Group Universal Life Insurance | MetLife

Group Universal Life Insurance | MetLife  

Group Universal Life Insurance

Helps provide a financially secure future for your loved ones along with a cash fund you can access during your lifetime.1
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Here's what you need to know

Group Universal Life (GUL) Insurance delivers valuable financial security for your family with an additional cash fund feature for you.

 

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?

 

GUL will provide a benefit check to your family in the event you and your income are no longer there to support them. And unlike some other types of life insurance policies, this plan also has a cash fund feature that you can use during your lifetime. Once you’re enrolled, features of GUL include:

 

  • Cost and convenience. Since you are applying for coverage through your employer’s benefit program, you have access to group rates. Along with these rates, you have the convenience of payroll deduction. Payments are automatically taken from your paycheck on a post-tax basis.
  • Coverage for you – You are guaranteed up to 2 times your annual salary (not to exceed $250,000) when you act within your qualifying enrollment period.2
    • Additional coverage is available from 1 to 8 times your annual salary (not to exceed $1,500,000). Evidence of Insurability may be required.
  • Coverage for your spouse – You can request guaranteed $20,000 in coverage for your spouse when you act within your qualifying enrollment period. 2
    • You may elect higher amounts of coverage for your spouse up to $200,000 (not to exceed 2 times your annual salary). Evidence of Insurability may be required.
  • Coverage for your children – You or your spouse must participate in the program to elect coverage for your children. You can request guaranteed $10,000 in coverage for your eligible children when you act within your qualifying enrollment period.2

 

As you plan for your future, one of the best ways to protect your family is to have robust life insurance in place. And because you have the advantage of the cash fund feature, this plan delivers even more value for you and your family.

 

This coverage is a wise way to plan for life’s “what if” situations. What if you leave your job and need to keep your life insurance? What if you get a diagnosis in the future and can’t qualify for more coverage? What if you need a source of cash for something unexpected or something important you want to have?

 

There are 2 ways to use GUL coverage to your advantage:

 

  • Use it to create/strengthen the financial game plan you have in place for your family in the event you (and your income) aren’t there to support their current and future plans.
  • Use the cash fund to grow savings that you can use during your lifetime, with an interest rate guaranteed to never go below 3% (your actual rate may be even higher). This can be an easy way to save for retirement, a down payment on a house, or even your next vacation getaway. You can save extra money automatically at the same time your premiums are paid. Or just send in deposits as you have extra money in your budget. You can borrow against it or withdraw it at any time.3,4

 

The bottom line: having this coverage is a safety net to help your family survive and thrive while they adjust to life without you and your income — while also being a way to grow your savings during your lifetime.

You can enroll anytime during the year after answering health questions. Evidence of Insurability may be required.

 

These are the periods when you may not have to answer medical questions or provide Evidence of Insurability in order to enroll:

 

  • Within your new hire enrollment period
  • During special enrollment periods as offered by your employer and the insurance provider.
  • If you have a qualifying life event (you get married, have a baby, etc.)

 

Check with your employer’s human resources/benefits team for specifics about these timeframes.

These form(s) are in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) format and are available for downloading and printing.

 

Enrollment Form

 

Authorization Form

 

Privacy Notice

 

Beneficiary Change Form

 

Customer Service Request Form

 

Quotation Form

 

Life Insurance Calculator

How It Works

Number one Enroll now icon

You enroll in coverage

Number two Right hand holding coins icon

Start saving money in your cash fund 

Number three Giving money icon

Death benefit is paid upon your passing 

Number four moneybag icon

Family uses money to help pay bills and adjust 

You’re making a plan to ensure your family has solid financial footing.

You purchase Group Universal Life Insurance and start saving.

Your coverage works doubly in your favor: it has a life insurance death benefit and a cash fund benefit that’s tax-deferred and grows at a guaranteed 3% minimum rate.

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 program?

    You can enroll if:

    • You are actively at work on the date your Enrollment Form is signed and coverage begins.
    • You meet the eligibility requirements on the Enrollment Form.
    • Are a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident on U.S. payroll.

