Guide
Health classes explained
The four main tiers, from best to broadest, and how carriers decide which one fits you.
Insurers organize term pricing by health tier. Names differ slightly between companies, but the framework stays the same: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Elite), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with extra charges layered on for above-average risk. Tobacco users sit on a separate scale with higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Your height and weight ratio, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, whether close relatives had heart issues or cancer before turning 60, your driving history, any prescriptions you take, your job and activities, and any nicotine use. The top class demands clean marks across most factors; Preferred loosens slightly; Standard Plus and Standard welcome managed conditions like well-controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question on the form invites your honest self-assessment: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Your quotes will reflect that tier, though underwriting may adjust it. When in doubt, pull two tier estimates and look them over—your actual final tier emerges during underwriting anyway. Gaming the health question won't shrink the eventual premium; it just makes your current quote misleading.
Susman Insurance Agency can show you which carriers tend to favor applicants with your particular health picture—a choice that often matters more than the sticker price.