Paul Sanchez
Life insurance is a crucial tool to protect your loved ones, and understanding how insurers determine your risk level is essential. After applying for a policy, the insurance company will review your health history, lifestyle choices, and other factors to assign you to a risk class, which impacts your premium rates. One such risk class is Super Preferred or Preferred Plus, offering the lowest rates to those with the lowest risk. However, qualifying for this category is challenging, as it requires meeting stringent health and lifestyle criteria. Less than 5% of applicants attain this status due to factors like BMI, smoking status, family health history, and driving record.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Health | Excellent |
| Lifestyle | No smoking or tobacco use |
| No history of alcohol or substance abuse | |
| No driving offences | |
| No risky hobbies | |
| No dangerous occupation | |
| Family health history | No history of cancer or heart disease |
| No premature deaths | |
| Height-to-weight ratio | Within the company's preferred range |
| Blood pressure | 130/80 or less |
| Cholesterol | 200 or less |
What You'll Learn
Super Preferred criteria
The Super Preferred criteria for life insurance is reserved for applicants in excellent health who haven't smoked or used nicotine or nicotine substitutes for at least five years. To be considered for this category, you must meet specific requirements regarding your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, medical history, and driving record. Here are the details:
Weight
To be considered for Super Preferred, you need to have a weight that is considered normal for your height. This typically translates to having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18 and 29. Some insurance companies use height-to-weight ratios or build tables to determine if you fall within their preferred range.
Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Super Preferred applicants typically need to have normal blood pressure and cholesterol readings. Specifically, your blood pressure should be 130/80 or less, and your total cholesterol should be 200 or less. However, some insurance companies may allow slightly higher readings, up to 140/85 for blood pressure and a total cholesterol of 220.
Medical History
To qualify for Super Preferred, you generally cannot have any serious or chronic illnesses or ailments. Additionally, there should be no history of premature death due to heart disease or cancer in your immediate family before the age of 60 (some companies use age 65 as the cutoff).
Smoking and Nicotine Use
Super Preferred applicants must be non-smokers and non-tobacco users. This means you cannot have smoked cigarettes or used nicotine substitutes for at least five years. Some companies may require a longer period of abstinence, such as nicotine-free for the past seven years. Occasional cigar smoking (less than 12 per year) may be allowed, but this can vary depending on the insurance company.
Driving Record
Your driving record also plays a role in determining Super Preferred eligibility. You typically cannot have any DUI convictions within the past five years, and your license should not have been suspended. Additionally, you should not have more than two moving violations or accidents within the past three years.
It's important to note that meeting all the Super Preferred criteria does not guarantee placement in this category, as insurance companies have their own specific guidelines and requirements. The Super Preferred category is highly selective, and only a small percentage of applicants are likely to qualify.
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Super Preferred vs Preferred
Life insurance companies use health classifications to determine the premiums that an individual will pay for their policy. These classifications are based on an individual's health history, lifestyle choices, and medical exam results. While the exact names of the categories differ across companies, there are some generic classifications used across the industry.
The Super Preferred classification, also known as Preferred Plus, is for individuals who are in excellent health, have a good weight for their height, do not smoke or use tobacco, have no serious health problems in their family, and have no major health issues themselves. They are considered the least risky and, therefore, receive the best insurance prices.
The Preferred classification, on the other hand, is for individuals who are also relatively healthy but may not meet all the stringent criteria of the Super Preferred group. They may have a slightly higher weight for their height, some health issues in their family, or a few minor health problems. Individuals in the Preferred category still receive good insurance prices.
Requirements for Super Preferred and Preferred
To qualify for the Super Preferred classification, individuals must generally meet the following requirements:
- No family history of death from cancer or heart disease before the age of 60 (some companies use age 65)
- No tobacco use for at least five years (some companies require three years)
- Blood pressure of 130/80 or less
- Total cholesterol of 200 or less
- No history of cancer or cardiovascular disease
- No DWIs or more than two moving violations in three years
- Meets the company's height-weight requirements
The requirements for the Preferred classification are slightly more relaxed:
- No more than one death of a sibling or parent before the age of 60 due to cancer or heart disease
- No tobacco use for three to five years (some companies may allow mild cigar or chewing tobacco use)
- Liberalized height-weight ratio and total cholesterol limit (up to 230 or 240)
- No other health issues
It is important to note that the specific requirements for each classification may vary across insurance companies, so it is always a good idea to shop around and compare prices before choosing a policy.
