Minimum Participation in VIP2 Multi-Life Discount Program Reduced From Ten to Three Approved Lives

Westport, CT – June 14, 2006 – MetLife today announced an enhanced long-term care insurance program specifically designed for small businesses. This program reduces the participation requirement for employer groups to qualify for a discount program from ten to three approved lives. The VIP2 Multi-Life Discount Program can be offered to small employers as a voluntary or employer paid benefits solution.

"The reduction in the minimum participation requirement provides small employers with the opportunity to offer more benefit options to their employees in a cost-effective manner," said Scott Beck, national director, MetLife Long-Term Care. "According to the MetLife Employee Benefits Trend Study, benefits are growing in importance as a key recruitment and retention tool, so this enhancement helps very small employers better compete with their larger counterparts for talented workers."

MetLife’s VIP2 Multi-Life Discount Program offers:
• An attractive employee benefit with flexible options offering discounted rates of either 5 or 10 percent.
• Tax deductible premiums for most employer paid contributions.
• Employees, retirees and eligible family members can count towards the participation requirement.
• Eligible family members can receive the same discounted rates as employees and retirees.
• Liberalized underwriting.
• Payroll deduction.

"With an estimated one in ten American employees acting as working caregivers, employers with only three staff members are particularly vulnerable to workplace absences due to caregiving responsibilities," said Beck. "An affordable long-term care insurance program for employees can help minimize disruptions and increase productivity for small businesses."

According to a 2005 LIMRA study, MetLife leads the long-term care insurance industry with 32 percent of new multi-life sales in 2005, based on annualized premiums. The VIP2 Multi-Life Discount Program with reduced minimum participation is currently available in all states, except New York and New Jersey. The program enhancement demonstrates MetLife’s commitment to the long-term care insurance industry and to providing comprehensive employee benefit solutions in the small business sector.

MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of individual and institutional customers throughout the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. offers life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowner’s insurance and retail banking services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.