MetLife Increases Monthly Income Replacement for Traditional Individual Disability Insurance Policies; New Underwriting Enhancements Bolster Issue and Participation Amounts

Business Wire, July 18, 2006

NEW YORK -- MetLife announced today higher traditional Individual Disability issue and participation limits to provide the largest possible monthly income replacement available for an individual due to a disability. MetLife's underwriting enhancements went into effect for most new individual disability income insurance policies this June.

"In an era when people are still very much underinsured, our actions to provide greater monthly income during a disability is another incentive for individuals to get the disability insurance coverage they need," said Brian Griffin, vice president, MetLife Individual Disability. "It's important for individuals to be able to secure the coverage amounts they need to personalize their financial safety net."

MetLife's new issue and participation limits allow additional coverage at most income levels and reaches a maximum of up to $20,000 per month. Previously, the maximum amount of disability coverage was capped at $15,000 per month. Some examples of the increased limits at specific annual incomes are as follows:

--Individuals earning $200,000 per year may now receive up to $9,150 per month, a 19% increase over the old limit at $200,000 of $7,700 per month.

--Individuals earning $300,000 per year may now receive up to $12,500 per month, a 25% increase over the old limit at $300,000 of $10,700 per month.

In addition, MetLife continues to provide supplemental disability insurance coverage to individuals who have group long term disability coverage through their employer. MetLife will now bring participation up to $30,000 of total coverage per month.

All amounts are subject to underwriting approval and income verification. Certain limitations and restrictions may apply.

MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of individual and institutional customers throughout the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. offers life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowner's insurance and retail banking services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe. For more information about MetLife, please visit the company's Web site at www.metlife.com.