MetLife Insurance Review 2025: Rates & Policies

Choosing the right insurance partner is a crucial decision for securing your financial future and protecting your loved ones. MetLife is one of the largest and most recognized names in the insurance industry, offering a range of products from life insurance and annuities to group benefits. But just because a company is well-known doesn’t automatically mean it’s the perfect fit for everyone’s unique needs and budget.

This article provides an updated review of MetLife’s offerings for 2025, covering their life insurance policies, annuities, long-term care options, and more. However, understanding MetLife is only one piece of the puzzle. At Insurance By Heroes, we believe the best way to find optimal coverage is by comparing options from multiple top-rated carriers. As an independent agency founded by a former first responder and military spouse, and staffed by professionals with backgrounds in public service, we understand the importance of finding reliable protection tailored specifically to you. We work with dozens of insurance companies, including MetLife, to shop the market on your behalf. Throughout this review, remember that while MetLife offers solid products, comparing them against the broader market through an independent agency like Insurance By Heroes is key to ensuring you get the right policy at the best possible price.

About MetLife: A Brief Overview

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, commonly known as MetLife, has a long history dating back to 1868. Over the decades, it has grown into a global provider of insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management. Headquartered in New York City, MetLife serves millions of customers in numerous countries.

Historically, MetLife was known for its diverse portfolio, including individual life insurance, property and casualty insurance (auto and home), and extensive employee benefits programs. In recent years, MetLife has undergone significant strategic shifts. Notably, it spun off a large portion of its U.S. retail life insurance and annuity business into a separate company called Brighthouse Financial in 2017. MetLife now primarily focuses on group benefits (dental, disability, life, vision, accident & health) provided through employers, institutional asset management, and operations in international markets. While they may still service older individual policies and offer certain products, their focus in the U.S. individual market has changed.

MetLife Financial Strength

Financial strength ratings are crucial indicators of an insurer’s ability to meet its long-term obligations, like paying claims. Independent rating agencies evaluate insurers based on factors like capitalization, profitability, and risk management. As of late 2023 / early 2024, MetLife, Inc. and its primary operating subsidiaries generally hold strong financial strength ratings:

• A.M. Best: A+ (Superior)
• Moody’s: Aa3 (High Quality)
• S&P Global Ratings: AA- (Very Strong)
• Fitch Ratings: AA- (Very Strong)

These ratings suggest a high degree of financial stability, which is reassuring for policyholders. However, strong ratings alone don’t guarantee a policy is the best value or fit for your individual circumstances. That’s where comparing multiple carriers becomes essential, a service Insurance By Heroes provides.

MetLife Life Insurance Products

Life insurance provides a crucial financial safety net for your beneficiaries upon your passing. The death benefit can help cover final expenses, replace lost income, pay off debts like mortgages, or fund future goals like education. MetLife has historically offered various types of life insurance, though their current focus, especially for new individual policies in the US, is more limited compared to their past offerings or competitors specializing in the individual market.

MetLife Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period (the “term”), typically 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. If the insured person passes away during the term, the beneficiaries receive the death benefit. If the term expires and the insured is still living, the coverage ends (though some policies offer conversion options). Term life is generally the most affordable type of life insurance, making it popular for covering temporary needs like income replacement during working years or mortgage protection.

Getting a metlife term life insurance quote or a metlife term insurance quote often involved specific term lengths and coverage amounts. While MetLife’s direct-to-consumer offerings might be limited now, they are a major provider of group term life insurance through employers. If you have MetLife term life through work, it’s important to understand the coverage details, limitations (like potential reductions in coverage at certain ages), and whether you can keep the policy if you leave your job (portability).

Comparing metlife term life insurance rates or metlife term insurance rates against other carriers is vital. Group term life through work is often convenient but may not offer sufficient coverage amounts, and the rates might not be the most competitive, especially for healthy individuals. Furthermore, relying solely on employer-sponsored insurance can leave gaps if you change jobs.

