MetLife: Small Business Employees Deserve a Range of Benefits Choices

2020 was a roller coaster of challenges for small business owners. Navigating the impact of the pandemic meant most had to pivot and, in many cases, make hard choices to survive and succeed. Through all the ups and downs, small business employees were right there with their employers.

The close-knit employer-to-employee relationships are the foundation of American small businesses. According to MetLife’s 18th annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study research in 2020, seven in ten small business employers believe they have a responsibility for their employees’ well-being.¹ And, despite budget concerns, they’re looking for options to enhance their benefits programs.

Their employees are on the same page. Fifty-two percent of employees who work for small businesses say they’re interested in access to a wider array of non-medical benefits through their employer.¹ And, as a result of the COVID crisis, many employees are taking a fresh look at their benefits options, especially how they can help reduce financial stress. Fifty-five percent of small business employees say they’re concerned about their financial health in the wake of the pandemic.¹

MetLife offers a comprehensive range of benefit options for small employers – including those with 10 - 99 employees. From life, disability, dental, and vision options through value-add benefits like health savings and spending accounts, legal plans, and pet insurance, small employers can offer robust benefits programs, similar to larger companies. And the voluntary plan options make enhancing their benefits possible without adding to their benefits budgets.

Take a look at the value-add benefits available from MetLife for small businesses with 10 to 99 employees for HSSAs and legal plans and 51-99 employees for pet insurance, who also offer one or more MetLife core products (Life, Dental, or Disability). Value-add benefits may not be available in all states.

• Health Savings and Spending Accounts (HSSA): With a MetLife Health Savings Account, employees enrolled in the employer’s high-deductible health plan can make their healthcare dollars go further by paying for out-of-pocket expenses with pre-tax dollars.² They’re able to maximize their savings with interest rates two to three times higher than industry averages on MetLife Health Savings Account cash deposits.³ Plus, MetLife makes payments simple with multipurpose debit cards.

• Legal plans: MetLife Legal Plans offer employees peace of mind for a wide range of legal matters, from buying a new home or preparing a will through traffic ticket defense, identity theft defense, and eldercare issues. Participating employees get unlimited use of covered services while typically paying less than $300 a year on average, which is significantly less than the fee for just one hour of an attorney’s time.⁴

• Pet insurance⁹: With over 85 million U.S. families owning a pet,⁵ beloved dogs and cats are part of the family for many employees. MetLife makes it easy for small businesses with 51-99 employees to offer a discounted pet insurance program.⁶ With pet insurance from MetLife, employees receive a 5 percent group discount,⁷ plus straightforward pricing, easy three-step enrollment, and most claims processed within ten days.⁸

Give your small business clients and their employees access to more benefits options and protection from one trusted carrier. Click here to learn more about MetLife’s comprehensive product portfolio and exciting bundling options that are designed to work for small businesses.

For questions or help with a MetLife quote, please contact a member of your B&P Sales Team - 888.722.3373.

Footnotes

1 Small Business Focus: The Work-Life Trends Shaping the Next Normal, 18th Annual MetLife U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study, 2020.

2 An HSA is an account owned by the employee and is not sponsored by the employer. The employer does, however, sponsor a high deductible health plan and allows its employees to make pre-tax salary reduction contributions to the HSA.

3 MetLife Internal Analysis (last updated April 2019). Cash savings balances in an HSA earn interest through a funding agreement issued to the custodian bank, are not FDIC insured, and are subject to the financial strength and claims paying ability of Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company. The interest rates earned on the assets allocated to the funding agreement option are declared to the custodian and are guaranteed for at least 12 months from the date the interest rate is declared. There may be different interest rates applicable to different allocations depending upon when the allocation was made to the funding agreement option. The funding agreement option provides the investor with a stable rate of return over time. Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company may earn a spread from assets allocated to the funding agreement option available under HSAs.

4 Based on the average monthly cost of the legal plan ($24/month) compared to the average hourly rate for an attorney of $370.00/hour based on years of legal experience, National Law Journal and ALM Legal Intelligence, Survey of Law Firm Economics (2018).

5 According to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA).

6 Pet Insurance Discount Program offer only applies to businesses with 51-99 employees. Value-add benefits are available to eligible small businesses that also offer one or more MetLife core products (Life, Dental, or Disability) and may not be available in all states.  A Pet Insurance quote is automatically included at renewal for clients with 51-99 employees with core coverage.

7 This discount is not available in Tennessee. This discount is only available for individuals who access the policy through a group (5% for Groups 51-99 lives).

8 80% of claims are processed within 10 days or less.

9 Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”) is the insurance carrier for this product. PetFirst Healthcare, LLC, a MetLife company, is the policy administrator authorized to offer and administer pet insurance policies. Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company, is headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact PetFirst Healthcare, LLC. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies issued by IAIC contain certain exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force.