What would happen to your family if you were no longer there to provide for them? Do you have enough life insurance for them to keep their home, pay all the monthly bills, afford college for your children, and other future expenses?
With Group Universal Life Insurance you can replace the worrying about your family’s financial security. Group Universal Life Insurance allows you to create a "safety net" for your family and help provide the resources for them to carry on. Features of Group Universal Life Insurance include:
Answers about the plan, including eligibility, options, enrollment, customer service and more.
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 small 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.
But your 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/domestic partner 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/domestic partner. Even if your spouse/domestic partner stays at home, you should consider life insurance on your spouse/domestic partner to cover the cost of hiring someone to take care of the things your spouse/domestic partner 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.
Who is the provider?
With 150 years of experience, the MetLife companies are a leading innovator and a recognized leader in protection planning and retirement and savings solutions around the world.
Who is eligible?
You can enroll if you:
Coverage is also available for these family members:
When can I enroll?
You can enroll anytime!
At certain times you may be allowed to enroll in the Group Universal Life plan by not completing as many questions. These times include:
Do I have to meet any medical requirements?
If you do not apply for yourself and your eligible family members during your initial eligibility date or during a special enrollment period, you will be required to answer a more comprehensive health questionnaire and be approved by the insurance company before coverage can begin.
How much will 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. Also, you may be eligible for a premium discount if you do not use tobacco. See the rate chart below for rate information.
Age * |
Non-Smoker Rates |
Smoker Rates |
< 30 |
$0.47 |
$0.67 |
30 - 34 |
$0.56 |
$0.86 |
35 - 39 |
$0.74 |
$1.14 |
40 - 44 |
$0.84 |
$1.44 |
45 - 49 |
$1.21 |
$2.11 |
50 - 54 |
$2.14 |
$3.70 |
55 - 59 |
$3.53 |
$6.80 |
60 - 64 |
$5.39 |
$8.60 |
65 - 69 |
$10.23 |
$16.40 |
70 - 74 |
$16.65 |
$26.60 |
75 - 79 |
$30.56 |
$55.36 |
80 - 84 |
$49.41 |
$87.38 |
85 - 89 |
$80.06 |
$141.83 |
90 - 94 |
$85.74 |
$141.83 |
* The age of an employee or spouse is his/her age on the last day of his/her taxable year.
Child Rate: $1.00 for each $5,000 increment of child coverage - covers all eligible children, regardless of the number of children in the family.
Monthly rates per $10,000 of coverage and are effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024.
Dependent children's coverage: $1 per $10,000 covers all eligible children, regardless of the number of children in your family.
What if my employment status changes?
When you leave or retire from your current employer, you can continue your coverage without interruption as long as the group policy is in effect, subject to applicable law and the policies' terms and conditions. Although payroll deduction will no longer be available if you retire or leave your company, you can opt for other payment methods such as direct checking or bank account deduction, credit card billing or home billing. You will be billed directly for your cost of coverage at portable rates. Portable rates may be higher.
Why choose Group Universal Life over other life plans?
Perhaps the best advantage of Group Universal Life Insurance is the availability of a special interest- bearing, tax deferred account. Accumulated cash value, if any, can be withdrawn tax-free up to an amount equal to your cost basis. Tax-favored loans and withdrawals may be available.* You can access the money whenever you want and for whatever you want. You can also take a loan against the value in your cash fund and continue to earn interest on the borrowed amount. Minimum withdrawal amount is $200.
* In 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.
Are there other benefits to this plan?
In addition to the advantages of this plan over other life insurance options, this plan offers even more special benefits:
Note: Receipt of accelerated benefits may also affect you or your family’s eligibility for public assistance programs. The accelerated life insurance benefits offered under your certificate are intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If the accelerated benefits qualify for such favorable treatment, they will be excludable from your income and not subject to federal taxation. Tax laws relating to accelerated benefits are complex. You are advised to consult with a qualified tax advisor about circumstances under which you could receive accelerated benefits excludable from income under federal tax law (may vary by state).
MetLife Advantages is a comprehensive suite of meaningful services and benefits available at no cost to participants of the GUL program. Click on the links below to learn more about each of these valuable services.
When your child is no longer an eligible dependent, he or she can apply for an increase in coverage up to 5 times the amount of the children's rider not to exceed $50,000, as long as the group policy is still in effect. The child will be issued a Group Universal Life certificate and will be eligible to contribute to a cash fund. The request for coverage must be made by writing to Mercer Voluntary Benefits within 31 days of the date the child is no longer an eligible dependent.
A Children’s Portability Privilege is not available for a disabled child. Children's coverage may be continued for a disabled child as a rider to the existing adult Group Universal Life certificate. The dependent rider may remain in effect as long as the employee or spouse/domestic
partner maintains coverage. Please contact Mercer Voluntary Benefits to request continued coverage for a disabled child.
When would my coverage start?
If evidence of good health is required...
Coverage is effective on the first of the month after coverage is approved by MetLife.
If evidence of good health is not required...
Coverage is effective the first day of the month in which your first payroll deduction begins.
1You and your dependents must meet eligibility requirements. If you and/or your spouse/domestic partner exceed the guaranteed acceptance coverage amounts or enroll after the new hire enrollment period, you must complete a Statement of Health form. Child coverage is available as long as you or your spouse/domestic partner participates in the program.
2Domestic Partner includes your registered Domestic Partner if you and your Domestic Partner are registered as domestic partners, civil union partners or reciprocal beneficiaries with a government agency or office where such registration is available. It also includes your non-registered Domestic Partner whom you have an insurable interest. By enrolling such Domestic Partner for coverage and signing this enrollment form, you are attesting to your insurable interest.
These form(s) are in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) format and are available for downloading and printing.
Ongoing App (Enrollment Form) |
Privacy Notice – MetLife |
GLBA Privacy Form |
Beneficiary Change Form |
Customer Service Request Form |
Quotation Form |