If you have life insurance through your job, there is a good chance MetLife is the name on it — the company covers tens of millions of Americans through employer-sponsored plans. But MetLife’s individual life insurance story changed dramatically in recent years. This metlife life insurance review explains what MetLife offers in 2026, what changed with the Brighthouse spinoff, and when to look elsewhere.
What MetLife Is Today
MetLife (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company), founded in 1868, remains one of the world’s largest insurers, with A+ (Superior) from AM Best and strong ratings across agencies. But in 2017, MetLife spun off its U.S. retail life insurance and annuity business into a separate company, Brighthouse Financial. That means the individual term, whole life, and universal life policies MetLife was famous for are now Brighthouse products.
Metlife life insurance review at a Glance
Honest metlife life insurance review for 2026: group and employer coverage focus, individual options, Brighthouse spinoff explained, ratings and alternatives. Below, we break down metlife life insurance review in detail so you can act with confidence.
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What stayed with MetLife: group life insurance (employer-sponsored), dental, disability, and other employee benefits — plus individual products sold in international markets. In the U.S. individual market, “MetLife life insurance” in 2026 overwhelmingly means coverage you get through work.
Group Life Insurance: MetLife’s Core Strength
MetLife is the largest U.S. group life insurer, and its employer plans are genuinely good at what they do:
- Basic group term: employers typically provide 1–2x salary at no cost to you. A $75,000 earner might get $75,000–$150,000 of coverage free.
- Supplemental group term: buy additional coverage through payroll deduction — often up to 5–8x salary — at group rates that are competitive for healthy workers. A 35-year-old might pay $15–$25/month for an extra $250,000.
- Guaranteed issue amounts: within limits (often $250,000–$500,000), no medical exam or health questions — valuable if you have health conditions.
- Portability and conversion: if you leave your job, many MetLife group plans let you port or convert coverage to individual policies, though rates jump significantly.
The catch everyone should understand: group coverage is not really yours. Change jobs, get laid off, or retire, and the coverage typically ends or becomes expensive. It is a supplement, not a foundation.
The Brighthouse Spinoff: What Happened to Individual Policies?
If you bought an individual MetLife policy before 2017, it likely transferred to Brighthouse Financial — your coverage, premiums, and guarantees continued unchanged, just under a new company name. Brighthouse (rated A by AM Best) continues to service those policies and sells its own term and universal life products today.
This matters when researching: reviews of “MetLife whole life” from before 2017 describe products MetLife no longer sells. For new individual coverage in 2026, you are shopping Brighthouse or other carriers — not MetLife directly.
Should You Rely on MetLife Group Coverage?
Group life insurance is an excellent starting point and a terrible entire plan. Take the free basic coverage — it costs nothing. Consider supplemental group coverage if you are uninsurable elsewhere, since guaranteed-issue amounts bypass underwriting. But build your core protection on an individual policy you own — from Banner Life, Protective, Haven Life, or another individual carrier — because:
1. You keep it regardless of employment.
2. Individual underwriting gets you better rates if you are healthy (group rates blend healthy and sick employees).
3. $150,000 of group coverage replaces two years of a $75,000 income — most families need 10–15x income.
A smart structure: max out free group coverage + buy individual term for the real need + consider supplemental group only if the price beats individual quotes (rare for healthy people).
Alternatives for Individual Coverage
Since MetLife does not sell new individual life insurance in the U.S., look to: Banner Life or Protective for cheapest fully underwritten term; Haven Life for digital instant-approval term; Northwestern Mutual, New York Life, or MassMutual for whole life; Mutual of Omaha for senior final expense. All are rated A or better by AM Best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MetLife still sell life insurance?
MetLife still sells group life insurance through employers in the U.S. Its former U.S. individual life insurance business was spun off to Brighthouse Financial in 2017. MetLife continues selling individual life products in international markets.
What is Brighthouse Financial’s relationship to MetLife?
Brighthouse Financial was spun off from MetLife in 2017, taking over MetLife’s U.S. retail life insurance and annuity business. Existing individual policyholders became Brighthouse customers automatically, with coverage terms unchanged.
Is group life insurance through MetLife enough?
Rarely. Employer plans typically provide 1–2x salary, while most families need 10–15x income. Group coverage also ends when you leave the job. Use it as a supplement to an individual policy you own.
Can I keep my MetLife group life insurance if I leave my job?
Many MetLife group plans offer portability (continue group term at higher rates) or conversion (convert to an individual permanent policy without underwriting). Both options cost significantly more than the group rate — get the terms in writing before you need them.
Is MetLife still selling life insurance to individuals?
MetLife spun off its U.S. retail life insurance business into Brighthouse Financial in 2017, so new individual policies are issued under the Brighthouse name. MetLife itself still sells group life insurance through employers and retains its existing policyholder obligations. If you hold an older MetLife policy, your coverage and guarantees remain fully in force — only the servicing company name changed.
Want the full picture on metlife life insurance review? Start with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for the official facts, then work through the related guides below for actionable next steps.
Shopping for metlife life insurance review? Start by comparing quotes from at least three insurers — families who compare save significantly on metlife life insurance review every year.