What Is Preferred Plus Life Insurance?
When applying for a life insurance policy, your health history and medical exam results are used to determine your overall health status and assign you to a life insurance rating class. The rating class assigned to you is the primary determinant of the cost you pay each month to keep your insurance policy active. Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard are some of the common life insurance risk categories used by insurers.
| Rating Class | Description |
|---|---|
| Preferred Plus | Reserved for the healthiest, lowest risk applicants who have a clean bill of health, no family history of cancer or heart disease, and don’t regularly engage in risky activities. |
| Preferred | For generally healthy individuals with one or two health risk factors considered red flags, like untreated high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or those who engage in a risky lifestyle factor. |
| Standard Plus | For those who have one or two medical issues but are generally healthy. |
| Standard | For those who have several medical issues or live a generally risky lifestyle. |
Smokers typically pay more for life insurance than non-smokers of similar health status. You can take steps to improve your health and lower your premiums, such as giving up tobacco products or improving your personal health and lifestyle. Remember that term life insurance is more affordable than you might think, and you can get a no-risk, no-obligation quote and speak to an agent to put your best foot forward with your unique health history. You can always apply today and hold off from signing a policy if you don’t like the results, but keep working to improve your risk category and lower your premiums.
