Group Life Insurance
The Free Perk That Can Create a False Sense of Security
When I got my first corporate job, I saw “Free Life Insurance” in my benefits package and thought, “Great, I’m covered.” I didn’t look closer. My friend, who had just lost her husband, urged me to check the details. My “free” policy was for $50,000—one year’s salary. That would barely cover funeral costs and a few mortgage payments, let alone provide for my family’s future. It was a nice perk and a good start, but relying on it alone would have been a massive, potentially devastating mistake. It’s a safety net with huge holes.
Is Your Free Group Life Insurance from Work Enough? Probably Not.
The One-Size-Fits-None Problem
My company gives every employee a group life policy equal to their annual salary. For a 22-year-old single guy, his $60,000 policy might be okay. But for my 34-year-old coworker with two kids, a mortgage, and a non-working spouse, her $95,000 policy is dangerously inadequate. Financial experts recommend 10-15 times your income in coverage. Group life is a great, free starting point, but it’s a generic benefit. It isn’t tailored to your specific family needs, leaving a massive coverage gap for most people with dependents. It’s a good supplement, not a complete solution.
The Biggest Downside of Relying Only on Employer Life Insurance
The Day You Leave Your Job, Your Coverage Leaves You
My colleague, Mark, was the picture of health. He relied solely on his company’s generous group life policy. Then, he got a fantastic new job offer. On his last day, as he turned in his laptop, he also unknowingly surrendered his family’s financial protection. His life insurance was tied to his employment, and it vanished the second he walked out the door. If something had happened to him before his new policy kicked in, his family would have received nothing. That’s the danger: you don’t own it, and you can’t control it.
How Much Does Group Life Insurance Actually Cover? (Usually 1-2x Salary)
Don’t Assume It’s Enough to Protect Your Family
During open enrollment, I heard a coworker say, “I have life insurance through work, so I’m all set.” I asked him if he knew how much it was for. He had no idea. We looked it up in the benefits portal. The company provided a basic policy of 1x his salary. For his $75,000 salary, that meant a $75,000 death benefit. He has a wife, two young kids, and a $300,000 mortgage. That $75,000 would be gone in less than a year. It’s crucial to check the actual number, because it’s almost never enough.
Taking Your Group Life Insurance With You When You Leave Your Job (Portability vs. Conversion)
Your Two Expensive Options for Keeping Coverage
When my friend left her job, she wanted to keep her group life insurance. HR gave her two options. “Portability” meant she could continue the same group term policy, but her rates would now be based on her age and no longer subsidized by the employer, making them much higher. “Conversion” meant she could convert it to a permanent whole life policy with the same insurer without a medical exam. This was an even more expensive option. Both choices were far pricier than just buying a new individual term policy on the open market.
Supplemental Group Life Insurance: Is It a Good Deal?
Convenient, But Rarely the Cheapest Option
During open enrollment, I had the option to buy “supplemental” life insurance through my company—up to 5x my salary with no medical exam. It was tempting because it was so easy; I could just check a box. But I decided to compare. I got a quote for an individual term policy online. For the same $500,000 of coverage, the individual policy was about 30% cheaper per month. The convenience of supplemental group coverage is great, but because you’re grouped with coworkers of all health levels, you often pay more than you would based on your own good health.
Why You Should Own Life Insurance Outside of Your Job
The Policy That’s Truly Yours
I think of my group life insurance from work like the company car. It’s a great perk to have while I’m there, but the company owns it, they set the rules, and they can take it away at any time. My individual term policy is the car I own myself. It’s in my name, I control it, and it stays with me no matter where I work or what happens to my job. Having a personal policy gives you a permanent foundation of security that isn’t dependent on your employer’s whims or your current employment status.
Group Life Insurance: Taxable Benefit or Tax-Free?
The $50,000 Rule You Need to Know
My company provides a group life policy equal to 2x my salary. At $80,000 a year, that’s a $160,000 death benefit. I noticed a small amount of “imputed income” added to my paycheck each month. I asked HR why. They explained the IRS considers any employer-paid coverage above $50,000 to be a taxable benefit. The company calculates the “cost” of the extra $110,000 of coverage, and that amount is treated as taxable income to me. It’s a small amount, but it’s important to know why it’s there. The death benefit itself, however, is still tax-free.