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Super Preferred health conditions
To qualify for Super Preferred, you need to be in excellent health. This means having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18 to 29, which is considered healthy to overweight. You also need to have no immediate family members who have passed away from diseases like cancer or heart disease. Additionally, Super Preferred applicants don't usually have risky jobs or hobbies.
In terms of specific health conditions, Super Preferred applicants should have normal blood pressure and cholesterol readings. They may have one or two well-controlled or resolved minor health issues, but no serious health problems. Super Preferred applicants also need to have a clean driving record, with no DUIs or more than two moving violations in the past three years.
It's important to note that the requirements for Super Preferred may vary slightly between insurance companies. For example, some companies may require no tobacco use for three years, while others may require five years. Similarly, the acceptable blood pressure and cholesterol levels may differ between insurers.
Overall, achieving Super Preferred status requires a combination of excellent health, a clean medical history, and a low-risk lifestyle. By meeting these criteria, individuals can qualify for the lowest life insurance rates.
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Super Preferred driving record
A super preferred driving record is an important factor in determining whether an individual qualifies for the lowest life insurance rates. Life insurance companies generally consider applicants with no major driving violations within the past five years for the best rate class, typically referred to as Preferred Plus or Super Preferred.
To achieve a super preferred driving record, individuals must have a clean driving record with no more than one or two moving violations in the last three years. This includes no convictions for reckless driving, DUIs, or licence suspensions. For instance, a person with a single violation for speeding over 30 mph above the limit would not qualify for the Super Preferred rate. Similarly, multiple DUIs in the last four or five years can lead to a denial of coverage.
It's important to note that the specific criteria for a super preferred driving record may vary slightly between insurance companies. Some companies may be more lenient, allowing for a few minor infractions, while others may have stricter requirements. Therefore, it is advisable to compare policies from different providers to find the best option for your circumstances.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning that a super preferred driving record is just one aspect of the risk assessment conducted by insurance companies. They also consider other factors, such as health, family medical history, lifestyle choices, and occupation, when determining an individual's eligibility for the lowest insurance rates.
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Super Preferred vs Preferred Plus
Life insurance companies use rating classifications to determine how much an individual will pay for coverage. These classifications are based on an individual's health, lifestyle, and family history. While the exact names of these classifications differ between companies, there are some generic categories.
The Super Preferred classification, also known as Super Preferred Nonsmoker, is for applicants in excellent health. These individuals have not smoked or used nicotine or nicotine substitutes for at least five years. They have a normal weight for their height, with normal blood pressure and cholesterol readings, and a clean medical history. Generally, there can be no death in their immediate family due to heart disease or cancer before the age of 60. Super Preferred individuals also have a clean driving record, with no DUIs or more than two moving violations or accidents within the past three years.
The Preferred Plus classification is also for very healthy individuals with good weight for their height. They don't smoke or use tobacco and don't have serious health problems in their family or any major health issues themselves. However, they may have a slightly higher weight, some health issues in their family, or a few minor health problems.
Other Categories
Other common life insurance rating classifications include:
- Standard Plus: For individuals who are generally healthy but may have some health problems or a family history of health issues. Their insurance prices are higher than those in the Preferred or Preferred Plus groups.
- Standard: For individuals with average health and a normal weight for their height. They may have some health problems or a family history of health issues. Their insurance costs are higher than the Preferred groups but lower than the Substandard group.
- Substandard: For individuals with more health problems, a higher weight for their height, or a more complicated family health history. They are considered riskier and pay higher insurance prices.
- Tobacco/Nicotine User: For individuals who smoke or use tobacco products. They typically pay higher insurance rates due to the increased risk of health problems associated with tobacco use.
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Frequently asked questions
The super preferred life insurance rate class, also known as Preferred Plus, is the best rating class an applicant can qualify for. People who qualify will pay the lowest rates for life insurance.
The requirements for the super preferred life insurance rate class include having no history of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, as well as having a clean driving record and no history of substance abuse. Applicants must also have a healthy BMI, typically between 18 and 29, and no family history of early death due to hereditary factors.
Less than 5% of applicants qualify for the super preferred life insurance rate class due to the stringent requirements.
To increase their chances of qualifying, applicants should focus on improving their health and lifestyle. This includes quitting smoking, losing weight if overweight, and managing any health conditions.
The super preferred life insurance rate class is the most favourable rate class, offering the lowest premiums. Other common rate classes include Preferred, Standard Plus, and Standard, with increasing premiums respectively.