Insurance By Heroes can help you assess your group coverage and compare standalone metlife term life quote options (if available directly or through specific channels) with policies from dozens of other leading insurers. We analyze your needs and budget to find the most cost-effective term coverage, ensuring you’re not overpaying and have protection independent of your employment.

MetLife Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance is a type of metlife permanent life insurance designed to provide coverage for your entire life, as long as premiums are paid. Unlike term insurance, it doesn’t expire after a set period. Metlife whole life insurance policies also build cash value over time on a tax-deferred basis. This metlife cash value life insurance component grows according to guarantees set in the policy, and policyholders can borrow against it or make withdrawals (though this can impact the death benefit).

Key features often associated with traditional metlife whole life include:

• Guaranteed death benefit that remains level.
• Guaranteed level premiums that never increase.
• Guaranteed cash value growth.
• Potential for dividends (though not guaranteed).

Dividends represent a share of the insurer’s surplus profits paid out to eligible policyholders (typically those with “participating” policies). While not guaranteed, MetLife has historically paid dividends; researching something like the metlife whole life dividend 2022 might give insight into past performance, but future payouts depend on the company’s ongoing financial results. These dividends can be taken as cash, used to reduce premiums, left to accumulate interest, or used to purchase additional paid-up insurance.

Obtaining a metlife whole life insurance quote involves considering factors like age, health, coverage amount, and desired premium structure. The metlife whole life insurance cost is generally higher than term life insurance due to the lifelong coverage and cash value accumulation feature. Comparing metlife whole life insurance rates is crucial because pricing and policy features can vary significantly between insurers.

A metlife whole life insurance policy, particularly the metlife whole life insurance cash value component, can be a tool for long-term financial planning, estate planning, or supplementing retirement income. However, its suitability depends entirely on individual financial goals, time horizon, and budget.

Is MetLife whole life the best option for you? Maybe. But maybe another carrier offers a similar policy with stronger guarantees, better potential dividend performance, or a lower premium. Insurance By Heroes specializes in these comparisons. We analyze metlife whole life insurance policy details alongside offerings from numerous other companies to find the permanent coverage that truly aligns with your long-term objectives and financial situation. Our team, with its roots in public service, understands the importance of secure, long-range planning.

Comparing MetLife Life Insurance Costs

When seeking metlife life insurance quotes online or directly, you’ll find that metlife life insurance rates, like those of any insurer, depend heavily on:

• Age: Younger applicants generally get lower rates.
• Health: Medical history, current conditions, height/weight, and lifestyle choices (like smoking) significantly impact premiums.
• Type of Policy: Term is cheaper than whole life.
• Coverage Amount: Higher death benefits mean higher premiums.
• Term Length (for term life): Longer terms usually cost more per year.
• Riders: Optional add-ons for extra benefits (e.g., waiver of premium, accidental death) increase the cost.

Therefore, the metlife life insurance cost or metlife life insurance prices are highly individualized. What’s affordable for one person might be expensive for another. This variability underscores why shopping the market is so important. A health condition that results in a high rating (higher premium) at MetLife might be viewed more favorably by another carrier, resulting in significant savings.

Insurance By Heroes leverages its access to dozens of carriers to find these pricing advantages. We don’t just provide a single quote; we provide a comparison, ensuring you understand the landscape and make an informed decision, not just based on one company’s perspective.

MetLife Annuities

Annuities are contracts issued by insurance companies designed primarily to provide income during retirement. You make payments to the insurer (either a lump sum or installments), and in return, the insurer agrees to make payments back to you at a later date (usually during retirement), either for a fixed period or for the rest of your life.

MetLife has historically offered various types of annuities (metlife annuity products), although, similar to their individual life insurance business, much of their U.S. retail annuity operations were moved to Brighthouse Financial. MetLife continues to be a significant player in the institutional annuity market, such as providing pension risk transfer solutions for large companies.

Common types of annuities include:

• Fixed Annuities: Offer a guaranteed interest rate for a set period.
• Variable Annuities: Allow investment in sub-accounts (similar to mutual funds), offering potential for higher growth but also market risk.
• Fixed Indexed Annuities: Offer returns linked to the performance of a market index (like the S&P 500), with protection against downside losses but often with caps on potential gains.
• Income Annuities: Provide guaranteed income payments starting immediately or at a future date.

