MetLife UK has extended access to its group life end-of-life services to include the parents and in-laws of employees with the benefit.
The life and legacy services are provided via a partnership with Everest and build on the existing service that offers funeral concierge service support to employees and their spouses, partners and dependents.
The provider partnership aims to transform the experience for millions of multigenerational families across the UK “by revolutionising the group life employee benefits market with its unique funeral concierge offering”, MetLife said.
The service supports end of life planning when people are dealing with a bereavement. Advisers from Everest can provide expert, compassionate support to research, plan, and arrange a funeral anywhere in the world. The specialist also provides clear independent research reports on local funeral homes that can be shared with relatives so they can make informed decisions. Further services include comprehensive will writing, mirror wills, living wills and drafting power of attorney.
“Protection is not just about financial wellbeing. Continuous innovation is vital to help people feel looked after and supported,” said Charlotte O’Brien, head of employee benefits at MetLife UK. “That’s never truer than when suffering a bereavement, and in extending our group life and legacy proposition to the parents and in-laws of the insured employee, we aim to provide more family members peace of mind. Those older family members will now know that they can access independent support and guidance if they need to leave their affairs in order, plan for the future, or arrange a funeral.
“This unique benefit should also help encourage people to talk about and plan for the future in a way that’s convenient and practical, rather than in highly emotive or emergency moments. In doing so, we are trying to remove some of the strain that comes with bereavement so individuals can focus on themselves and their families.”
Mark Wood, executive chairman at Everest, said: “Our collaboration with MetLife has delivered valuable support at their time of grief to employees of MetLife’s group life clients. The extent to which our services are valued is reflected in MetLife’s new business and renewal performance. Today we announce the extension of our services to encompass employees’ parents and parents in law.”
