Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard—what each label means and what factors move you between them.
Carriers structure pricing around rate classes. Terms vary by company, but the structure is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Elite), Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard, then table ratings for higher risk. Tobacco users get a parallel set at higher rates.
What underwriters look at
Build (height and weight ratio), blood pressure and cholesterol, family health history for heart disease or cancer before age 60, driving record, medications you take, occupation and activities, and tobacco or nicotine use. Preferred Plus requires excellent results across nearly all factors. Preferred allows minor variations. Standard Plus and Standard accommodate managed conditions like treated high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
The health question asks you to describe yourself truthfully: Excellent maps to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus, Average to Standard. Quotes match that class; the carrier sets your final class during underwriting. If unsure, quote two classes side-by-side, then let underwriting decide. Picking an optimistic class doesn't improve your rate—it just makes the estimate less reliable.
Susman Insurance Agency can guide you toward carriers whose medical guidelines are more favorable for your specific situation, which often matters more than an advertised best rate.