Annuities can be complex products with various fees, surrender charges, and tax implications. They can be valuable tools for retirement income planning for some individuals but are not suitable for everyone. The guarantees depend on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer.

Given the complexity and the strategic shifts at MetLife regarding individual products, navigating the annuity landscape requires expert guidance. Insurance By Heroes can help you understand if an annuity fits your retirement strategy and, if so, compare options from multiple highly-rated carriers (including potentially relevant MetLife offerings if applicable) to find the contract structure, features, and guarantees that best match your income needs and risk tolerance.

MetLife Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care (LTC) refers to services needed by individuals who cannot perform essential daily activities (like bathing, dressing, eating) due to chronic illness, disability, or cognitive impairment (like Alzheimer’s). LTC services can be provided at home, in assisted living facilities, or in nursing homes, and can be very expensive, potentially depleting retirement savings quickly.

Metlife long term care insurance was once a product offered to individuals. However, like many major insurers, MetLife stopped selling new individual LTC policies several years ago due to the rising costs and unpredictability associated with long-term care claims. They generally continue to service existing policies.

If you have an older MetLife LTC policy, it’s important to understand its benefits, triggers, and limitations. If you are looking for new LTC coverage, MetLife is unlikely to be an option for an individual policy. The market for traditional LTC insurance has shrunk, but options still exist, including:

• Standalone Traditional LTC Policies: Offered by a smaller number of specialized carriers.
• Hybrid Life/LTC Policies: Combine life insurance with an LTC rider, allowing the death benefit to be accelerated for LTC expenses. If LTC is never needed, the death benefit passes to beneficiaries.
• Annuity/LTC Hybrids: Similar concept, using annuity values to pay for LTC.

The LTC insurance market requires careful navigation. Insurance By Heroes stays current on the available options across the industry. While MetLife may not offer new individual policies, we work with the carriers that do. We can help you explore traditional LTC, hybrid life/LTC, and other strategies to plan for potential long-term care costs, ensuring you find a solution that fits your health profile and financial plan.

Other MetLife Products (Group Focus)

While this review focuses on products individuals might seek out, it’s worth noting MetLife’s significant presence in the employer-sponsored benefits market. Many people interact with MetLife through their workplace for:

• Dental Insurance: MetLife is a major provider of group dental plans. Looking back at offerings like metlife dental plans 2022 gives an idea of the comprehensive coverage they often provide through employers, though specific plan details vary widely.
• Disability Insurance (Short-Term and Long-Term): Replacing income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.
• Group Life Insurance: Often offered as a base amount paid by the employer, with options to purchase supplemental coverage.
• Vision Insurance.
• Accident & Health Insurance.

If you have MetLife benefits through work, understanding these policies is important. However, remember that group coverage often has limitations and may not be portable if you leave your job. Assessing your group benefits and supplementing them with individual policies where needed is a key part of comprehensive financial protection.

Managing Your MetLife Policy: E-Services and Policy Lookup

For existing policyholders, managing your metlife insurance policy is typically straightforward. MetLife offers online portals and tools, often referred to as metlife e services or similar names, allowing customers to access policy information, make payments, update beneficiaries, and download forms. Using metlife my policy online access can be convenient for routine tasks.

If you need specific details like your metlife life insurance policy amounts or need assistance with a metlife life insurance policy lookup (perhaps for an older policy or one belonging to a family member), contacting MetLife customer service directly is usually the best approach. They can assist with policy searches and provide official documentation.

While MetLife provides tools for policy management, having an independent agent from Insurance By Heroes as your advocate can be invaluable. We can help you understand the nuances of your existing policies (even if originally purchased elsewhere), review beneficiaries, assess if the coverage still meets your needs, and assist with service requests when necessary. Our commitment is to you, the client, not to any single insurance company.

