Supplemental Term Life Insurance | MetLife

Supplemental Term Life Insurance | MetLife

Supplemental Term Life Insurance

Supplemental Term Life Insurance gives you a valuable layer of financial security that provides an additional safety net for your family. 
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Here's what you need to know

Supplemental Term Life (STL) insurance delivers valuable, budget-friendly protection designed to supplement any existing coverage and help keep your life insurance on track.

 

You may have heard the saying, “Life insurance isn’t for the living. It’s for the people they leave behind.”

 

The reason to consider purchasing this STL insurance is simple: to strengthen the financial security you already have in place for your family in the event you (and your income) aren’t there to support them.

 

Loved ones may rely on you for living expenses like a mortgage or rent, car loan, credit cards, groceries, and more. Your income is also essential for financing savings for future goals such as college for children and retirement. What happens if your “safety net” isn’t large enough?

 

Once you’re enrolled in this coverage, your family will be protected by an added cushion of life insurance that helps you keep your overall financial security game plan current. Features include:

 

  • Cost and convenience. Since you are applying for coverage through your employer’s benefit program, you have access to competitive group rates. The rates may be lower than what you could find for an individual policy. Along with affordable rates, you have the convenience of payroll deduction. Payments are automatically taken from your paycheck on a post-tax basis.
  • Easy enrollment. Apply within 30 days of your eligibility date.
  • Simplified enrollment privileges. If you are a full-time associate applying when first eligible, you can apply for up to 2 times your basic annual earnings to a maximum of $250,000 by successfully answering a few health questions. If you are a part-time associate applying when first eligible, you can apply for up to $50,000 by successfully answering a few health questions.

Over time your needs change, and you want your life insurance to keep current with those changes. You also want it to keep pace with inflation because it can work to effectively decrease the buying power of your existing coverage.

 

Think of it this way: if a $100,000 policy was enough for your needs 10 years ago, is that same amount enough for your family’s financial needs today?

 

Here are some reasons to update your coverage:

 

  • Do you have any additional dependents (spouse, parent, child) since you last increased your coverage? If so, that means another person to take care of if something happens to you – expenses like food, clothing, medical, education and more.
  • Have you taken on any additional debt – such as a mortgage, second home, car loan, home equity loan, higher credit card balances, etc.? If so, that means more financial obligations for your surviving family to handle if something happens to you.
  • Have any other personal circumstances changed? If you’ve gotten a raise or promotion at work, you may want to update your coverage.

 

One of the best ways to ensure you’re protecting your family adequately is to update your total life insurance coverage sooner rather than later. You don’t want to be in the position of postponing your purchase of more life insurance because you’re in good health today, then get a medical diagnosis down the road that prevents you from getting additional coverage later.

 

In the event your family does need to access funds, supplemental life insurance provides money quickly and doesn’t come with penalties or downsides that tapping into some investments might have.

 

The bottom line: updating your total life insurance picture can help ensure your family’s financial security is on track.

There are 4 periods when you are eligible to enroll for STL insurance while answering minimal questions:

 

  1. Within 30 days of your initial eligibility date.
  2. During special enrollment periods as offered by your employer and the insurance provider.
  3. Within 30 days of marriage.
  4. Within 30 days of the birth or adoption of your first child. Coverage for a newborn will begin when the child is 14 days old; however, the application for coverage could be received immediately following the birth.

 

Keep in mind: You can enroll in this coverage outside of these periods, but you will be required to answer a more comprehensive health questionnaire and submit Evidence of Insurability.

How It Works

Number one Enroll now icon

You enroll in coverage

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Family has added financial security

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Receive a lump-sum payment

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Family uses money to help pay bills and other expenses

You have life insurance, but need additional coverage for a new baby.

You purchase Supplemental Term Life Insurance.

Your family is now in a stronger financial position to handle expenses if something happens and they have to navigate without your income.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Who is the provider?

    MetLife

     

    With over 150 years of experience, MetLife is a leading innovator and a recognized leader in protection planning and retirement & savings solutions. 

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  • Who needs life insurance?

    Everyone needs life insurance.

    Contrary to popular belief, life insurance isn't just for parents. You need life insurance if anyone is financially dependent on you.

     

    You've recently graduated from college.

    You may have significant student loan obligations. If something were to happen to you, your loved ones would most likely be forced to shoulder that debt.

     

    You're the parent of young children.

    You want to make sure they'll be able to keep the same lifestyle and attend college—even if you're not there to see it happen.

     

    Your grown children are on their own.

    Your adult children may rely on you for support and help around the house. If you weren't there for them, your children would need extra money to pay someone to take care of things you've been managing for them.

     

    Your spouse may be depending on your income for retirement.

    But you're not sure your retirement savings is enough to keep up with a rising cost of living if your paycheck stopped. Life insurance can be a smart way to fill the gap.

     

    Like many families, you rely on two incomes to make ends meet.

    You'll need life insurance on both you and your spouse. Even if your spouse stays at home, you should consider life insurance on your spouse to cover the cost of hiring someone to take care of the things your spouse generally handles.

     

    You want to be sure your children can protect their futures, too.

    Most children's life insurance coverage contains an innovative feature that allows them to convert their term life protection to a permanent life insurance plan at a higher premium when they become adults. This ensures that your children can protect their own families—no matter what health problems they may develop.

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  • Who in my family is eligible for this coverage?

    Members of your family who are considered eligible to enroll for coverage include:

    • You – if you are an active associate and have met the necessary eligibility requirements
    • Your spouse – must be legally married
    • Your child(ren) – under age 26

    You must be enrolled in coverage for members of your family to also enroll. 

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  • How much does this coverage cost?

    Your cost is based on several factors, including your age, any special features you select, and the amount of coverage you want. See the Rate Chart in the Forms & resources tab.
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  • Do I have to take a medical exam?

    If you are a full-time associate applying when first eligible, you can apply for up to 2 times your basic annual earnings to a maximum of $250,000 by successfully answering a few health questions.

     

    If you are a part-time associate applying when first eligible, you can apply for up to $50,000 by successfully answering a few health questions.

     

    If you are enrolling for any coverage above those amounts, you will be required to complete Evidence of Insurability.

     

    If you enroll outside of the initial enrollment period, special enrollment periods, or a qualified family status change, you will be required to submit Evidence of Insurability.

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  • What if my employment status changes?

    Good news! If you leave or retire from your current employer, you can continue your coverage without interruption (subject to applicable law and the plan’s terms and conditions). Although payroll deduction will no longer be available, you can opt for other payment methods such as direct bank account deduction, credit card billing or home billing. Higher rates may apply. 
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  • Are there other benefits included with this plan?

    Automatic coverage increase – full-time associates only.

    • Each year on January 1, your coverage may go up based on an increase in your annual pay as of the prior September 1.
    • Coverage increases automatically just once per program year. You must be actively at work on the effective date of your increase to qualify.

     

    Children's conversion privilege.

    • Children who reach the limiting age can convert their coverage to an individual policy with MetLife. 
    • This option is not available for a disabled child. Children's coverage may be continued for a disabled child as a rider to an existing adult Supplemental Life Insurance Plan certificate. The dependent rider may remain in effect as long as the associate or spouse maintains coverage.
    • Please contact Mercer Voluntary Benefits for additional information and to request continued coverage for a disabled child.

     

    MetLife AdvantagesSM.

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  • When would my coverage start?

    Coverage is effective on the date MetLife states in writing, provided you are actively at work on that date.

Are you ready To Enroll?

Act now to put STL insurance in place so it is there for your family no matter what unfolds in the future.

Do You Need Help?

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Phone Number: 1-888-374-6377