Supplemental life insurance: Should you consider buying it?

What is supplemental life insurance? While it could mean any kind of secondary life insurance policy, the phrase usually refers to additional life insurance coverage purchased at work, as a voluntary insurance benefit (i.e., employee-paid). Employer benefits are an important source of life insurance protection – and for many, it has been the only source of such protection. In fact, researchers from the Life Insurance Research and Marketing Association (LIMRA) have identified that a quarter of all life insurance owners indicate that they exclusively have workplace coverage.¹ Even so, a record proportion of American adults (42%) say that they need (or need more) coverage.¹ Supplemental life insurance is one way to bridge that gap. This article will help answer three key questions:

• Why should you consider a supplemental life insurance policy?

• How much coverage do you need?

• What if your employer doesn’t offer supplemental life?

Why you should consider buying supplemental life insurance – or not

Many employers provide group life insurance as an employee benefit because it helps support employees’ financial wellness. But it's important to note the difference between basic and supplemental life insurance: Basic coverage may be one or two times your salary amount. While that may provide enough protection for some, other employees may need additional coverage. So, many companies give them the option to purchase a supplemental life insurance policy on a voluntary basis. Supplemental employee life insurance allows employees to enhance their coverage beyond basic plans, providing additional financial protection for dependents and addressing specific financial needs. Since employers buy for many employees at once, group life insurance policies offer a number of advantages compared to a life insurance policy bought by an individual:

• Lower premium payments Group life rates are typically lower than those for a comparable individual policy

• Simple qualification There’s usually no need for a medical exam, and it's easy to apply for because your employer already has your personal data

• Easy payroll deduction It’s automatically taken out of your pay

While the advantages of supplemental life insurance can be easy to understand, that doesn’t mean it’s always right for your needs. Before signing up for supplemental life at work, find a few things out. You’ll be able to get important information you need on your company’s employee website, in your benefits materials, or by talking to an HR manager. Here’s what to look for:

1. How much employer-provided coverage do I already have?
   Basic employer-paid coverage typically equals 1x – 2x your salary, but it could be another amount – or nothing at all. If you don’t already know what you have, find that out.

2. What kind of supplemental coverage is available? Most supplemental plans offer a type of term coverage called yearly renewable term life insurance. This type of life insurance policy is different from a 10- or 20-year term policy because you’re buying coverage for one year at a time, and the premiums can (and likely will) go up slightly from one year to the next. Some employers also offer voluntary permanent life insurance, which can enhance your protection, or supplemental child life insurance, which provides additional coverage to protect eligible dependents and manage potential financial burdens related to a child’s needs You get group life coverage that lasts through retirement – and while the rates are initially higher than term life, they never increase. The policy can also build tax-deferred cash value that can be used for loans or withdrawals during working and retirement years.^{2, 3, 4} Some employers give you the option to buy additional coverage for a spouse, domestic partner, or child, but typically you first have to buy supplemental coverage for yourself. Finally, your employer may offer accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance for additional financial protection by covering accidental death and injuries.

3. Is your coverage portable?
   Portability means you can take your policy with you – and still enjoy the benefits of group life insurance coverage – if you leave your employer. Employer-paid life insurance may or may not be portable, but supplemental policies are usually portable. While non-portable insurance isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, you need to remember that you can only count on being covered for as long as you stay at your company.

4. Is my workplace coverage enough for my needs?
   If you have employer-provided coverage of 1x – 2x your salary, that may be enough for your needs, especially if other people don’t depend on your income. However, if you have young children or other dependents – or a mortgage or other debts – then that amount may not be enough. Supplemental insurance may fill some or all of the gap – but how do you know? Read on.

How much life insurance coverage should you consider?

Life insurance professionals will commonly recommend having anywhere from 5x to 10x your salary in life insurance coverage. If you make $75,000 a year, that’s a death benefit between $375,000 and $750,000. Why such a range? There are many things to consider when determining how much life insurance you actually need. For example:

• How much money would your family need — both short and long-term – if you passed away? What immediate expenses would they need to cover? And how much money would they need for the future?

