Part of our guide: Impaired Risk Life Insurance Underwriting by Condition →
When a client gets a table rating, most advisors focus on which table. Just as important is what the table is built on, and one carrier builds it on a better base than most.
Key takeaways
- Most carriers calculate table-rated premiums as a percentage added to Standard rates.
- One carrier calculates table ratings off its Standard Plus rates instead, lowering the premium at every table.
- A 46-year-old with Type 2 diabetes and elevated cholesterol received Table 2 on $5 million of term, priced off Standard Plus.
Same Table 2 rating, lower premium: one carrier prices its table ratings off Standard Plus instead of Standard.
How table ratings are priced
A table rating adds a percentage to a base premium, commonly 25% per table. At most carriers, that base is the Standard rate. One carrier uses its Standard Plus rate as the base instead, so the same table produces a noticeably lower premium. For clients with several impairments, that difference adds up over the life of a large policy.
Case study: $5 million of term
- 46-year-old male, no tobacco, 6’1” and 211 lbs
- Type 2 diabetes diagnosed in 2011, treated with metformin; A1C 7.8
- Blood pressure 135/84; total cholesterol 273, HDL 41, LDL 125
- Normal urine protein
- Mother died of a stroke at 68
Offer: Table 2, priced off Standard Plus rates, a significant saving compared with a Table 2 priced off Standard.
When to look for this
Multi-impairment cases, like this one combining diabetes, cholesterol, and family history, are where base pricing matters most. Compare the final premium, not just the table. More on how diabetes is underwritten.
Frequently asked questions
What is a table rating?
A substandard rating that adds a percentage, often 25% per table, to a base premium to reflect higher risk.
Do all carriers price table ratings the same way?
No. Most use Standard rates as the base, but at least one uses Standard Plus, which lowers the cost of every table rating.
Should I compare table ratings or premiums?
Premiums. Two carriers offering the same table can charge very different amounts depending on their base rates.
Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25
Tim Fuller
President, SRS Inc.
Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.
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