Life Insurance Health Classes Explained: From Preferred Plus to Table Rated

What Are Health Classes?

Health classes (also called rate classes or risk classes) are how life insurance companies categorize your health risk. Your health class directly determines your premium — better class, lower rate.

Most carriers use four to six standard classes, plus table ratings for higher-risk applicants:

Health Class	Description	Rate Level
Preferred Plus (Super Preferred)	Excellent health, best possible rate	Lowest
Preferred	Very good health, minor imperfections OK	Low
Standard Plus	Good health, some minor issues	Moderate
Standard	Average health, baseline rate	Average
Preferred Smoker	Good health, smoker	High
Standard Smoker	Average health, smoker	Very High
Table Rated (1-8 or A-H)	Health conditions requiring surcharge	Highest

Your health class is determined during underwriting, based on your medical exam, health history, and application answers.

Health Class Requirements

Here is what each class typically requires:

Preferred Plus

• BMI: 18-27 (ideal weight range)
• Blood pressure: Under 130/85
• Cholesterol: Total under 240, ratio under 5.0
• No tobacco/nicotine in past 5 years
• No family history of heart disease or cancer before age 60
• No medications for chronic conditions
• Clean driving record
• No hazardous hobbies

Preferred

• BMI: 18-30
• Blood pressure: Under 140/90
• Cholesterol: Total under 260
• No tobacco in past 3-5 years
• Minor family history may be OK
• One controlled medication may be accepted
• Minor driving issues may be OK

Standard Plus

• BMI: 18-32
• Blood pressure: Under 140/90 (controlled OK)
• Cholesterol: Under 280 (medication OK)
• No tobacco in past 1-3 years
• Controlled health conditions acceptable
• Moderate medications OK

Standard

• BMI: 18-35+
• Blood pressure: Controlled with medication
• Cholesterol: Controlled with medication
• No current tobacco use (varies by carrier)
• Chronic conditions if well-controlled
• This is the baseline — most applicants qualify

Rate Differences by Health Class

$500,000 20-Year Term, Male:

Age	Preferred Plus	Preferred	Standard Plus	Standard
30	$18/mo	$21/mo	$24/mo	$27/mo
35	$22/mo	$26/mo	$30/mo	$34/mo
40	$30/mo	$36/mo	$41/mo	$47/mo
45	$46/mo	$55/mo	$63/mo	$72/mo
50	$72/mo	$85/mo	$98/mo	$110/mo

The spread is significant. At age 40, the difference between Preferred Plus ($30) and Standard ($47) is $17/month — or $4,080 over 20 years for the same $500K coverage.

Smoker vs. Non-Smoker ($500K, 20-Year, Age 35, Male)

Class	Monthly Premium
Preferred Non-Smoker	$22
Standard Non-Smoker	$34
Preferred Smoker	$68
Standard Smoker	$88

Smoking roughly triples your premium compared to Preferred Non-Smoker rates.

Table Ratings Explained (Table 1–8)

Table ratings are used for applicants with health conditions that exceed Standard class criteria. Each table adds 25% of the Standard rate on top of Standard, so the numbering is easy to read: Table 4 means Standard plus four increments (+100%), Table 8 means Standard plus eight (+200%). Carriers use one of two labeling systems — numbers (1–8) or letters (A–H) — and they mean exactly the same thing (Table 1 = Table A, Table 2 = Table B, and so on).

Here is the full rating table chart:

Table Rating	Surcharge vs. Standard	Multiplier	Premium on $47 Standard
Table 1 (A)	+25%	1.25×	$59/mo
Table 2 (B)	+50%	1.50×	$71/mo
Table 3 (C)	+75%	1.75×	$82/mo
Table 4 (D)	+100%	2.00×	$94/mo
Table 5 (E)	+125%	2.25×	$106/mo
Table 6 (F)	+150%	2.50×	$118/mo
Table 7 (G)	+175%	2.75×	$129/mo
Table 8 (H)	+200%	3.00×	$141/mo

Based on $500K 20-year term, male, age 40, Standard rate of $47. Your carrier’s Standard rate and any flat extra fees will change the dollar figures, but the percentage structure is industry-standard.