Getting MetLife Quotes vs. Using Insurance By Heroes

You might be able to get a metlife life insurance quote directly through their website (especially for group supplemental coverage) or specific affiliated channels. You can search for metlife life insurance quotes online to see their current direct offerings. This can give you a baseline understanding of potential metlife life insurance rates and the estimated metlife life insurance cost or metlife life insurance prices for your demographic.

However, getting quotes from only one company provides a very narrow view. Here’s why working with Insurance By Heroes is a smarter approach:

• Access to the Broader Market: We work with dozens of top-rated insurance carriers, not just MetLife. We compare their products, features, and pricing side-by-side. MetLife might have competitive rates for some individuals, but another company might offer significantly better value for your specific age, health profile, or desired coverage type.
• Unbiased Recommendations: As an independent agency, our loyalty is to you, our client. We don’t push one company’s products. Our goal is to find the policy that best serves your interests, whether it’s from MetLife or one of their many competitors.
• Expertise and Personalization: Insurance can be complex. Term vs. whole life? Which riders are worthwhile? How much coverage is enough? Our experienced team takes the time to understand your unique situation, explain your options clearly, and tailor recommendations accordingly. This level of personalized service is hard to find when dealing directly with a large corporation.
• Understanding Unique Needs: Insurance By Heroes was founded by a former first responder and military spouse. Our team includes professionals with similar backgrounds in public service. We have firsthand understanding of the unique insurance needs and challenges faced by first responders, military families, veterans, and others in demanding professions. We know how to navigate underwriting for potentially higher-risk occupations.
• One Point of Contact: Instead of getting quotes from multiple companies yourself, you work with one dedicated agent at Insurance By Heroes who does the shopping for you, saving you time and hassle.

Getting a quote directly from MetLife tells you what MetLife offers. Working with Insurance By Heroes tells you what the *market* offers, ensuring you make a truly informed decision.

Why Insurance By Heroes Is Your Trusted Partner

Insurance By Heroes isn’t just another insurance agency. We were built on a foundation of service and protection, inspired by the dedication of first responders and military personnel. Our founder’s background as a former first responder and military spouse instilled a deep understanding of the importance of reliable protection for families, especially those facing unique risks or uncertainties.

Our team shares this commitment to service. Many of us come from backgrounds in public service, teaching, or healthcare. This shared experience shapes our approach: we prioritize education, transparency, and finding the right solutions for our clients, not just making a sale. We understand the sacrifices made by those who serve our communities and our country, and we strive to provide them, and all our clients, with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their loved ones are protected.

Our independence is your advantage. Because we are not captive to any single insurance company like MetLife, we can offer objective advice. We analyze offerings from across the industry, comparing premiums, policy features, riders, and company financial strength to identify the optimal strategy for your needs and budget. Whether you need term life, whole life, disability insurance, or help navigating complex options like annuities or long-term care planning, we leverage our extensive network of carrier relationships to find the best fit.

Take the Next Step: Get Your Personalized Insurance Comparison

MetLife is a major player in the insurance world with a long history and strong financial ratings. They offer a range of products, particularly in the group benefits space, and continue to service many existing individual policies. However, as we’ve discussed, the insurance landscape is vast, and MetLife’s current focus and product availability might not align perfectly with every individual’s needs. Furthermore, relying on a single quote from any company means potentially missing out on better coverage or more competitive pricing available elsewhere.

Finding the right insurance protection shouldn’t be confusing or overwhelming. At Insurance By Heroes, we simplify the process. Our team of dedicated professionals, grounded in a culture of service, is here to help you navigate your options.

Don’t settle for a single quote. Let us shop the market for you, comparing MetLife against dozens of other top carriers to find the policy that truly fits your life and budget. Whether you’re a first responder, military member, veteran, or simply someone seeking reliable, affordable protection for your family, we’re here to serve you.

Ready to find the best coverage at the best price? Fill out the quote form on this page now. It’s fast, free, and there’s no obligation. Let Insurance By Heroes put our expertise and dedication to work for you. Get your personalized insurance comparison today!