Guide
Health classes explained
The four main grades—Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard—explained, plus how carriers move applicants between them.
Insurance companies set premiums using underwriting tiers. Labels differ between insurers, but the hierarchy holds steady: Preferred Plus (sometimes labeled Ultra Preferred or Premier Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus, then Standard, with extra charges for unusual risks above that. Users who smoke have their own set with higher premiums.
What underwriters look at
Factors that determine rate class: height-to-weight ratio, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, family history of serious illness occurring before age 60, motor vehicle history, medicine records, line of work and recreation interests, and nicotine use. Preferred Plus calls for excellent marks nearly across the board; Preferred accepts some variance; Standard Plus and Standard approve for properly managed diseases like controlled high blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Respond honestly to the health question: Excellent lines up with Preferred Plus, Very Good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Fair with Standard. Your quotes align with that choice; underwriting finalizes the grade. Uncertain about your category? Quote at two levels and compare; the actual decision happens in underwriting. Overstating your health doesn't make a quote cheaper; it just makes the quote less trustworthy.
Susman Insurance Agency can point you toward carriers whose underwriting is more favorable to your particular health situation, which can matter more than a headline rate.