NEW YORK—MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced a collaboration with Empathy, an end-of-life platform helping families navigate the experiences associated with loss. As part of MetLife’s Beneficiary Claims Concierge Services, which provide compassionate support and guidance, MetLife now offers employees and their beneficiaries enrolled in life insurance access to Empathy’s bereavement care platform. Through its relationship with Empathy, MetLife will provide holistic bereavement support to millions of beneficiaries and their families, following the loss of a loved one.
As a group life insurance carrier in the U.S., MetLife said it recognizes the holistic support beneficiaries need, launching its Beneficiary Claims Concierge Services in 2022, providing ongoing guidance during the time of loss. This collaboration includes features exclusive to MetLife, bolstering the insurance carrier’s continued support of beneficiaries by providing Empathy's leading bereavement services when submitting a life claim.
“We understand the challenges that loss brings, including grief, and are dedicated to being there for our customers every step of the way—through the claim process and beyond,” said Juliane Kowalski, senior vice president, MetLife Group Benefits. “We’re pleased to offer Empathy’s services as part of MetLife’s commitment to support families during their journey and deliver on our purpose to be ‘always with you.”
AT&T, the first MetLife customer to offer Empathy's platform, recorded notable levels of engagement as an early adopter of Empathy’s service. These benefits, which were made available to all employee policyholders’ beneficiaries, are part of AT&T’s focus on boosting employee well-being.
“When a loved one passes away, it can feel all-consuming,” said Stacey Marx, senior vice president of global benefits at AT&T. “Grief coupled with complicated logistics can be overwhelming and takes a major toll on our employees’ well-being. As part of our increased focus on employee wellness, we are proud to offer full spectrum support for AT&T beneficiaries of MetLife policies experiencing loss.”
Empathy’s care platform combines technology and human support for those dealing with loss, including administrative assistance via on-demand bereavement concierge services, estate administration experts, probate guidance, funeral assistance, property clearance, family collaboration features and an account deactivation hub, as well as emotional support through grief sessions, sleep support, mindfulness activities and self-care tools.
"We are proud to work with MetLife as they expand their offering to beneficiaries and demonstrate their commitment to care and innovation,” said Ron Gura, co-founder and CEO of Empathy. “By going the extra mile to support their policyholders and the beneficiaries they leave behind, MetLife is meeting families where they are. With this collaboration, beneficiaries receive the essential and meaningful support they need following a loss.”
