- MetLife's Focus on Employer-Sponsored Coverage: MetLife mainly provides group life insurance through employers since it no longer sells individual policies, focusing on employer-sponsored offerings with solid financial backing.
- Strengths of MetLife: MetLife boasts top-tier financial ratings, guaranteed issue options, simplified enrollment, and strong stability, making it a reliable choice for employer-based coverage.
- Weaknesses of MetLife: Customer service quality varies, and its large scale can lead to bureaucratic frustrations; it also no longer offers personal life policies outside of employer plans.
- Cost and Coverage Details: Group rates are competitive due to pooled risk, with basic term coverage around $27/month for a 35-year-old, and additional options like universal life available through employers.
- Claims and Customer Support Challenges: While many claims are processed smoothly, experiences can differ significantly, with some beneficiaries facing delays and service inconsistencies.
MetLife Life Insurance at a Glance
If you’ve ever worked a corporate job with a benefits package, you’ve come across MetLife’s little Snoopy mascot in your enrollment materials. This insurance giant has been around since 1868, making it one of the oldest and most recognized names in the industry. But here’s the catch that trips up a lot of people: MetLife doesn’t really sell life insurance to individuals anymore. The company spun off its retail life insurance business to Brighthouse Financial back in 2017, and now focuses almost exclusively on employer-sponsored group coverage.
Overall, we rated MetLife with a score of 8.5/10, which is a solid score, but not high enough to earn a spot on our list of the best life insurance companies. That doesn’t mean it’s not right for your situation. Read on to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of MetLife life insurance.
Who MetLife Life Insurance Is Best For
MetLife works best for employees whose companies offer it as part of their benefits package. If you’re getting basic group term coverage through work and want something straightforward with a financially rock-solid company behind it, MetLife delivers. The employer subsidy on group plans typically makes premiums competitive, and the simplified underwriting means you can get covered quickly without medical exams for standard coverage amounts. However, if you’re shopping for individual coverage outside of an employer plan, you’ll need to look elsewhere since MetLife doesn’t sell those policies anymore.
Key Strengths
MetLife earns serious points for financial muscle. The company holds top-tier ratings from every major agency, and that kind of stability matters when you’re trusting someone to pay out a claim decades from now. The employer-based model also comes with some genuinely useful perks like guaranteed issue options and simplified enrollment. If your company offers MetLife, you can often get coverage without jumping through medical exam hoops.
Key Weaknesses
Customer service quality varies wildly depending on who you talk to and what you need. Routine stuff like checking your coverage or updating a beneficiary tends to go smoothly through the app or website. But if you run into anything complicated, prepare for potential frustration. The company’s massive scale sometimes creates a bureaucratic maze that leaves policyholders feeling like they’re talking to different departments that don’t communicate with each other.
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MetLife Affordability
Pricing through MetLife depends heavily on your specific employer’s arrangement with the company. That said, group life insurance rates through MetLife generally run competitively when compared to the broader market, largely because employers often pick up some of the tab.
For context on what you might expect, term life through MetLife typically falls below what you’d pay going solo to another carrier. A healthy 35-year-old might see 15-year term rates around $27 monthly for $250,000 in coverage, scaling up to roughly $148 monthly for $1 million on a 30-year term. Whole life coverage costs significantly more at around $210 monthly for $250,000 in coverage.
MetLife’s group rates benefit from what’s called pooled risk, meaning the cost spreads across your entire company rather than being calculated purely on your individual health profile. This arrangement particularly helps people who might face higher premiums on the individual market due to health conditions or lifestyle factors.
Discount opportunities are somewhat limited since MetLife operates through employers rather than selling directly. However, combining multiple MetLife products through your employer (dental, vision, disability) may help reduce overall costs. Most policies don’t require extra payment for the accelerated death benefit rider, which lets you access funds early if diagnosed with a terminal illness.
MetLife Coverage Options
MetLife structures its life insurance offerings around employer needs, providing several flavors of term and permanent coverage.
Basic Term Life typically comes employer-funded and provides a foundation of protection, usually calculated as a multiple of your salary or a flat amount. Coverage amounts vary by employer but can range from $10,000 up to $2 million. Term lengths generally span 10, 15, 20, or 30 years, though your specific options depend on your company’s plan.
Supplemental Term Life lets you buy additional coverage beyond what your employer provides, up to $500,000 in most cases. This option requires you to pay the premiums yourself but often comes with favorable group rates. Dependent Term Life extends similar protection to spouses and children.
For permanent coverage, MetLife offers Group Universal Life and Group Variable Universal Life policies. The universal option provides flexibility to adjust your death benefit and premiums over time while building cash value. The variable version adds an investment component, allowing you to direct funds into various investment options. These permanent products work well for business succession planning or anyone wanting lifelong coverage.
