Birth rate rise among 40-somethings spikes interest in benefits

Birth rates in the U.S. have been declining since 1990, but there’s one population segment that is seeing a rise in births – women age 40 and older.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study that revealed more babies were born to women over 40 than teens for the first time in history.

The increase in births to women in their prime wage-earning years coincides with a spike in interest in disability and paid leave benefits among women in that age group, MetLife found.

Women in their 40s are highly interested in disability and leave benefits, but making full use of these benefits remains a challenge, according to MetLife’s findings. Nearly 9 in 10 women in their 40s (88%) consider disability and paid leave benefits them a must-have — up 12% from 2021. However, men’s interest in these benefits has been relatively flat during the past four years.

Although they exhibit higher levels of stated interest in disability and leave benefits, fewer women own or use those benefits. MetLife found that:

•  99% of women in their 40s say disability or paid leave benefits are of interest or are a must-have.

• 88% of women in their 40s say disability or paid leave benefits are a must-have.

• 66% of women in their 40s say they own disability or paid leave benefits.
• 50% of women in their 40s say they have used disability or paid leave benefits.

Poor understanding, lack of communication

Why do these gaps in interest and usage show up among women in their 40s? MetLife found poor understanding of these benefits as well as lack of employer communication about benefits are behind the gaps.

• 55% of women said they completely understand what is covered and not covered by their benefits (compared to 66% of men).
• 49% of women in their 40s said they completely understand what is covered and not covered by their benefits.
• 57% of women say their employer’s benefits communications helps them understand how their benefits work (compared to 65% of men).
• 53% of women in their 40s say their employer’s benefits communications helps them understand how their benefits work.

Women who own their own benefits are happier

Women in their 40s who own disability or paid leave benefits said they are more likely to be satisfied with those benefits than women in that age group who have those benefits offered through their employer.

• 58% of all women in their 40s are satisfied with their benefits offered through their employer versus 78% of women in their 40s who own disability insurance.

• 57% of all women in their 40s agree that their employers offer a range of benefits that meet their personal and household needs versus 74% of women in their 40s who own disability insurance.

What employers and brokers need to know

Missy Plohr-Memming, MetLife’s senior vice president of group benefits national accounts, told InsuranceNewsNet she believes there is a correlation between the CDC data that shows that women are having more babies in their 40s and the increase in the percentage of women in this age group believing disability and leave benefits are important.

Employers who want to attract and retain women in their 40s need to be aware of the interest in disability and leave benefits, she added.

“Employers are required to offer some of these benefits where mandated by the states,” she said. “And I think that while most employers have always seen the need for absence and disability benefits, they’re seeing an increased need to attract and retain people by offering these benefits, such as short-term disability and paid parental leave.”

Benefits brokers also must be aware of increased interest in disability and leave benefits from women, Plohr-Memming said.

“Although women tell us they view these as must-have benefits, our data shows those benefits are not well understood. Brokers and employers must think about their educational ecosystem around the benefits they offer and the tools and resources they provide people to understand these benefits. Benefits are only valuable if people know how to use them, and knowing how to use them means you must give people the right tools and resources.”

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Susan Rupe is editor in chief, magazine, for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected].