Guide
Health classes explained
Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard—understanding what these mean and how you move between them.
Carriers establish pricing by underwriting tier. Though carriers use slightly different terminology, the ordering stays the same: Preferred Plus (sometimes Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, with additional adjustments for especially high-risk cases. Tobacco users fall into an equivalent grouping with increased fees.
What underwriters look at
BMI and weight/height ratios, blood pressure and lipid levels, family background for early coronary disease or cancer diagnosis, traffic history, medication list, line of work and recreational pursuits, and smoking or nicotine intake. Top-tier approval typically requires positive outcomes on virtually everything; the next level down permits modest flexibility; lower levels recognize regulated diseases like controlled blood pressure.
How to use the quote tool
Be truthful when answering the health question: Excellent aligns with Preferred Plus, Very good with Preferred, Good with Standard Plus and Average with Standard. Your quote reflects the tier corresponding to your answer; the insurer determines your actual tier following underwriting. Hedging by picking a better tier doesn't reduce your ultimate cost—it only makes your estimate less realistic.
Susman Insurance Agency has expertise in locating carriers whose medical guidelines are more forgiving for particular health conditions—a factor that often weighs heavier than the headline price.