Life insurance is a powerful and flexible financial instrument with many useful applications for companies of all sizes. For business owners, it can help facilitate business continuity, protecting the company against the loss of a key person, providing liquidity to fund a succession plan, and ensuring the company can thrive well into the future. Used as an employee benefit, life insurance can help employers recruit, retain, and reward employees and executives.

Group Life Insurance – Group life insurance is used as a benefit for the employees of a company. In this type of plan, each eligible employee is covered under a master contract at premium rates that are based on group demographics. Group life insurance plans are often paid by the employer. Some plans may have a contributory element where each insured pays for some of the premium and has the option to purchase more coverage. Group life insurance usually terminates when the employee leaves the company. However, some plans allow employees to convert coverage to an individual life insurance policy upon termination.

For many employees, group life insurance provided by their employer can be a valuable benefit in the event of premature death. This coverage provides access to life insurance, often without medical underwriting, and is a benefit many may not otherwise have.

Group Long-Term Disability – The ability to earn an income is the most important asset during an employee’s career. A disabling event without an income protection plan can adversely affect their financial goals and retirement plans. A disability will keep three out of every ten employees between the ages of 35 and 65 out of work for three months or longer. In a group of 20 executives with an average age of 45, there is a 97% chance that prior to reaching 65, at least one person in the group will be disabled for at least one year. Disability can strike anyone, at any age.

Group long-term disability (LTD) provides income protection sufficient for most employees. For executives and other professionals with high incomes, LTD plays a key role as a foundation for their income protection strategy. This benefit replaces a portion of their income allowing them to continue meeting their daily expenses and maintain a standard of living in the absence of a paycheck. For employers, LTD can be a valuable recruiting and retention tool, providing employees with tools and resources that can help them return to work as their situation improves.