While having life insurance provided by your employer is a great benefit, it’s possible that it may not be enough to adequately provide for your family. Additional life insurance can give your family greater financial security if you are no longer here to earn a paycheck.

Everyone is different, but you may need more than you have now. The insurance you need changes as your life changes — for example, getting married, starting a family or buying a home might change the coverage you need. Many people are surprised to learn that they don’t have enough life insurance to cover the many expenses their loved ones may face.

It’s simple to determine the amount of coverage you need now:
Go to www.metlife.com/lifeneeds to calculate how much life insurance may be right for you.

It may be less expensive than you think. MetLife’s group life insurance plans can be an economical way for you to provide for your family with competitive² group rates and a wide range of coverage options to choose from. Exact rates can be found in the enrollment materials provided by your employer.

Premiums are conveniently paid through payroll deduction, so you don’t have to worry about writing a check or missing a payment.

• You get competitive² group rates and a wide range of coverage options to choose from.
• Proceeds are generally income tax free and can be paid to your beneficiary in a lump-sum payment. 
• You have the convenience of having premiums automatically deducted from your paycheck

With portability, you can take your life insurance benefits with you without a gap in coverage. If your plan offers portability³, you can continue your Group Life insurance coverage with MetLife should you leave your employer for any reason. Competitive² rates apply but will likely be higher than your current rates. MetLife will bill you directly.

Sysco has partnered with MetLife to provide a seamless process utilizing your enrollment platform.  When you complete your enrollment, you will be provided a link to MetLife’s Statement of Health (SOH), also know as Evidence of Insurability (EOI) site on the Statement of Health Landing Page.
You will need to click the “Complete Online Now” button to complete the SOH questions. There will be four main components of this form:

• Your Information – This section includes your delivery method for decision letter.  Please be sure to select the method that best works for you.
• Primary Care Physician Information
• Heath Questions
• Review Page

Once you have completed these sections and reviewed the information, you can submit your SOH with an e-signature option.

If you are denied for additional life coverage, you will receive a denial letter, per the method chosen during your EOI process (email or US mail).  This letter will contain the final decision, reason and action to take if you would like to refute or submit additional information for review.  You can also contact the EOI customer service department by calling 800-638-6420.

Please accept our sincere condolences during this difficult time. We’re here to support you throughout the process.

• What should I did if I need to file a life insurance claim? Please contact the Sysco Benefits Center at 800 55-SYSCO, to notify them of the insureds death and request the claim be submitted to MetLife.
• What happens once MetLife receives notification from Sysco Benefits Center? Once MetLife receives the claim from Sysco, a claim kit will be mailed to the beneficiary within 7-10 business days. The beneficiary(ies) are to complete the claim form you received in the claim kit provided and send to MetLife via mail, fax, email or complete the claim form online. Please see Frequently Asked Questions below for more details.
• Please see below for additional questions about the life claim process:

Additional Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where do I submit my life claimant statement to?
Mail:
MetLife Group Life Claims
P.O. Box 6100Scranton, PA 18505-6100
Fax: -1-570-558-8645
Email: lifeclaimsubmit@metlife.com
Online: www.metlife.com/lifeclaims

2. How can I receive updates on the status of my claim?
You have the option on your claim form to elect electronic status via text or email. You may also call us at 1-800-638-6420, Prompt 2 to check on the status.

3. Do I need to obtain an original death certificate?
No. You can send in a copy of a death certificate, which can be obtained from the funeral home, in most cases. If the death occurs outside of the United States, then the original death certificate is required.

4. What other documents will I be required to submit to MetLife?
In general, we require a copy of a death certificate and complete claim form. Your claim package will outline the required documents. If we need additional information, we will reach out to you.

5. Can MetLife pay the funeral home directly?
If you are the named beneficiary, the funeral home can provide you with an assignment form which will allow MetLife to pay them directly. The assignment form should be submitted with the life claimant statement.

6. What if my claim is for someone who has passed away outside of the United States?
Because the death occurred outside of the United States, you’ll have to mail the original death certificate and documents that include the cause and manner of death to the address on your claim form.

7. What if I am representing a beneficiary who is a minor?
If you are representing a minor, you’ll need a court certificate that specifies who was appointed as guardian of the minor’s property or estate. If unavailable, the funds can be held at MetLife in a minor on deposit interest-bearing account, until the minor reaches the age of majority in your state, or until you can provide that court certificate.

8. What if I am representing an estate?
If you are representing an estate, you’ll need some additional documentation that can be obtained from probate court. This may include court certificate papers that list the appointed administrator or executor of the estate, and a tax identification number. For smaller estates, all that’s needed is a small estate affidavit or a summary of the administration.

9. What if I am representing a trust?
If you are representing a trust, you’ll need to complete the certification of trust form that you will receive in the life claim packet.

10. Once I have submitted my group life claim, how can I contact MetLife if I have questions?
You can contact us at 1-800-638-6420, Prompt 2.

11.  What are the available hours at MetLife to contact Group Life Claims?
Our Customer Service Center is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

• What is a Viatical Assignment?

When a Viatical Assignment is made, a viator (i.e., an assignor who is a terminally or chronically ill insured) assigns his/her coverage to a viatical settlement provider for an advance payment, to a viator, of an amount less than his/her benefit.

• Can coverage be assigned as a gift to someone?

Yes, coverage can be assigned as a gift. The assignor should consult with his/her personal legal or tax advisor.

• Does MetLife permit an assignor to make an absolute assignment for Group Term coverage as collateral for a loan or to a funeral home or nursing home?

No. With the exception of viatical assignments, MetLife does not permit collateral assignments or assignments for value, as the coverage has no cash value. Since assignments to funeral homes or nursing homes are considered collateral assignments, they are not permitted. However, the employee may generally name a funeral home or nursing home as the beneficiary. With limited exceptions, a beneficiary can execute a funeral home assignment following the death of the insured.

• What is the 3 year lookback or contemplation of death rule?

An absolute assignment generally will be effective to exclude the insurance death proceeds from the assignor’s gross estate for federal tax purposes if the assignor survives for 3 years after the assignment. If the assignor should die within 3 years after making an absolute assignment, the full amount of the death proceeds generally will be included in the assignor’s estate for federal tax purposes.

Note: Considering the irrevocability of an absolute assignment and in view of other important personal and legal matters, including a number of tax implications, an assignor who is contemplating making an absolute assignment of Group Term Life insurance should first consult his/her personal legal or tax advisor. The AM/CSC must not provide legal or tax advice to any assignor.

• May an insured make an absolute assignment to his/her employer?

No, an insured may not make an absolute assignment to his/her employer.

• Is the Accelerated Benefits Option (ABO) available once benefits are assigned?

If an insured has ABO, but has already assigned the coverage, neither the insured nor the assignee can exercise his/her ABO option. However, once the ABO has been approved, the insured may assign all or any part of the remaining benefit.

If you are the named beneficiary, the funeral home can provide you with an assignment form which will allow MetLife to pay them directly. The assignment form should be submitted with the life claimant statement.