Understanding Basic vs. Optional Group Life Coverage
What’s Free vs. What You Pay For
When you look at your benefits, you’ll usually see two types of group life. “Basic” is the free part. Your employer pays 100% of the premium for this, and it’s typically a small amount, like $50,000 or 1x your salary. “Optional” or “Supplemental” is the extra coverage you can choose to buy. You pay for this part, usually through a payroll deduction. It’s your chance to increase your coverage, often up to 5x or 6x your salary. The key is to remember that the free “basic” portion is rarely enough on its own.
Can You Be Denied Supplemental Group Life Coverage?
“No Medical Exam” Often Has Limits
My company advertised that we could get up to 3x our salary in supplemental life insurance with “no medical questions.” It’s called a “guaranteed issue” amount. However, if I wanted to buy more than that—say, 4x or 5x my salary—I had to fill out a health questionnaire, also known as “evidence of insurability.” My coworker, who has a pre-existing health condition, was approved for the guaranteed 3x amount but was denied the additional coverage he applied for. So yes, you can be denied supplemental coverage above the guaranteed limit.
Group Life Insurance for Your Spouse and Kids Through Work: Worth It?
Easy to Get, But Not Always the Best Value
My benefits package offers me the option to buy a small life insurance policy on my wife for $25,000 and on my kids for $10,000. It’s cheap and easy. However, the amounts are very small and often not a great value, especially if my wife is healthy. She could likely get a much larger individual policy for a similar price. While it might seem convenient to bundle everyone under my work plan, it’s usually better for each spouse to have their own individual policy tailored to their specific needs and health.
The Cost of Group Life Insurance vs. Individual Term Life
The Price of Convenience
I’m a healthy, non-smoking 30-year-old. When I looked at buying $250,000 of supplemental life insurance through my work’s group plan, the cost was $18 a month. The rate is the same for me as it is for my 45-year-old, less-healthy colleague. The insurer pools everyone’s risk. I then got a quote for my own individual 20-year term policy for the same amount. The cost was only $13 a month. I pay less because the rate is based on my own individual health, not the average health of my coworkers. For healthy individuals, an individual policy is almost always cheaper.
What Happens to Group Life Insurance if You Get Fired or Laid Off?
Your Coverage Ends When Your Paycheck Does
During a recent round of layoffs, my coworkers were focused on their severance packages. But a crucial and often overlooked part of being terminated is that all your benefits, including your company-paid life insurance, typically end on your last day of employment or at the end of the month. You may be given the option to port or convert the policy, but at a much higher cost. It’s a stark reminder that if your job is your only source of life insurance, your family’s protection is only as stable as your employment status.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Riders on Group Policies
The Limited Policy Often Confused with Life Insurance
My group life policy came with an equal amount of AD&D coverage for free. This sounds great, but it’s very limited. It only pays out if you die specifically as the result of a covered accident. It pays nothing for death from illness, disease, or natural causes, which are the most common causes of death. People often see “AD&D” and think it doubles their life insurance. It doesn’t. It’s a separate, highly restrictive policy. Don’t let AD&D coverage give you a false sense of security about your total life insurance amount.
Naming Beneficiaries for Your Group Life Insurance: Keep it Updated!
Don’t Let Your Ex-Spouse Get an Unexpected Windfall
A story from our HR department serves as a great warning. An employee passed away, and when they processed the group life claim, they found he had never updated his beneficiary from a decade ago. His ex-wife was still listed as the primary beneficiary, not his current wife of five years. Legally, the insurance company had to pay the money to the person named on the form. It’s a simple but critical task: every time you have a major life event—marriage, divorce, birth of a child—log into your benefits portal and update your beneficiaries.
Group Life Insurance Payouts: How Does It Work?
A Streamlined Process Handled by HR
When a coworker tragically passed away, his wife was overwhelmed. I was relieved to hear how simple the group life insurance process was for her. She didn’t have to hunt for a policy document. She just contacted our HR department. They had all the forms and information on file. They helped her fill out the claim form and submitted it directly to the insurance carrier on her behalf. She received the tax-free death benefit check a few weeks later. While it’s a terrible time, the process is usually straightforward and facilitated by the employer.