One notable feature is conversion privileges. When you leave your job, you can typically convert group term coverage to an individual permanent policy without proving insurability. This gets processed through Brighthouse Financial rather than MetLife directly.
MetLife also bundles living benefits with many policies. The accelerated death benefit lets you tap into your coverage early if diagnosed with a terminal illness, which can help cover medical expenses and other covered financial needs during a difficult time.
MetLife Reliability
When it comes to financial stability, MetLife stands among the strongest insurers in the world. AM Best gives the company an A+ Superior rating, reflecting excellent balance sheet strength and consistent operating performance. Standard & Poor’s rates MetLife AA- (Very Strong), while Moody’s assigns an Aa3 (High Quality), and Fitch also rates it AA- (Very Strong). All four agencies maintain stable outlooks for the company.
These ratings translate to practical confidence that MetLife can pay claims today, tomorrow, and decades into the future. The company manages over $500 billion in assets and serves roughly 90 million customers across more than 40 countries. That kind of scale provides a substantial financial cushion even during economic downturns.
On the complaint front, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners assigns MetLife a complaint index of 0.86 for group life insurance, which actually falls below the industry baseline of 1.00. This means MetLife receives fewer complaints relative to its market share than the typical insurer. However, individual life insurance complaints have historically run higher, though this matters less now that MetLife has shifted away from that market.
The company has operated continuously for 157 years, surviving world wars, the Great Depression, the 2008 financial crisis, and countless economic ups and downs. That track record of resilience adds another layer of confidence for policyholders who need their coverage to outlast whatever life throws at them.
MetLife Customer Service
Customer service at MetLife produces decidedly mixed results depending on what you need and how you try to get it.
Phone support operates Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern for group life claims. Individual life insurance questions go through a separate line available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern at 1-800-638-5000. Wait times vary considerably based on call volume and the complexity of your issue.
The MetLife US mobile app earns decent marks with a 4.18 out of 5 rating on iOS, based on about 22,000 reviews, while Android users rate it 3.53 out of 5 from approximately 7,700 reviews. The app lets you view coverage details, access digital ID cards, check claim status, and manage basic account functions. Some users report occasional sync issues or login difficulties, but the core functionality generally works as expected.
MetLife’s website provides straightforward access to policy information, claim filing, and educational resources. Online account management covers the basics adequately, and chat support is available for certain inquiries.
Third-party ratings tell a more complicated story. The Better Business Bureau lists MetLife without accreditation, and customer reviews on that platform skew negative. Trustpilot shows mixed experiences with an average of around 1.3 stars, though many complaints focus on dental and pet insurance rather than life coverage. J.D. Power’s 2022 Group Life Insurance Study gave MetLife a score of 806 out of 1,000, above the industry average of 797. The 2023 Individual Life Insurance Study showed a score of 802, also above the 790 industry average. However, MetLife didn’t crack the top three performers in the 2024 study.
MetLife Claims Process
Filing a life insurance claim with MetLife follows a relatively straightforward process, though experiences vary based on claim complexity.
Beneficiaries can start by downloading a claim kit from MetLife’s website, which guides them through required documentation. The company accepts claims via mail, fax, email, or online submission, depending on the policy type. For policies under $100,000, a copy of the death certificate suffices. Larger policies require a certified original death certificate.
MetLife commits to reviewing claims within five business days of receiving complete documentation. If additional information is needed, the company responds within 10 business days to request it. Once approved, beneficiaries can receive funds through either a Total Control Account (an interest-bearing settlement account with check-writing privileges) or a check mailed within five business days.
The Total Control Account option provides flexibility for beneficiaries who aren’t ready to make immediate financial decisions. There are no maintenance fees, and funds earn interest starting from day one. This can provide breathing room during an emotionally difficult time.
Group life claims go through a slightly different process, with customer service available Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern, and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Beneficiaries can opt into electronic status updates via text or email, which helps reduce uncertainty during the waiting period.
Customer experiences with claims vary. Many beneficiaries report smooth, timely payments without complications. Others describe frustrating delays, multiple requests for the same documents, or difficulty reaching helpful representatives. Complex claims involving estate issues, multiple beneficiaries, or deaths outside the United States tend to generate more friction.
MetLife Application Process
Applying for MetLife life insurance looks quite different from the traditional individual insurance experience, primarily because coverage comes through your employer.
Most employees can enroll during their company’s open enrollment period or within 30 days of being hired. The process typically happens through an online portal or paper forms provided by your HR department. Basic coverage often enrolls automatically, with employees simply needing to designate beneficiaries.
Guaranteed issue provisions represent a major advantage of the group model. Many employers negotiate coverage amounts that employees can obtain without answering health questions or undergoing medical exams. This typically applies to both basic employer-paid coverage and a set amount of supplemental coverage. If you want coverage above the guaranteed issue limit, you’ll need to complete a health questionnaire called Evidence of Insurability.