• If you have children who are still at home, how much will it take to raise them and send them to college?

• If you have a spouse, do you want the death benefit to help cover his or her needs through retirement?

• Do you have adults who are your dependents, such as a special needs child or a parent?

• Do you have substantial co-signed debts, such as a mortgage or student loans?

If you have a family, it’s important to have the extra costs they will face in your absence covered, especially while your children are still at home. The more dependents you have – and the younger they are – the more life insurance you may need. There are a few general rules that can help you start figuring out your life insurance need:

• Consider 10x your salary - This is one of the simplest rules to follow, and it can provide a useful cushion for your family – but it doesn’t take all your actual expenses and needs into account.

• Consider 10x your salary, plus college expenses - If you add $100,000 - $150,000 for each child, that can help ensure they can achieve more of the opportunities you want for them.

• Consider using the DIME formula - DIME stands for Debt, Income, Mortgage, and Education. Total your debts, mortgage, and college expenses, plus your salary for the number of years your family needs protection (e.g., until the children are out of the house), and that helps you determine your coverage need. Additionally, opting for permanent supplemental life insurance plans can provide added financial security through the cash value component, which grows over time.

• Consider Human Life Value* - Some financial representatives calculate the amount you need using the Human Life Value philosophy, which is your lifetime income potential: what you’re earning now, and what you expect to earn in the future. In its simplest form, the philosophy suggests that you multiply your income by a variable based on factors such as age, occupation, projected working years, and current benefits.

As with every individual, the amount of recommended insurance you purchase depends on many factors. A simple way to get that number, however, is to multiply your salary times 30 if you are between the ages of 18 and 40. The calculation changes based on your age group, so please refer to the chart:

Any of those methods are a start, but there are more detailed online life insurance calculators that can help you arrive at a more accurate number. If you're unsure, consider reaching out to your HR department for guidance, as they may have resources or recommendations that can assist you.

What to do if your employer doesn’t offer supplemental life insurance

Life insurance through work can be a valuable choice for all the reasons already noted: it’s easy to get, easy to pay for, and you’ll enjoy favorable group rates. However, many companies don’t offer life insurance benefits – and even if they do, the total coverage available (even with supplemental insurance) may not be enough for your needs. Contact your Human Resources department or employer to find out the specifics of your workplace plan options.

There are other things to consider: While group term life insurance up to $50,000 is generally income tax free to an employee, the imputed cost of coverage in excess of $50,000 must be included in income, using the IRS Premium Table, and is subject to social security and Medicare taxes.⁵ Also, if you leave the company, you could lose your group life coverage if it’s not portable. Fortunately, there are many coverage options in addition to group life insurance plans through work.

Consider getting private supplemental insurance as an individual

Term life insurance is very easy to shop for and get on your own. Many insurance companies, including Guardian, make it simple to compare rates by giving you an instant online term life quote. Most of the quotes you’ll see are for level term life: these policies are typically offered with 10, 15, 20 or 30-year terms, and your premiums stay the same for the length of the policy. If you’re healthy, those premiums may not be much higher than with a group term life plan. And coverage isn’t dependent on your company or employment status – as long as you keep paying premiums, your policy will remain in force.

An individual policy also gives you many options, starting with the fact that you don’t have to get term coverage. You can opt for permanent (whole or universal) life insurance that builds cash value and becomes a life-long financial asset. No matter which type of policy you choose, many insurance companies will also let you tailor individual policies with riders (optional provisions) that can provide valuable added benefits.⁶ For example, many term life policies offer a convertibility rider that lets you change over to a permanent policy without getting a new medical exam. Permanent life policies can be even more customizable.

If you do decide to get an individual policy, it makes sense to talk things over with an experienced professional – like a Guardian representative – who can provide a more personalized assessment of your needs, and tell you about all your coverage options. And since you’ll have a choice of insurance companies, make sure to look for two things:

• Financial strength - You want to be confident that the company will be around when your family needs a payout years down the road.⁷

• A company that underwrites its own policies - Some companies sell policies from another insurer. This can add an extra layer if you want to convert your policy to permanent coverage – or down the road when your family needs a payout.