Home / Methodology
How the MemberVerdict Score works
A fixed set of rules turns indexed rates and a member profile into a score from 0 to 100. The same inputs always give the same score, and every card shows its math.
0–30 points
Price value
Cost per unit of benefit at the member's age, compared with every option in the same product line.
0–25 points
Payout likelihood
How likely the member is to collect, given age and how the benefit triggers, less a penalty if coverage shrinks within ten years.
0–25 points
Fit and overlap
Whether the option fills a real gap given household, work coverage and savings.
0–20 points
Fine print
Health questions at the amount needed, waiting periods, benefit caps and age reductions.
Rules by product
Term life
- Coverage need: about 10× annual income for households with children, 5× for couples, $100,000 for singles, minus life coverage from work.
- Price value: 30 × (lowest cost per $10k ÷ this program's cost per $10k)1.5, so meaningful price gaps move the score.
- Payout: 22 points, less 6 if coverage reduces within ten years of the member's age.
- Fit: 25 for families, 18 for couples, 8 for singles; less 6 if the program caps below the coverage needed; 3 if work coverage already meets the need.
- Fine print: 20, less 4 if health questions apply at the amount needed, less 2–4 for age reductions.
Disability income
- Benefit priced: 60% of income, up to the plan maximum.
- Price value: 30 × (lowest monthly cost ÷ this option's cost).
- Payout: rises with age; shorter waits add points.
- Fit: full marks when savings cover the waiting period; 8 points off for each uncovered month; low when work already provides disability coverage.
- Fine print: plans that pay to age 67 score higher than plans capped at five years.
Dental
When a program quotes rates only on request, price value is scored neutral at 15 of 30 and the card says so.
Membership, dues and eligibility
Every program is open only to its association's members. Members tick the associations they belong to; plans from other closed associations are shown greyed out and are not scored. Programs anyone can join (AUSA, MCA and others) are scored for everyone, with a twelfth of the annual dues added to the monthly premium, so the price factor reflects what the person would really pay.
How rates are kept current
Each program in the index carries the date MemberVerdict last verified its rate table. The rate month appears on every card, snapshot and review. Association rates change at each program's annual renewal; we re-check every program monthly.
Data and limits
- Every number comes from the MemberVerdict index. Verified, not estimated.
- Programs are open only to members of their sponsoring association; the index compares programs, not offers available to everyone.
- Enrollment, eligibility and final policy terms are handled by each program's administrator and carrier.
- The MV Assistant answers only from the rates, scores and ratings on this site; it cannot change scores or quote rates outside the catalog.
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