Guidelines for Insurance Rates and
Helpful Insurance Ratings Tables
Applicants should always consider insurance rate guidelines when applying for life insurance with any life company.
Insurers also have become more concerned about family health history which in some cases has altered the guidelines for Insurance Rates.
Most applicants in good health feel they should apply for the preferred best rate class. However, recent studies have shown that because of family history, lab results, and Medical Information Bureau report information, only 13-20% of all applicants applying for life insurance are actually issued a policy with a preferred best rate class premium.
Your exam lab results are critical in the underwriting decision as they relate directly to guidelines for insurance rates. In addition, while companies formerly looked for a history of death from heart disease or cancer in your parents resulting in death prior to age 60, now many may actually want to know if a parent experienced the onset of such a serious illness prior to age 60 even if the parent survived.
The helpful insurance ratings tables on this page offer you general insurance rate guidelines as to how most companies will classify you (best class/preferred plus, preferred, standard plus, standard) based on medical and personal issues. If you don't meet one or more of the requirements listed in the best class/preferred plus, preferred, or standard plus columns, please select "standard" when calculating your quotes.
| Category | Best Class / Preferred Plus |
Preferred | Standard Plus |
Standard |
| Physical / Mental Impairments and Medical History |
No health impairments allowed. No personal history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. | No health impairments allowed. No personal history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. | Some minor health impairments allowed. | Some health impairments allowed. Can have personal history of certain medical conditions. |
| Blood Pressure | No current or past history of blood pressure treatment. Current and average readings in the past two years not greater than 140/85. | Currently well controlled with current and average readings in the past two years not greater than: 150/90 | Currently well controlled with current and average readings in the past two years not greater than: 150/90 - age 60 and younger, 155/95 - age 61 and over. | Currently well controlled with current and average readings in the past two years not greater than: 155/95 - age 60 and younger, 160/95 - age 61 and over. |
| Family Medical History |
No cardiovascular disease or cancer in either parent or siblings before age 61. | No cardiovascular death of either parent before age 61. | No more than one cardiovascular death in parents before age 61. | No more than one cardiovascular death in parents before age 61. |
| Personal Driving History |
Not available if 2 or more moving violations in last 3 years, or if any DUI in last 60 months. | Not available if 3 or more moving violations in the last 3 years except with flat extra, or if any DUI in last 60 months. | Not available if 3 or more moving violations in the last 3 years except with flat extra, or if any DUI in last 24 months. | Not available if 3 or more moving violations in the last 3 years except with flat extra, or if any DUI in last 24 months. |
| Use of Tobacco or Nicotine Products |
No use in the past 36 months. | No use in the last 12-36 months (varies by company). | No use in the last 12-24 months (varies by company). | No use in the last 12 months. |
| History of Cancer |
Depending on company, only available on certain types of skin cancer. | Only available on certain types of skin cancer. | Coverage may be available based on specific cancer history. | Coverage may be available based on specific cancer history. |
| Cholesterol Readings |
Levels may not exceed 220. | Levels may not exceed 250. | Levels may not exceed 285. | Levels may not exceed 300. |
| Cholesterol / HDL Ratio |
May not exceed 4.0-5.0 (varies by company). | May not exceed 6.0-6.5 (varies by company). | May not exceed 7.0 (varies by company). | May not exceed 7.5-8.0 (varies by company). |
| Substance or Alcohol Abuse |
No history of substance or alcohol abuse. | No history of, or treatment for, abuse in past 10 years. | No history of, or treatment for, abuse in past 7 years. | No history of, or treatment for, abuse in past 7 years. |
| Aviation | Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots - may qualify with aviation exclusion. | Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots- flat extra may apply depending on experience. | Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots- flat extra may apply depending on experience. | Commercial airline pilots accepted. Private pilots- flat extra may apply depending on experience. |
| Hazardous Activities (i.e. Sky diving, Hang gliding, Rock climbing, Scuba diving etc) |
Available only if no flat extra premium would be required. | Available; however, may have flat extra. | Available; however, may have flat extra. | Available; however, may have flat extra. |
| Residency- Citizenship |
Must be a US resident for past 3 years and either a US citizen or have permanent Visa or Greencard. | Must be a US resident for past 3 years and either US citizen or have permanent Visa or Green card. | Must be a US resident for past 2 years and either US citizen or have permanent Visa or Green card. | Must be a US resident for past 2 years and either US citizen or have permanent Visa or Green card. |
Height and Weight Table
This table can be used for both male and female insureds. Once again, while this information is general in nature, it does represent represent the allowable maximums for either best class/preferred plus, preferred, standard plus or standard rates from most companies. If your weight exceeds the maximum shown here, use "standard" rates in calculating your quote.
| Height | Best Class / Preferred Plus |
Preferred | Standard Plus |
Standard |
| 5'0" | 145 | 154 | 164 | 189 |
| 5'1" | 149 | 159 | 169 | 193 |
| 5'2" | 153 | 164 | 174 | 197 |
| 5'3" | 158 | 169 | 179 | 204 |
| 5'4" | 162 | 175 | 185 | 209 |
| 5'5" | 166 | 180 | 190 | 215 |
| 5'6" | 170 | 186 | 202 | 220 |
| 5'7" | 176 | 192 | 202 | 225 |
| 5'8" | 182 | 197 | 207 | 230 |
| 5'9" | 188 | 203 | 213 | 235 |
| 5'10" | 193 | 209 | 220 | 242 |
| 5'11" | 199 | 215 | 226 | 251 |
| 6'0" | 205 | 221 | 232 | 256 |
| 6'1" | 211 | 227 | 239 | 263 |
| 6'2" | 216 | 234 | 245 | 271 |
| 6'3" | 222 | 240 | 252 | 279 |
| 6'4" | 227 | 246 | 259 | 286 |
| 6'5" | 233 | 253 | 266 | 293 |
| 6'6" | 238 | 260 | 273 | 300 |
| 6'7" | 243 | 266 | 280 | 307 |
| 6'8" | 249 | 273 | 287 | 316 |
| 6'9" | 254 | 280 | 294 | 325 |
| 6'10" | 260 | 287 | 301 | 333 |
| 6'11" | 265 | 294 | 309 | 341 |
