MetLife has entered the Irish employee benefits market with the launch of its Group Life insurance offering, providing cover to employers and employees in Ireland through a broker-only distribution model.
The Group Life product offers financial protection for employees’ families in the event of death and introduces MetLife’s 360Health proposition to the Irish market. The value-added services include unlimited access to virtual GP consultations, alongside a range of wellbeing and support services designed to assist employees and their families beyond the core insurance benefit.
MetLife’s entry comes at a time when Ireland’s employee benefits market continues to evolve, with employers placing increasing emphasis on structured benefits packages to support recruitment, retention and workforce wellbeing. Group life assurance remains one of the most widely adopted employee benefits in Ireland, particularly among medium-sized and large employers, and often forms the foundation of broader benefits programmes alongside pensions, income protection and health-related services.
In recent years, the market has shifted away from standalone protection products towards more holistic propositions. Employers are increasingly seeking benefits that combine financial protection with preventative and wellbeing support, driven by heightened competition for talent, rising employee expectations and growing awareness of mental and physical health in the workplace. In response, insurers have embedded digital healthcare access, wellbeing tools and support services into traditional group risk products.
Operating in more than 40 markets worldwide, MetLife brings over 150 years of insurance experience to its Irish employee benefits offering.
While the launch of Group Life represents a new product line in Ireland, the insurer already has an established presence in the country, employing close to 200 people across its European headquarters in Dublin and its campus in Galway. The expansion into employee benefits marks the next phase of MetLife’s long-term commitment to the Irish market, supported by continued investment in local capability and innovation.
MetLife Europe d.a.c., trading as MetLife, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
