Insurance companies determine how much you'll pay for a policy by placing you into one of several rate classifications, including preferred plus, preferred, and standard. This is a general guide, and requirements and guidelines may differ by insurance company.

STEP 1
To define the rate class for which you'll likely qualify, consult the following chart. You generally need to meet all requirements in order to qualify for a rate class.

  Preferred Plus Preferred Standard
Height & Weight
maximum height/weight
maximum height/weight maximum height/weight
Tobacco Use No tobacco use in the past 5 years No tobacco use in the past 3 years
(only for preferred non-smoker)		 No tobacco use in the past year
(only for non-smoker)
Blood Pressure 140/85 without medication 140/85 with medication
or
150/90 without medication		 150/90 with medication
or
155/95 if age 41-60
or
160/95 if age 61 or higher
Cholesterol 230 without medication
and
HDL ratio under 5.0		 250 with or without medication
and
HDL ratio under 6.0		 300 with or without medication
and
HDL ratio under 8.0
Driving Record No more than 2 moving violations in the past 3 years
and
No DUI/reckless driving in past 5 years		 No more than 2 moving violations in the past 3 years
and
No DUI/reckless driving in past 5 years		 No more than 3 moving violations in the past 3 year
and
No DUI/reckless driving in past 2 years
Family history No parents or siblings diagnosed with heart disease/cancer before age 60 No parents or siblings died of heart disease/cancer before age 60 Not applicable
Citizenship US Resident for past 3 years (or permanent visa/green card) US Resident for past 3 years (or permanent visa/green card) US Resident for past 3 years (or permanent visa/green card)

STEP 2
If you have been treated for any of the ailments on the following chart, you'll find a dot corresponding to the best rate class for which you're most likely to qualify. Treatment received for two or more of the problems listed below may classify you for a higher rate class, or it may cause you to be declined for life insurance.


  Preferred
Plus		 Preferred Standard Non-Standard
Alcohol/Substance abuse    
  •  
    		•   
    Arthritis (Osteo)  
  •  
    		•     
    Arthritis (Rheumatoid)      
  •  
    		•
    Asthma (allergy)  
  •  
    		•     
    Asthma (steroid meds)    
  •  
    		•   
    Bronchitis  
  •  
    		•     
    Cancer (basal cell)
  •  
    		•       
    Cancer (not basal cell - after 5 years)    
  •  
    		•   
    Cardiovascular/Heart Disease      
  •  
    		•
    Crohn's Disease    
  •  
    		•   
    Depression (situational)  
  •  
    		•     
    Depression (on-going)    
  •  
    		•   
    Diabetes      
  •  
    		•
    Emphysema      
  •  
    		•
    Epilepsy    
  •  
    		•   
    Hepatitis A or B  
  •  
    		•     
    Hepatitis C      
  •  
    		•
    Kidney/Liver Disease      
  •  
    		•
    Mental Illness      
  •  
    		•
    Mitral Valve Prolapse  
  •  
    		•     
    Multiple Sclerosis      
  •  
    		•
    Stroke      
  •  
    		•
    Ulcerative Colitis    
  •  
    		•   
    Vascular Disease      
  •  
    		•

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