Guide
Health classes explained
The labels for Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard tiers, their significance, and the factors that determine your classification.
Insurance companies employ rate tiers to price term policies. Naming conventions differ somewhat across companies, but the structure is consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Ultra Preferred or Best Preferred), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, plus extra markups for applicants above standard danger. Nicotine customers have their own tiered system with increased prices.
What underwriters look at
Physical measurements and vital signs (weight, BP, cholesterol), parental medical history (heart events or tumors prior to age 60), car accident history, past and current medications, job classification and leisure pursuits, nicotine consumption of any form. Top-tier ratings demand strong indicators in essentially every category; the second tier tolerates somewhat more; lower tiers and adjusted ratings manage well-managed illnesses such as blood pressure regulation.
How to use the quote tool
When asked about health, respond accurately: Excellent suggests Preferred Plus, Very good indicates Preferred, Good signals Standard Plus and Average corresponds to Standard. Your quotes reflect this selection; underwriting by the carrier will validate the eventual tier. When uncertain, get prices for two categories and examine both, allowing the underwriting to determine the answer. Overestimating your health standing won't reduce the ultimate cost; it only makes the quote less precise.
Susman Insurance Agency's expertise assists you in finding carriers whose underwriting rules better accommodate your particular health circumstances, often making a bigger difference than the advertised base price.