     

    You can also enroll these family members:

    • Your spouse up to age 94.
    • Your dependent children up to age 26.

     

    You or your spouse must participate in the program to elect child coverage.

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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.
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  • Do I have to answer health questions or take a medical exam?

    If you do not apply for yourself and your eligible family members during your initial eligibility period or during a special enrollment period, you will be required to answer a more comprehensive health questionnaire and be approved by MetLife before coverage can begin.
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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. 

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

     

    Accelerated Benefit Rider.

    • An advance payment of your life insurance benefits is available if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less (may vary by state).
    • You can request payment up to 80% of your coverage amount, up to a maximum of $500,000.
    • Advance payment permanently reduces the death benefit.
    • Premiums must continue to be paid on the remaining coverage amount after an advanced payment.

     

    Accidental Death Benefit.

    • Additional amount of coverage is paid if death occurs as the result of a covered accident.
    • Provides your beneficiary with an amount equal to the GUL insurance amount.
    • You may elect this optional coverage with your life insurance coverage and/or your spouse’s life insurance coverage at a minimal cost.
    • The Accidental Death Benefit automatically ends upon your retirement, termination or on July 1 following the insured’s 70th birthday, whichever is earliest.

     

    Paid Up Life Insurance.

    • You may purchase a paid-up life insurance policy equal to your insurance coverage at any time.
    • You will then own the coverage for the rest of your life with no additional premium payments.
    • Contact Mercer Voluntary Benefits for information.

     

    MetLife AdvantagesSM.

    • A comprehensive suite of valuable services for support, planning and protection.
    • No costs to participants of the GUL program.
    • Click on the links below to learn more about each of these valuable services.

    Will Preparation Services

    Will Preparation Services FAQs

    Dignity Memorial Funeral Discount and Planning Services

     

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  • Are there other tax advantages to this plan?

    Yes. The money that grows in your plan’s cash fund is “tax-deferred,” which means it’s not subject to tax while it’s growing, only at the time you take any money out.3 Additionally, your family doesn’t pay federal income tax on any life insurance benefit check they receive.

     

    Always check with your financial advisor about anything related to tax status.

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  • Can I get this life insurance in addition to other policies I have? Will it pay in addition to those?

    Yes. The benefit your beneficiary receives is paid in addition to any other coverage you may have.
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  • When would my coverage start?

    If you are applying during one of the qualifying enrollment periods and Evidence of Insurability is not required:

    • Coverage is effective the 1st of the month in which your first payroll deduction begins.

     

    If you are applying outside of the qualifying enrollment periods and Evidence of Insurability is required:

    • Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month after coverage is approved by MetLife.
    • If you enroll during a special enrollment period, coverage begins when stated in the offer.

     

Are you ready To Enroll?

Act now so Group Universal Life Insurance is in place no matter what unfolds in the future.

Do You Need Help?

Our team is ready

M-F 8a-5p CT

Phone Number: 1-800-222-1632
  • Legal Disclaimers

    1To the maturity age specified in your Certificate.

     

    2You and your dependents must meet eligibility requirements and must provide favorable answers to questions to qualify. Any coverage requiring evidence of insurability will take effect on the date MetLife agrees in writing to cover you or your dependents.

     

    3In general, participants may withdraw cash value equal to premiums paid without tax consequences although less favorable rules may apply in the first 15 years. However, if the funding of the certificate exceeds certain limits, it will become a “modified endowment contract” (MEC) and become subject to “earnings first” taxation on withdrawals and loans. An additional 10% penalty for withdrawals and loans taken before age 59½ will also generally apply. We will notify you if a contribution would cause your certificate to become a MEC. Withdrawals and loans reduce the death benefit and cash value, thereby diminishing the ability of the cash value to serve as a source of funding for cost of insurance charges, which increase as you age.

     

    4Earnings within your GUL coverage grow income tax free while the policy stays in force. Please consider your time horizon, tax rates, and the effect of fees and expenses, including any premium expense charge, when evaluating the benefit of GUL tax deferral.  See your Certificate for complete information.

  • Mercer's Role & Compensation