Does Group Life Insurance Require a Medical Exam? (Usually Not for Basic)
The Simplicity is the Main Selling Point
One of the best features of group life insurance is the ease of enrollment. For the basic, employer-paid coverage, there are no medical questions or exams. You are automatically enrolled just by being an employee. Even for supplemental coverage up to a certain limit (the “guaranteed issue” amount, often 2-3x salary), you can typically enroll without any medical underwriting. This is a fantastic benefit for people who might have health conditions that would make getting an individual policy difficult or expensive. It’s a simple path to getting some level of coverage.
The Limits of Group Life Insurance Coverage Amounts
Hitting the Coverage Ceiling
My company offers supplemental group life up to a maximum of 6x my salary or $500,000, whichever is less. As a young programmer, my salary is $90,000, so the most I can get is $500,000. While that’s a good amount, my financial advisor recommends I have at least $1 million in coverage to protect my young family and cover our mortgage. The group plan simply can’t get me to the level of protection I actually need. This is common; group plans have a ceiling, and if your needs exceed that ceiling, you must buy an individual policy to fill the gap.
Group Universal Life (GUL) Offered Through Employers
A Rare but Powerful Benefit
My new company offers something I’d never seen before: Group Universal Life (GUL). It’s a form of permanent life insurance, but offered at group rates. Unlike the term insurance offered at my old job, this policy builds cash value and is designed to last my entire life, not just while I’m employed. I can even take it with me when I leave at the same group rates. It’s more expensive than group term, but it’s a powerful and rare benefit that allows employees to get portable, permanent life insurance conveniently through payroll deduction.
Why Your Healthy Spouse Might Get Cheaper Coverage Individually
The Cost of Being Grouped with Others
My company offers spouse life insurance for a flat rate based on age bands. My wife is 32. I could buy a $100,000 policy on her through my work for $10 a month. But my wife is a marathon runner in perfect health. She went online and got a quote for her own individual $100,000 term policy, and it was only $8 a month. Because the group rate has to account for spouses with health issues, a healthy person can almost always get a better price on their own. We opted for the individual policy for her.
Using Group Life as a Base Layer of Protection
Layering Your Coverage for Maximum Protection
I think of my life insurance like building a financial fortress. My employer’s free group policy of $75,000 is the foundation. It’s a good, solid base that costs me nothing. But it’s not high enough to protect my whole family. So, on top of that foundation, I built the main walls of my fortress: a private $750,000 individual term life policy that I own and control. The group policy is a great starting point, but my individual policy is what provides the real, meaningful security for my family’s needs.
Can You Have Both Group Life and an Individual Policy? Yes!
More Coverage is Often Better
A friend asked me if it was “allowed” to have her own life insurance policy in addition to the one from her job. Not only is it allowed, it’s what most financial advisors recommend! The insurance companies don’t care. When you apply for a new policy, they will ask how much coverage you already have (including group), just to make sure your total coverage amount is reasonable for your income. Having a group policy and one or more individual policies is a common and smart strategy for layering your protection.
What If Your Employer Reduces or Cancels Group Life Benefits?
Another Reason You Need a Policy You Control
During the last economic downturn, my friend’s company was looking for ways to cut costs. One of the first things they did was reduce their group life insurance benefit from 2x salary down to a flat $50,000 for everyone. Just like that, my friend’s coverage was cut by more than half, through no fault of his own. He was lucky he already had a large individual policy in place. This is a key risk of relying on work benefits: they are not guaranteed and can be changed or eliminated at the company’s discretion.
Group Life Insurance for Retirees: Does Coverage Continue?
Typically, It Ends with Your Career
My dad was getting ready to retire and assumed his $200,000 group life policy would continue, just like his health insurance. He was shocked when he met with HR and they told him the life insurance benefit terminates upon retirement. Some very old, generous pension plans used to offer this, but today it’s extremely rare. He was given the option to convert it to a very expensive individual whole life policy, but he declined. It’s a crucial retirement planning point: assume your group life coverage will disappear the day you retire.
Understanding Imputed Income for Group Life Coverage Over $50k
The Phantom Income on Your Pay Stub
I was confused when I saw a line item on my pay stub for “Imputed Income.” It added $8 to my gross pay but was then subtracted, so it didn’t affect my net pay. I learned this was the IRS’s way of taxing me on the life insurance benefit my company provides over $50,000. They treat the value of that extra coverage as if the company had given me $8 in cash, so it’s subject to FICA and income taxes. It’s not a lot of money, but it’s the mechanism the IRS uses to tax this specific fringe benefit.
