Guide
Health classes explained
The four tiers: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard. What they signify and what shifts your classification.
Insurance carriers establish pricing for term life via underwriting tier. While terminology differs slightly, the progression is consistent: Preferred Plus (occasionally Super Preferred or Preferred Optimal), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, with further increments for elevated danger. Tobacco users are classified separately at increased rates.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements and weight ratio, blood pressure and lipid levels, hereditary health problems appearing before age 60, traffic violations and record, medication background, work and pastimes, and tobacco or nicotine products. Achieving the top tier requires strong results in essentially all areas; Preferred permits moderate variations; Standard Plus and Standard accommodate controlled issues like managed hypertension.
How to use the quote tool
The health question prompts you to select honestly: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, and Average to Standard. Quotes match that tier; the carrier verifies the classification after underwriting. If uncertain, obtain quotes for two different classifications and compare, allowing the application to settle the question. Selecting an inflated classification doesn't reduce premiums; it just creates inaccuracy in estimates.
Susman Insurance Agency can guide you toward carriers whose underwriting criteria are more favorable for your particular situation, which frequently makes a bigger difference than the advertised rate.