Compare MetLife Income Protection Quotes Against The Market

MetLife is a global financial services giant, but in the UK, they take a unique approach to income protection. Rather than offering traditional policies that require extensive medical underwriting, MetLife focuses on highly accessible, unit-based accident and hospitalisation cover alongside robust employer-sponsored schemes.

If you have struggled to get standard income protection due to pre-existing conditions, or if you work in a high-risk manual occupation, MetLife’s alternative approach might be exactly what you need.

Who is MetLife?

Founded in New York in 1868, MetLife is one of the largest life insurance companies in the world. They established their UK presence in 2007 and currently protect over 2.2 million customers nationwide. In the UK market, they have built a strong reputation for straightforward, affordable protection policies that don't require lengthy medical questionnaires or health exams to secure cover.

What income protection products does MetLife offer?

Instead of traditional long-term income protection (which pays a percentage of your salary for any illness or injury), MetLife UK offers products that provide financial safety nets for specific everyday risks:

1. EverydayProtect

This is MetLife’s flagship individual policy. It is an accident and hospitalisation plan that pays out tax-free lump sums for specific injuries (like broken bones), accidental permanent injury, and accidental death. It also provides a daily cash benefit if you have to spend time in a UK hospital.

2. MortgageSafe

Designed specifically to protect your home, MortgageSafe is a mortgage protection product that pays out a set monthly income if you are unable to work for four or more weeks strictly due to an accidental injury. You can choose to have the benefit paid to you or directly to your mortgage lender.

3. Group Income Protection

For employers looking to cover their staff, MetLife offers a comprehensive Group Income Protection scheme. It pays a partial replacement salary to employees on long-term absence, but its standout feature is a heavy focus on prevention—utilising gamified wellbeing apps (via YuLife) and gold-standard early intervention to keep employees healthy and working.

Key features of MetLife EverydayProtect

Because EverydayProtect is the closest alternative to individual income protection for most MetLife customers, here is a closer look at how it works:

• Unit-based cover: You buy between 1 and 5 "units" of cover. The more units you buy, the higher your payout limits.

• No medical underwriting: There are no health questions asked. Acceptance is guaranteed for UK residents aged 18 to 59, and the policy can continue until your 75th birthday.

• Broad injury payouts: The policy pays up to £5,000 per broken bone, up to £250,000 for total permanent disability, and daily hospitalisation payouts of £50 to £250 per night (for stays over 24 hours).

• Optional add-ons: You can customise the policy with Child Cover (from £2/month) or Active Lifestyle Cover (from £1/month) to cover non-bone injuries like ligament tears and dislocations.

Additional Benefits

MetLife includes several valuable free perks with their individual policies:

• Virtual GP (GP24): 24/7 unlimited access to a virtual doctor for consultations, second opinions, and private prescriptions, 365 days a year.

• Wellbeing Support Centre: Provided in partnership with Health Assured, this gives you and your family free, confidential 24/7 access to qualified counsellors and legal advisers to help with everything from mental health struggles to debt management and probate.

Pros and cons of MetLife

Pros

• No health questions: Perfect for people with pre-existing medical conditions who are often priced out of traditional income protection.

• Highly affordable: Cover starts from just £10 a month, and your occupation does not increase your premiums.

• Fast, clear payouts: Because the claim criteria are objective (e.g., an X-ray showing a broken bone), claims are usually processed and paid within days.

• Covers hazardous sports: Most extreme sports and hobbies are covered as standard, making it ideal for active lifestyles.

Cons

• Not traditional sick pay: It does not pay a regular monthly percentage of your salary if you are signed off work with a long-term illness like cancer or depression (though it will pay a daily rate if you are physically hospitalised for it).

• Waiting periods for illness: While accident cover starts immediately, the hospitalisation benefit for sickness only kicks in after you have held the policy for 12 months.

• Fixed maximums: Because it is unit-based, you are capped at 5 units. You cannot insure an exact, high-level percentage of a very large salary.

How much does MetLife cover cost?

MetLife’s pricing is incredibly transparent. Unlike traditional income protection, your premium is not based on your age, smoker status, or job title.

• Core Cover: £10 per month, per unit (Maximum of 5 units for £50/month).

• Optional Child Cover: £2 per month, per unit.

• Optional Active Lifestyle Cover: £1 per month, per unit.

For example, if you wanted a mid-level policy (3 units) with Active Lifestyle cover, you would pay a flat £33 a month.

How to make a claim

MetLife has a dedicated UK-based claims team and a straightforward process:

1. Contact the team: Call 0800 917 1333 (Option 2) between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday, or email them at claims@metlife.uk.com.

2. Provide evidence: You will need to submit medical evidence of the event—such as A&E discharge papers, a doctor's note, or an X-ray report for a broken bone.

3. Receive payment: Once assessed and approved, the tax-free cash lump sum or daily benefit is transferred directly into your bank account.

Is MetLife right for you?

If you are looking for a traditional income protection policy that will replace 60% of your salary for years if you suffer a severe illness, MetLife’s individual products are not the right fit. However, MetLife is an excellent choice if you are a manual worker (like a builder or carpenter) who faces high accident risks, if you have an active lifestyle, or if you have pre-existing medical conditions that make standard insurance impossible to get. It acts as a brilliant, highly affordable financial shock-absorber for life's everyday accidents.

Going direct to MetLife is not the best option, however, as this will limit you to just one product range and put you at risk of missing out on the possibility of a better deal elsewhere. Our advisers will conduct a thorough assessment to establish just how well equipped MetLife are meeting your insurance needs. Their impartial analysis will tell you whether you’re likely to have a better experience and a more suitable deal elsewhere.

Ready to explore MetLife’s income protection insurance product range with an expert and see how it compares to the alternatives? Get started here.