Guide
Health classes explained
Understand the four primary rate classifications: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, including what factors place applicants in each tier.
Tobacco users have a parallel set of classes at higher rates. Carriers price term life by rate class. The names vary slightly by company, but the ladder is consistent: Preferred Plus (also called Super Preferred or Preferred Best), Preferred, Standard Plus and Standard, followed by table ratings for higher-than-standard risk.
What underwriters look at
The best class needs clean results across nearly all of them; Preferred allows a little more; Standard Plus and Standard allow controlled conditions such as treated hypertension. Build (height and weight), blood pressure and cholesterol, family history of heart disease or cancer before 60, driving record, prescription history, occupation and hobbies, and tobacco or nicotine use.
How to use the quote tool
Choosing an optimistic class does not lower the final premium; it only makes the estimate less accurate. The health question asks you to describe yourself honestly: Excellent maps to Preferred Plus, Very good to Preferred, Good to Standard Plus and Average to Standard. Quotes reflect that class; the carrier confirms the final class after underwriting. If you are unsure, quote two classes and compare, then let the application decide.
Each insurance carrier applies its own underwriting rules. We help find carriers whose requirements better match your specific health situation—typically more valuable than finding the absolute lowest rate.