Guide
Health classes explained
Rate classifications—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard—what they mean and how you move between them.
Each carrier sets premiums using rate classification. Naming conventions differ slightly across carriers, but the structure is standard: Preferred Plus (also sold as Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, and table ratings for higher-risk profiles. Tobacco consumers occupy a parallel tier at raised rates.
What underwriters look at
Height and body shape, blood pressure and lipids, lineage of heart trouble or malignancy before retirement age, traffic safety record, medication history, line of work and hobbies, and whether you consume tobacco or nicotine. The premium tier requires clean marks in virtually all; Preferred tolerates a bit more; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed problems including well-controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health inquiry invites you to characterize yourself truthfully: Excellent maps to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Your quote mirrors that class; the firm finalizes after their review. When uncertain, run quotes in two categories side-by-side, and trust the underwriting to determine the true class. Overstating your fitness doesn't reduce your actual cost; it just makes the quote less accurate.
Susman Insurance Agency is equipped to match you with issuers whose rules fit your particular situation better, which can matter more than comparing headline numbers.