How Group Life Insurance Rates Are Determined (Age Bands)
Why Your Premium Can Suddenly Jump
When I was buying supplemental group life, I noticed the rates were listed in “age bands,” like 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, etc. My rate in the 30-34 age band is $10 a month. However, the moment I turn 35 and enter the next age band, my rate for the exact same coverage will automatically jump to $14 a month. Unlike an individual term policy where the rate is locked in for 20 or 30 years, group life rates typically increase every five years as you get older.
Is Group Life Insurance Underwritten? (Sometimes for Supplemental)
The Difference Between Guaranteed and Medically-Approved
When I enrolled in my company’s benefits, the basic life insurance was automatic. I also elected to buy supplemental coverage up to the “guaranteed issue” limit of $250,000, which was also approved automatically with no health questions. However, because I wanted even more coverage, I applied for an additional $200,000. For that extra amount, I had to complete a medical questionnaire and give the insurer permission to view my medical records. That portion was medically underwritten, while the first part was not. The rules depend on the amount you apply for.
The Simplicity Trap: Why Easy Group Life Isn’t Always Best
Don’t Let Convenience Cost You Thousands
The biggest selling point of group life is its simplicity. You check a box during open enrollment, and you’re done. It’s tempting to just take the easy option. But my friend, a healthy 35-year-old, fell into this trap. He paid for supplemental coverage through work for years. When he finally compared, he found he could get an individual policy with twice the coverage for the same monthly premium. The “simplicity trap” had cost him thousands in extra premiums over the years and left his family underinsured. A little bit of shopping goes a long way.
Comparing Group Life Offers from Different Employers
A Key, and Often Overlooked, Part of Your Compensation
When my friend was weighing two job offers with similar salaries, I told her to compare the benefits brochure, specifically the life and disability insurance. Job A offered a free 2x salary life insurance benefit, while Job B only offered a flat $50,000. For her $100,000 salary, Job A was offering a benefit worth an extra $150,000 in coverage. This is a significant, often overlooked part of a total compensation package. Don’t just look at the salary; look at the quality of the insurance benefits.
What Questions to Ask Your HR Department About Group Life
Your Quick Checklist for Open Enrollment
During open enrollment, I have a checklist of questions for HR about our group life plan. 1) What is the basic coverage amount, and who pays for it? 2) What is the maximum supplemental amount I can buy? 3) How much of that is “guaranteed issue” without medical questions? 4) What are the rates, and do they increase with age? 5) If I leave the company, what are my options for porting or converting the policy? Getting clear answers to these five questions gives me all the information I need to make smart decisions.
Does Group Life Cover Death Outside of Work? Yes.
It’s 24/7 Coverage, Not Just On-the-Clock
A common misconception is that group life insurance only covers you if you die at work or during a work-related activity. This is not true. Group life insurance is 24/7, all-cause coverage (with very few exceptions, like suicide in the first two years). It doesn’t matter if you pass away on a weekend, on vacation, or at home. As long as you are an active employee and the policy is in force, the coverage applies. It is not the same as Workers’ Compensation, which is specifically for work-related death or injury.
Filling the Gap: How Much Individual Insurance Do You Need Beyond Group?
The Simple Math to Find Your True Need
Here’s how I figured out my life insurance “gap.” My financial advisor said I needed about $1 million in coverage. My group life policy at work provides 1x my salary, which is $85,000. So, my gap is $1,000,000 minus $85,000, which equals $915,000. That told me I needed to go out and buy an individual term life policy for at least that amount. The group policy is a great starting point, but you need to do the simple subtraction to figure out how much more you need to be fully protected.
Group Life Insurance for Small Businesses: Setting Up a Plan
A Powerful Perk to Attract and Retain Talent
My friend started a small marketing agency with 10 employees. To compete with bigger firms, she wanted to offer good benefits. She found that setting up a group life insurance plan was surprisingly easy and affordable. For a small monthly cost, she could offer every employee a $50,000 life insurance benefit. This not only provided a valuable safety net for her team but also made her company look more professional and established. It’s a high-impact, low-cost benefit that can make a huge difference in attracting and retaining good people.
