary cardiac or tumor illness manifesting before 60, vehicle accident history, pharmaceutical use, employment classification, recreation hobbies, and nicotine consumption. Achieving the top class requires favorable outcomes on virtually all factors; the next level permits minor variance; lower tiers allow managed illnesses such as controlled blood pressure elevation.
How to use the quote tool
The wellness question requires you to assess honestly: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Estimates match your selection; after underwriting, the carrier verifies your final tier. When uncertain, request estimates for both tiers to compare. Selecting an inflated assessment won't reduce your eventual premium—it only skews the estimate less favorably.
Susman Insurance Agency assists in finding insurers with more accommodating underwriting criteria for particular medical situations, which can matter as much as advertised pricing.