Common conditions and typical table ratings:

• Controlled diabetes (A1C < 7.5): Table 1-2
• DUI 3-5 years ago: Table 2-4
• Heart stent 3+ years ago: Table 2-4
• Bipolar disorder (stable): Table 2-4
• Overweight (BMI 35-40): Table 2-4
• Cancer survivor 5+ years: Table 2-6

Classes, Ratings & Classifications: The Terminology

Life insurance underwriting is full of overlapping terms, and carriers do not all use the same words. If you have seen “rate class,” “risk class,” “health classification,” and “health rating” used to mean slightly different things, here is how they fit together:

• Health class / rate class / risk class — these are interchangeable. All three refer to the tier you are placed in (Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, or Standard) based on how your health compares to a carrier’s criteria.
• Health classification / health rating — broader umbrella terms for the entire outcome of underwriting, including both your named class and any table rating or flat extra applied on top of it.
• Table rating — the surcharge system (Table 1–8 or A–H) layered on Standard for applicants with a health condition. A table rating is not a separate class; it is a multiplier applied to the Standard class rate.
• Flat extra — a fixed dollar charge per $1,000 of coverage, usually temporary, added for a specific risk (such as a recent DUI or a hazardous hobby) rather than an ongoing health condition. A flat extra can appear alongside a standard class or a table rating.

The practical takeaway: two carriers can quote the same applicant differently not because your health changed, but because their classification thresholds differ. One carrier may grant Preferred at a BMI of 30 while another caps Preferred at 28, and one may cap a diabetic at Table 4 while another declines. This is precisely where an independent broker adds value — matching your profile to the carrier whose health classifications treat it most favorably.

How to Qualify for a Better Class

1. Lose weight. BMI directly affects your class. Dropping from BMI 31 to 28 can move you from Standard to Preferred — saving 25-30% on premiums.

2. Quit smoking. Most carriers require 12 months tobacco-free for non-smoker rates. After 3-5 years, Preferred rates become available. This is the single biggest rate improvement possible.

3. Control blood pressure and cholesterol. Medication is OK for Standard and Standard Plus classes. Getting these numbers into normal range (even with medication) can improve your class.

4. Time your medical exam. Fast for 12 hours before. Schedule for morning. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and heavy exercise for 24 hours prior. Drink water to stay hydrated for accurate blood work.

5. Know which carrier is best for your profile. Different carriers have different class thresholds. One carrier might offer Preferred at BMI 30, while another requires BMI 28. An independent broker knows these differences.

6. Appeal your rating. If you receive a lower class than expected, you can provide additional medical documentation or request reconsideration. Your broker can advocate on your behalf.

Ready to find your health class? Get a free life insurance quote and see what rate class you are likely to qualify for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What health class will I qualify for?

Most healthy non-smokers qualify for Preferred or Standard Plus. Preferred Plus (the best class) requires excellent health — low BMI, perfect blood work, no family history of disease. Standard is the baseline for average health. Your medical exam results determine your final class.

Can I change my health class after buying a policy?

Not on an existing policy. However, if your health improves significantly (weight loss, quitting smoking, controlling a condition), you can apply for a new policy at a potentially better rate class. Some carriers allow 're-rating' after major health improvements.

What is a table rating in life insurance?

Table ratings are assigned to applicants who do not qualify for standard classes due to health conditions. Each table adds 25% to the Standard rate. Table 2 = +50%, Table 4 = +100%, Table 8 = +200%. Table ratings are common for conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and DUI history.

What does a Table 6 rating mean?

A Table 6 rating (also written Table F) means your premium is 150% higher than the Standard rate — Standard plus six increments of 25%. On a $500K policy where Standard would cost about $47/month, a Table 6 rating runs roughly $118/month. It is a common outcome for moderately serious conditions such as a past heart event, a higher A1C with diabetes, or a BMI in the high 30s.

Is a table rating the same as a health class?

They are related but not identical. Your health class (Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard Plus, Standard) is the tier you qualify for when you meet a carrier's standard health criteria. A table rating is a surcharge applied on top of the Standard rate when a health condition pushes you past those criteria — so a table rating always builds off Standard, never off a preferred class. Some carriers label tables with numbers (1–8), others with letters (A–H).