The Claims Process for Group Life Insurance
Let Your HR Department Be Your Guide
When my coworker’s spouse passed away, she was covered under his group life plan. He was grieving and didn’t know where to start. He contacted his HR manager, who immediately took over. The HR department provided the claim form, told him exactly what documents were needed (like a certified death certificate), and submitted the entire package to the insurance company for him. The process was handled with compassion and efficiency, taking a huge administrative burden off his shoulders during a difficult time.
Can Your Group Life Beneficiary Be a Trust?
Yes, and It’s Often a Smart Move
When I filled out my beneficiary designation for my group life policy, I didn’t name my wife directly. Instead, I named the “Smith Family Revocable Trust” as the beneficiary. Why? If both my wife and I passed away together, the money would go into the trust, managed by my sister according to the specific rules I’ve laid out for my children’s care. This provides much more control and protection than simply naming an individual. Most employer benefit systems allow you to name a trust; you just have to get the legal name correct.
What if Your Employer Changes Insurance Carriers?
You’ll Have to Re-Enroll, But Coverage Is Usually Similar
Last year, my company switched from “Insurer A” to “Insurer B” for our group life benefits. During open enrollment, we all had to go in and re-select our coverage amounts and re-confirm our beneficiaries. For the most part, the coverage levels and terms were very similar. The main hassle was for people who had bought supplemental coverage above the guaranteed issue amount with the old carrier. Some had to provide new evidence of insurability to get the same level of coverage with the new carrier. It’s a reminder that the plan can change.
Does Group Life Insurance Build Cash Value? (Typically No)
It’s Almost Always Pure Protection
The vast majority of group life insurance plans are a form of group term insurance. Think of it like renting. You (or your employer) pay the premium, and you are covered for that term. There is no savings component, no cash value, and no investment growth. When you leave your job, you walk away with nothing. It’s pure, simple death benefit protection for the period you are employed. Some rare executive plans or GUL plans may have a cash value component, but for 99% of employees, group life is term insurance.
Accelerated Death Benefits in Group Life Policies
Accessing Your Benefit When You Need It Most
A feature in my group life policy I never knew I had is an “accelerated death benefit.” The policy states that if I am diagnosed with a terminal illness and have less than 12 months to live, I can apply to receive a large portion—up to 75%—of my death benefit while I am still living. This money could be used to pay for medical bills, get my finances in order, or take a final family trip. It’s a compassionate feature, now common in many group plans, that turns the policy into a “living benefit.”
Group Life for Union Members: Special Considerations
Often a Negotiated, Portable Benefit
My brother is a union electrician. His life insurance isn’t tied to a single employer but to the union itself. He pays his dues, and part of that goes towards a group life policy that covers all union members. The great part about this is its portability. When he finishes a job with one contractor and moves to another, his life insurance coverage continues uninterrupted as long as he remains a member in good standing with the union. It’s a more stable form of group coverage that isn’t dependent on any one company.
The Psychological Benefit (and Risk) of “Free” Insurance
Don’t Let “Free” Make You Complacent
There’s a powerful psychological pull to the word “free.” When my employer gives me a “free” life insurance policy, it feels like a completed task, a solved problem. I’m tempted to check it off my financial to-do list and not think about it again. This is the risk. The “free” policy is often just a small token amount of coverage. Relying on it can lead to massive underinsurance because the psychological comfort it provides prevents you from going out and buying the amount of coverage your family actually needs.
Group Life Insurance vs. Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits
Two Different Policies for Different Situations
People often confuse these two. Workers’ Compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides benefits if you are killed specifically on the job or due to a work-related injury/illness. It pays nothing for a death from a car accident on the weekend or from cancer. Group Life Insurance is a private policy that provides benefits for death from any cause (with few exceptions), 24/7, anywhere in the world. You should have both, but they are not interchangeable. Group life is much broader in its coverage.
Can You Assign Ownership of Your Group Life Policy? (Rarely)
A Niche Strategy for Estate Tax Planning
For most of us, this doesn’t matter. But for a high-net-worth executive, owning their life insurance policy can cause the death benefit to be included in their taxable estate. To avoid this, they might want to “assign” ownership of the policy to an irrevocable trust. While this is common with individual policies, it is very difficult and often not permitted with group life insurance policies. The master contract is owned by the employer, not the employee, which severely limits your ability to transfer ownership for advanced estate planning purposes.
