Guide
Health classes explained
Definitions and distinctions between Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard rating categories, and the factors affecting placement.
Insurance carriers evaluate applicants using rating classifications. Classification names vary by company, but the structure remains consistent: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, with rating adjustments for higher-risk categories. Tobacco users get distinct, higher-rate categories.
What underwriters look at
Key factors: height and weight proportion, blood pressure levels, cholesterol readings, family history of serious illness before age sixty, driving history, medication records, work and recreational activities, and use of tobacco or nicotine. Optimal ratings require favorable results on virtually all criteria; Preferred ratings permit minor variations; Standard Plus and Standard accept managed conditions such as controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Our health questions guide you to self-rate: Excellent corresponds to Preferred Plus; Very good to Preferred; Good to Standard Plus; Average to Standard. Quotes match your stated classification; underwriting determines your final rating. If uncertain, request quotes at multiple levels, then let underwriting confirm. Overstating your health status won't reduce your premium—it just makes estimates less accurate.
We help identify carriers whose underwriting practices are more accommodating for particular health situations—frequently a more critical factor than published rates.