Is MetLife Insurance Good? A Comprehensive Review

Choosing an insurance company is a big decision. You want a provider that’s trustworthy, financially stable, and offers the coverage you need. MetLife, also known as Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, has been in operation since 1868, making it one of the oldest and largest insurers in the United States.

Nowadays, MetLife remains a major player, but is it a good choice for your insurance needs? This article dives into MetLife’s financial strength, customer service, product offerings, claims process, and how it compares to competitors to help you decide.

1. Financial Strength and Stability

When selecting an insurance company, financial strength is a key consideration. You need to know the company can pay claims when the time comes. MetLife shines in this area. Its principal subsidiaries hold top ratings from major credit agencies:

• A.M. Best: A+ (Superior) means MetLife is among the best for financial stability (MetLife Ratings).
• Fitch Ratings: AA- (Very Strong) shows a high ability to meet obligations.
• Moody’s: Aa3 (High Quality) indicates strong financial health.
• Standard & Poor’s: AA- (Very Strong) confirms reliability.

These ratings indicate that MetLife is well-positioned to handle claims and maintain stability in the long term. Additionally, MetLife, Inc. has solid credit ratings for its securities, including an A rating for senior unsecured debt from Standard & Poor’s and an A3 rating from Moody’s. This financial strength gives policyholders confidence that MetLife can deliver when it matters most.

2. Customer Service and Reviews

Customer service is just as important as financial stability. You want a company that’s easy to work with, especially during stressful times like filing a claim. MetLife’s customer service reviews in 2025 are mixed, with both positive and negative feedback.

Positive Feedback

Some customers praise MetLife for its efficiency and helpfulness. For example, a protection adviser noted that every claim they recommended was paid out in full, providing peace of mind (Trustpilot Reviews). Another review from the UK highlighted MetLife’s quick and helpful claims process (Trustpilot UK). WalletHub gives MetLife a 2.6/5 rating, noting good customer service in some areas and a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) score of 1.00, meaning an average number of complaints (WalletHub Review).

Negative Feedback

However, many customers report issues. Common complaints include poor communication, long wait times, and unhelpful or rude staff. For instance:

• A reviewer described trying to pay for a policy while their mother was in the ICU, finding the representatives to be loud, rude, and unhelpful (Trustpilot Reviews).
• On ConsumerAffairs, a customer called their experience after a family member’s death a “nightmare,” citing delays and lack of empathy (ConsumerAffairs Reviews).
• Trustpilot displays a TrustScore of 1.5/5, based on 629 reviews, with numerous complaints about rude service and issues with claim handling (Trustpilot Reviews).
• The Better Business Bureau reports issues such as delays in disability payments, with one customer noting that they received no response from their case manager for weeks (BBB Reviews).

The Zebra rates MetLife 3.0/5, calling it a “decent” insurer but noting areas for improvement (The Zebra Review). Bankrate mentions a 2023 NAIC complaint index of 0.86 for group life policies, slightly below the industry average, suggesting fewer complaints than expected for MetLife’s size (Bankrate Review).

What This Means

Customer experiences vary widely. While some find MetLife reliable, others encounter challenges, particularly during the claims process. The low TrustScore and negative reviews highlight potential issues, though the NAIC score suggests complaints are not excessive for MetLife’s size. If customer service is a top priority, these mixed reviews suggest exploring other options or speaking with current policyholders.

3. Insurance Products Offered

MetLife offers a wide range of insurance products, with a focus on life, health, and employee benefits. Here’s a breakdown of their key offerings:

• Life Insurance: Includes term life (temporary coverage for 10, 20, or 30 years), whole life (lifelong coverage with cash value), and universal life (flexible coverage with investment options). Available individually or through employer group plans (MetLife Life Insurance).
• Dental Insurance: Covers routine checkups, cleanings, fillings, and root canals. MetLife has an extensive network of dentists for convenience (MetLife Dental).
• Vision Insurance: Covers eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, and sometimes LASIK surgery.
• Disability Insurance: Offers short-term and long-term options to replace income if you can’t work due to illness or injury (MetLife Benefits).
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Helps pay for nursing homes or home health care, which regular health insurance doesn’t cover.
• Pet Insurance: Covers accidents and illnesses for dogs, cats, and select exotic pets, with optional wellness add-ons available. Sample monthly premiums are around $51.84 for dogs and $23.17 for cats (U.S. News Pet Insurance).
• Other Products: Includes accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, critical illness insurance, and legal insurance for access to lawyers (MetLife Insurance).

Important Note

MetLife no longer offers auto or homeowners insurance directly. These were sold to Farmers Insurance in April 2021. If you need car or home coverage, you’ll work with Farmers GroupSelectSM, which offers 24/7 claims service (Bankrate Review).

Group Plans

MetLife is a leader in group insurance for employers, offering a range of benefits including life, disability, dental, vision, and more. This makes it a great option if your workplace provides MetLife benefits (MetLife Employee Benefits).

4. Claims Process

Filing a claim with MetLife is generally straightforward; however, the experience depends on the type of claim and the specific circumstances. For life insurance claims, you typically need to submit a death certificate and possibly additional documents. MetLife aims to process these claims within a few weeks; however, some customers report experiencing delays.

For disability, health, or pet insurance claims, the process may require submission of medical records or independent medical examinations. While some customers find claims handled quickly, others face issues like:

• Delays in processing, as noted in reviews about maternity leave claims (BBB Reviews).
• Poor communication, with multiple staff giving conflicting answers (ConsumerAffairs Reviews).

To avoid problems, review your policy carefully to understand coverage and requirements. Contacting MetLife’s customer service at (800) 638-5433 can help clarify the process (MetLife Contact).

5. Comparisons with Competitors

To see if MetLife is a good fit, let’s compare it to other major insurers:

• Financial Strength: MetLife’s ratings match top competitors like Prudential and Aflac, ensuring reliability.
• Product Offerings: MetLife’s range is broad, similar to UnitedHealthcare. Aflac, on the other hand, focuses on supplemental insurance, while Prudential emphasizes life insurance and retirement planning.
• Customer Service: MetLife’s mixed reviews are common among large insurers, but Aflac and State Farm often score higher in customer satisfaction.
• Innovation: MetLife’s mobile app and digital tools, such as the MetLife Pet app for vet chats, demonstrate a significant investment in technology (U.S. News Pet Insurance).

MetLife stands out for its group benefits and financial strength, but may lag behind some competitors in customer service.

6. Conclusion

MetLife is a financially strong insurance company offering a wide range of products; however, its customer service has received mixed reviews, with some customers reporting poor experiences, particularly during the claims process. Potential policyholders should consider these factors when making their decision.