Group Life Insurance for Part-Time Employees
Check Your Eligibility
My friend works 25 hours a week at a large retail company. She assumed she wasn’t eligible for any benefits. During an open enrollment push, she finally asked HR. It turned out that any employee working 20 hours or more per week was eligible for the company’s group life insurance plan. She was able to get $50,000 of coverage for just a few dollars a month. The lesson: never assume you aren’t eligible. Always check the official plan documents or ask your HR department about the specific eligibility rules for part-time employees.
How Long Does It Take for Group Life Coverage to Start?
Usually the First of the Month After Your Start Date
When I started my new job, I was eager to get all my benefits in place. I asked HR when my group life insurance would become effective. The company’s policy was that coverage begins on the first day of the month following 30 days of continuous employment. So, if I started on June 15th, my coverage wouldn’t kick in until August 1st. This waiting period is common. It’s a crucial piece of information to have so you know if you have a temporary gap in coverage when you switch jobs.
What if You Become Disabled? Waiver of Premium on Group Life
A Rider That Keeps Your Coverage Intact
A valuable feature in many group life plans is a “waiver of premium” provision. My friend suffered a serious injury and was unable to work for over a year. He was approved for long-term disability, and because his group life plan had this feature, his life insurance coverage remained in force the entire time he was disabled, and no premiums had to be paid. Without this provision, his coverage would have terminated along with his employment. It’s a crucial safety net that protects your life insurance when a disability strikes.
The Role of Group Life in Your Overall Financial Safety Net
An Important Piece, But Only One Piece
I visualize my family’s financial safety net with several layers. My individual term life policy is the main, largest layer. My wife’s policy is another. Our long-term disability insurance is a third. And my group life insurance from work is another important piece. It’s not the biggest or strongest piece, but it adds an extra layer of protection that costs me nothing. It supplements my main plan. Thinking of it as just one integrated part of a much larger plan is the key to seeing its proper role.
Do You Need Proof of Insurability for Supplemental Group Life?
Yes, if You Apply Late or Want a High Amount
During my new-hire enrollment period, I could sign up for a certain amount of supplemental group life with no health questions. However, the benefits booklet had a clear warning: if I declined coverage now and wanted to sign up later during a future open enrollment, I would have to provide “evidence of insurability” (i.e., go through medical underwriting). This is to prevent people from waiting until they get sick to sign up. The best time to get supplemental coverage is usually right when you are first hired.
Group Life Coverage During Leave of Absence (FMLA)
Your Coverage Typically Continues
My coworker had to take a 12-week leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). She was worried she would lose her benefits during that time. Our HR department assured her that under FMLA rules, the company is required to maintain her health benefits, and our company policy also extends this to continuing her life insurance coverage. She still had to pay her portion of the supplemental premium, but the coverage remained intact. It’s important to check your specific company’s policy on continuing benefits during a leave.
Why Individual Policies Offer More Control Than Group Life
You Are the Owner, Not Your Boss
With my individual term life policy, I am the owner. I choose the company, the coverage amount, and the term length. I name the beneficiary, and I can change it whenever I want. The rate is locked in for 20 years. With my group policy, my employer makes all those decisions. They can change carriers, reduce the benefit, or eliminate the plan entirely. I have no say in the matter. That’s the fundamental difference: an individual policy gives you complete control over your family’s protection.
Understanding the Group Life Insurance Certificate
Your Proof of Coverage
When you enroll in a group life plan, you don’t get a full policy document. The master policy is held by your employer. What you receive is a “Certificate of Insurance.” This document summarizes the key provisions of the group plan as they apply to you: your coverage amount, who your beneficiary is, and the basic rules for portability and conversion. It’s your personal proof of coverage under the master plan. It’s a good idea to download a copy from your benefits portal and keep it with your important financial documents.
Group Life: A Good Start, But Rarely the Whole Solution
Don’t Mistake the Appetizer for the Main Course
Thinking that your group life insurance is enough protection is like going to a nice restaurant and thinking the free bread basket is the whole meal. The bread is a great start. It’s tasty and it costs you nothing. But it’s not going to provide the nourishment you need. Your group life policy is the bread basket—a wonderful, free appetizer. But to ensure your family is truly nourished and financially secure, you need to order the main course: a substantial individual life insurance policy tailored to your actual needs.