MetLife Introduces New ‘More Accessible and Affordable Product’

Millions of Americans lack even the most basic life insurance to protect their families.

In fact, 41 percent of American adults have no life insurance whatsoever, and 50 percent of American households report they do not have enough life insurance, according to a release. Many believe that life insurance is too difficult to obtain and too expensive - consumers estimate life insurance to cost three times as much as it actually does. To help bridge this gap, MetLife said that it has created a new product, MetLife's Simplified Issue Term Life insurance, which is easy to qualify for, easy to obtain, and easy to afford, enabling more consumers to become insured.

"No matter who you are, you should have access to simple and affordable insurance products," said Manish Bhatt, senior vice president, MetLife. "Getting started with life insurance is the hardest part for many consumers in the U.S. middle market -- comprised of those making $100,000 or less per year - and we're finding that smaller face value policies that are easy to qualify for and obtain, like our Simplified Issue Term product offers, can provide enough coverage to take care of some basic needs for survivors and provide needed protection to many families."

MetLife said that Simplified Issue Term is term life insurance, made available to anyone from age 18 to 70, and can be purchased over the telephone with same-day approval. The product is offered in face amounts from $10,000 to $100,000. No medical exam is necessary; applicants just answer a few simple health questions, yet it is affordable coverage: for example, a $50,000 face value policy for a female aged 43 costs just $30.00 per month. Even better for those concerned about maintaining their life insurance, Simplified Issue Term is what is known as "term to 90" insurance: it automatically renews each year, up to age 90, and it renews without additional underwriting as long as premiums are paid. Premiums increase in five- year increments, based on the insured's age, and annual premiums stay the same for the five-year period.

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