Guide
Health classes explained
The four levels explained: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—how insurance companies categorize applicants and the elements that move you between tiers.
Insurance pricing follows rate classification based on health and risk. While terminology varies slightly among carriers, the general ranking stays consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes called Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with additional table ratings for riskier applicants. People who smoke or use nicotine products have parallel rate brackets at higher prices.
What underwriters look at
Physicality (height and weight metrics), blood pressure and cholesterol readings, whether heart disease or cancer shows up in your family before age 60, violations on your driving record, medications in your pharmacy records, work and leisure activities you engage in, and nicotine or tobacco consumption. Getting Preferred Plus requires favorable results in virtually every category; Preferred allows some exceptions; Standard Plus and Standard approve well-managed conditions like blood pressure that's controlled with medication.
How to use the quote tool
When answering the health question, be truthful about yourself: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. The quotes will reflect your selected class, though the company will make the actual determination during underwriting. If you're unsure about yourself, try requesting quotes in two different classes to compare what the variation means, then proceed with whichever feels right. Picking an inflated health class doesn't result in a lower actual rate; it just makes the estimate inaccurate.
Susman Insurance Agency specializes in matching clients to carriers that have softer underwriting for their specific situation, which typically has more impact on your final rate than comparing only headline prices.