MetLife, the largest U.S. life insurer and a leading provider of employee benefits, introduced the Benefits Bundle for Small Business, a combination of employer-paid coverage and employee-paid voluntary benefits designed to make it easier for small businesses to offer valued employee benefits within flexible price points.

Employers choose to provide a certain level of “core” life insurance, long term disability income insurance or dental benefits by selecting at least two out of three coverages for their eligible employees. Employees are able to “buy up” additional coverage (with no minimum participation requirements) for the selected products at competitive group rates through convenient payroll deduction. The Bundle also includes value-added features, such as will preparation (based on state availability), an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and travel assistance with identity theft benefits. Employers’ benefits budgeting is made easier with three-year rate guarantees for life and disability insurance coverage and annual rate caps on dental coverage.

MetLife’s Benefits Bundle for Small Business is being made available initially to small businesses with 10-99 employees in the Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Portland and Seattle markets. Coverage is effective beginning March 1, 2009.

“In today’s economy, small business owners are facing greater challenges in managing benefits and administration costs while still seeking to leverage benefits as an effective strategy for retaining valued employees. MetLife’s Benefits Bundle for Small Business provides employers with the flexibility to choose product combinations that work best for them while also offering flexibility on pricing for both them and their employees,” said Robert Bucci, vice president, Small Business Strategy, MetLife. “More choices, rate guarantees, one point of administration for billing and renewals – this value proposition is designed to make it easier for employers to optimize their employee benefits programs in a cost-effective fashion and focus on managing their business for success.”