Approval for guaranteed issue amounts happens essentially immediately upon enrollment. Coverage requiring medical underwriting takes longer, generally 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how quickly the health information review proceeds. MetLife doesn’t use accelerated underwriting technology as aggressively as some individual carriers, so expect a more traditional timeline for medically underwritten amounts.
MetLife provides online calculators and educational resources to help employees determine appropriate coverage amounts. The company’s website includes tools for estimating needs based on income, debts, and family situation.
Pros & Cons of MetLife
Getting the full picture means weighing what MetLife does well against its limitations.
Pros
MetLife’s financial strength ratings rank among the best in the industry, providing strong confidence in the company’s ability to pay claims for decades to come. The group insurance model offers simplified enrollment with guaranteed issue options that make coverage accessible regardless of health conditions. Accelerated death benefit riders are included at no extra cost, providing access to funds if you face a terminal illness diagnosis. The MetLife Advantages bundle adds valuable extras like grief counseling, will preparation services, and the Total Control Account for beneficiaries. Finally, the portability features and conversion options give you flexibility if you leave your employer.
Cons
MetLife no longer sells individual life insurance policies, limiting your options if you don’t have access through an employer. Customer service quality remains inconsistent, with bureaucratic frustrations common for anything beyond routine inquiries. The company’s massive scale can create a feeling of anonymity rather than personalized attention. Coverage customization depends heavily on what your specific employer negotiated, restricting your choices. Online reviews and BBB complaints suggest room for improvement in customer satisfaction, though many complaints relate to other MetLife products beyond life insurance.
Our Verdict & Rating for MetLife
MetLife occupies an interesting position in the life insurance market. The company brings unquestionable financial strength and over 150 years of experience in paying claims. For employees who have access to MetLife through work, the combination of competitive group rates, simplified underwriting, and solid coverage options makes it a reasonable choice for building a foundation of protection.
However, the customer experience side leaves room for improvement. The disconnect between MetLife’s corporate heft and individual policyholder attention becomes apparent when you need help with anything complicated. The company clearly optimizes for efficiency at scale rather than personalized service.
The biggest practical limitation is simply that you can’t buy MetLife life insurance on your own anymore. The 2017 spinoff of retail operations to Brighthouse Financial means individual shoppers need to look elsewhere. If your employer doesn’t offer MetLife, it’s not an option for you.
Who Should Consider MetLife
MetLife makes sense for employees whose companies offer it as part of their benefits package, particularly those who want basic coverage without medical exams or who have health conditions that might complicate individual insurance applications. The financial stability and established claims-paying track record provide peace of mind for long-term coverage. If your employer subsidizes premiums, the value proposition improves significantly.
Who Should Consider Another Provider
If you’re shopping for individual life insurance, MetLife isn’t available to you. Look at carriers like Nationwide, MassMutual, or State Farm that still sell directly to consumers. If customer service quality ranks high on your priority list, you may want to explore smaller carriers known for more personalized attention. And if you need specialized products like final expense insurance or particularly flexible underwriting, other companies offer better fits.
Methodology
This assessment evaluates MetLife across five weighted categories, including life insurance rates, reflecting what matters most to life insurance buyers.
- Financial Stability: 20% — Assessing partner carrier ratings from AM Best, S&P, and Moody’s, plus NAIC complaint data
- Coverage Options: 10% — Evaluating policy types, coverage amounts, term lengths, and flexibility
- Affordability & Value: 30% — Comparing premiums against competitors and considering overall value proposition
- Claims Process: 20% — Reviewing settlement timelines, denial rates, and customer claims experiences
- Customer Service: 20% — Analyzing support availability, response quality, and third-party satisfaction ratings
How MetLife Insurance Scored
- Financial Stability: 9.0/10
- Coverage Options: 7.0/10
- Affordability & Value: 7.0/10
- Claims Process: 7.0/10
- Customer Service: 6.0/10
- Overall Score: 8.5
We reviewed over two dozen life insurance companies to assemble our ratings. You can see all the companies we reviewed here: Life Insurance Company Reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to your questions about MetLife life insurance.
MetLife spun off its retail life insurance business to Brighthouse Financial in 2017, focusing mainly on employer-sponsored group coverage instead of direct-to-consumer policies.
Yes, if your employer offers MetLife as part of your benefits, it’s a solid option because of its strong financial stability, easy enrollment options, and competitive group rates.
Group rates through MetLife are generally competitive, often lower than individual policies, especially because your employer subsidizes some costs, making it a cost-effective choice for employees.
MetLife offers basic employer-funded term life, supplemental term life, dependent life, and permanent options like universal and variable universal life policies tailored to employer needs.
MetLife is highly rated for financial stability with strong ratings from agencies like A+ from AM Best, and although customer service can be inconsistent with some frustration reported, the company has a long history of stable operations and claim payments.
