What's going on with MetLife?

You can try accessing your account via the MetLife Login Portal and resolve common issues using the steps below.

Common Causes & Fixes

• Browser Cache and Cookies: Old data stored in your browser can block login pages. Clear your browser history, cookies, and cache, then close all open windows and try again.
• Inactivity Lock: MetLife locks accounts after 100 days of inactivity. You may need to reset your password or call customer support to unlock it.
• Wrong Portal: MetLife uses different portals for personal benefits (MyBenefits), retirement/policy accounts (MyAccounts), and employer tools. Make sure you are using the correct login page for your specific plan.
• Password Rules: Passwords must be 8 to 20 characters long, case-sensitive, and contain at least one number and specific allowed special characters (hyphens or underscores only).

Contact Support

If you still cannot sign in, call MetLife customer service at 1-800-638-5000 or contact advisor support if you manage a specialized account.

The MetLife insurance scandal refers to a major 1993–1994 controversy where sales agents deceptively sold life insurance policies as high-yield retirement savings plans.

What Happened

• Deceptive Sales: Agents in Tampa, Florida, and later across the United States marketed life insurance products to consumers—including nurses—disguised as tax-free or retirement savings accounts without mentioning they were insurance policies.
• Policy Churning: Agents encouraged customers to replace their existing policies with new ones to generate higher commissions, a controversial practice known as churning.

The Aftermath

• Settlements and Fines: The widespread deception led to numerous lawsuits and regulatory investigations. MetLife paid tens of millions of dollars in fines and class-action settlements.
• Corporate Overhaul: The scandal damaged the company's credit ratings and earnings, forcing MetLife to overhaul its marketing, sales practices, and internal supervision.

MetLife did not change its entire corporate name, but it spun off and rebranded its U.S. retail life insurance and annuity business as Brighthouse Financial.

Key Details

• Parent Company: MetLife, Inc. still operates under the MetLife name globally.
• The Spin-Off: In 2017, MetLife completed a corporate separation of its retail life insurance and annuity operations into an independent company.
• Name Changes: MetLife Insurance Company USA became Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, and First MetLife Investors Insurance Company became Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY.

If a life insurance company closes or goes bankrupt, your policy does not automatically disappear; instead, state regulators and guaranty associations step in to transfer your coverage or fulfill valid claims.

How Your Policy is Protected

• State Intervention: The state insurance department steps in to manage a failing company through rehabilitation or court-ordered liquidation.
• Policy Transfer: Regulators usually arrange for a healthy, stable insurance company to take over (assume) the policies so your coverage continues without interruption.
• Guaranty Associations: If a buyer cannot be found, state insurance guaranty associations (coordinated through the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Associations) step in to pay claims and maintain benefits up to statutory limits.

Coverage Limits and Payouts

• Benefit Caps: State guaranty associations typically cap death benefits (often around $300,000) and cash values (often around $100,000), though exact limits vary by state.
• Cash Value Safety: Accumulated cash values in permanent policies generally move with the policy during a transfer, though benefits exceeding state caps might be at risk.
• Not FDIC Insured: Life insurance is backed by state guaranty funds and company reserves/reinsurance rather than the federal FDIC.

Yes, you can cash out a permanent MetLife life insurance policy (such as whole life, universal life, or variable universal life) if it has built up a cash value, but you cannot cash out a standard term life policy.

Ways to Access Your Policy's Cash

• Full Surrender: Cancel your policy completely to receive its total cash surrender value, which ends all coverage and future benefits.
• Partial Withdrawal: Withdraw a portion of your cash value (available on certain permanent policies), which reduces your overall death benefit.
• Policy Loan: Borrow money against your cash value through MetLife. The loan accrues interest and reduces your death benefit and cash value until it is paid back.

Important Factors to Consider

• Fees and Taxes: Surrendering or withdrawing from your policy may trigger surrender charges or income taxes on any earnings that exceed the total premiums you paid.
• Risk of Lapse: Taking too large a loan or withdrawal from a universal or variable policy can cause the policy to lapse if the remaining cash is not enough to cover monthly costs.
• Management: You can review your values, download forms, or request transactions by logging into your account via MetLife MyAccounts or by calling customer service at 1-800-638-5000.