MetLife UK expands family access to funeral advice

MetLife UK expands its access to Life and Legacy services provided via its exclusive partnership with Everest. 

Available to MetLife’s Group Life policyholders, the partnership with Everest provides an independent, expert funeral concierge service that offers end-of-life planning and extensive, compassionate funeral support to employees and their families in the event of their death. Already accessible to spouses, partners and dependents of the insured employee, access to Everest’s service is now extended to the employees parents and in-laws.

Alongside Everest, MetLife 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.

Employees and their family members, which now includes spouses, children and parents & in-laws, can now use the Everest services to take control of important end of life planning. Providing the highest level of care in time of bereavement, the Everest Advisors remain on hand to provide expert, compassionate support to research, plan, and arrange a funeral, supporting policyholders every step of the way, anywhere in the world.

Everest experts provide clear independent research reports on local funeral homes (including locations, services, and costs for over 8,000+ providers) that are instantly shareable with relatives to help make informed decisions on funerals loved ones deserve. 

Everest’s hi-tech digital tools, including Comprehensive Will writing, Mirror Wills, Living Wills and drafting Power of Attorney come at no cost, and can be safely stored in Everest’s secure digital lock box, should the time come. This one-stop-shop for all important documents allows families to organise their financial accounts, digital passwords, cherished memories (such as photos and videos), and important contacts all in one place. The pre-planning tools “10 Key decisions” guide and video recording function enables families to record their wishes, including funeral preferences, leaving clear instructions for loved ones should they pass away. 

Charlotte O’Brien, Head of Employee Benefits at MetLife UK, comments: “Protection is not just about financial wellbeing. Continuous innovation is vital to help people feel looked after and supported. 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, comments: “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.”