In the News

In the News

MetLife Group Life Expands Face-to-Face Will Preparation Service to Include Power of Attorney and Living Will. New Features Enhance Continuum of Benefits Protecting Families Today and in the Future
MetLife, the largest U.S. life insurer and a leading provider of employee benefits, announced that it has enhanced the will preparation feature available on its Supplemental Term Life, Group Variable Universal Life (GVUL) and Group Universal Life (GUL) plans. This service now includes face-to-face legal services for the preparation of a living will and power of attorney for employees and their spouses. Both features are available immediately for new and existing customers, at no additional cost to the employer or employee.

MetLife Expands Travel Assistance to Make Both Business and Pleasure Trips Easier for Workers
MetLife, the largest U.S. life insurer and a leading provider of employee benefits, announced, in conjunction with its partner AXA Assistance USA, Inc., an enhanced group Travel Assistance program which now includes concierge services and web site access to important pre-trip and travel information. Employees may use Travel Assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home, domestically or internationally, regardless of whether their travel is business or personal. These new features are available immediately for both new business and current customers on renewal of their group policy and include services employees can use as part of their everyday lives.

How Benefit Communications Can Narrow the Gender Gap
In large part, you can measure the success of a group life insurance program by employee participation rates. Not only do you need to consider how many employees participate, but also what amounts of supplemental coverage they buy. Working men and women may have similar financial responsibilities, but research demonstrates that their life insurance ownership amounts are different. This phenomenon isn’t readily explained simply because job positions and incomes may differ because women are even more underinsured than men. To view full article.

Both Men and Women Need Help Matching Policy Features with Personal Expectations
While four in five employees today believe their life insurance coverage is adequate, 45% of working women and 28% of working men with life insurance have not evaluated their needs since obtaining their first policy, potentially leaving themselves and their families financially vulnerable in the event of a premature death. This according to MetLife’s 2011 Insurance Literacy Study.

Events
What Government, Employers, and Individuals Can Do to Strengthen Women's Retirement Security, December 3, 2009

Beth Hirschhorn, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, of MetLife, Inc., presented at WISER’s (Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement) Annual conference entitled Pulling It All Together: What Government, Employers, and Individuals Can Do to Strengthen Women's Retirement Security on December 3rd, 2009. Beth presented in front of experts from women's and aging organizations,

She gave a riveting presentation highlighting the importance of workplace benefits, the need for life insurance especially with women and the potentially devastating long-term financial impact on the surviving spouse due to a pre-mature death. Beth also explored the need to reframe the way individuals view life insurance – that the intention of life insurance is not just to pay for funeral services, but rather to be used for long-term financial needs. Highlighting findings from a MetLife research report titled Three Steps to Closing the Underinsured Gap:  Evaluate, Enhance, Educate, Beth points out that a gender gap with regard to life insurance ownership exists. In general, wives who received life insurance benefits obtained an amount equal to about two years of household income. However, husbands received even less – only one year’s worth of household income. Approximately three-quarters of beneficiaries did not feel that the amount of the life insurance proceeds they received amply met their needs. These findings underscore the fact that many Americans may be underinsured, particularly women.

To learn how employers can maximize the perceived value of their benefits programs and connect with their women workforce, click here.

Like most group life insurance policies, MetLife group policies contain certain exclusions, limitations, and reductions of benefits and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact us for costs and complete details.