Guide
Health classes explained
What the four main ratings mean and what pushes you from one tier to another.
Insurance carriers grade term life premiums by rate class. While exact names shift slightly between companies, the structure remains the same: Preferred Plus (Super Preferred or Preferred Best at some firms), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, with extra charges for above-standard risk. Tobacco users sit in a separate tier structure with higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Height and weight, blood pressure and lipid levels, family medical history (heart disease or cancer before age 60), driving record, prescriptions you take, what you do for work or recreation, and any nicotine use. Preferred Plus requires strong numbers across nearly every factor. Preferred tolerates one or two gaps. Standard Plus and Standard both accommodate certain managed conditions, such as controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Our form asks you to assess your own health: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus and Average to Standard. The quote matches this selection; the carrier will confirm your true tier after underwriting. If you're uncertain, run quotes for two different classes and compare, letting the application process settle it. Picking a better class won't reduce your actual premium—it only inflates the estimate.
Our team at Susman can guide you toward carriers whose underwriting looks more favorably on particular situations—and that often outweighs the headline rate.