WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025
I Have Life Insurance Through Work. Isn’t That Enough?
by RaeAnna Barstow
Picture this: You land an exciting new job with great benefits: vacation time, health insurance, 401(k)… even free lunch once a week!
They offer group life insurance, too – two times your annual salary. That sounds like a lot, right? In many cases, it might not stretch as far as you think.
Let’s say you make $50,000 per year. A benefit of $100,000 can make a big difference to your family – for a while. But through the years, could it really go the distance to pay for expenses and reflect the legacy you want to leave for your family? Think about how far $100,000 could go to pay for these common needs over time:
Private student loan debt
Mortgage or rent payments
Utilities, groceries and other costs of living
Healthcare
Childcare expenses
Charitable giving
Life insurance is, by its very nature, a deeply personal financial decision. When you rely exclusively on group coverage through work, you miss the opportunity to personalize your coverage based on your specific needs. Here’s why that matters.
See also: The Top 3 Reasons Why People Buy Life Insurance
4 Reasons to Consider Getting Your Own Life Insurance Policy
The experts at Life Happens[1], a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on the importance of life insurance in financial planning, offer these four disadvantages of relying on your group insurance alone:
If your job situation changes, you may not be able to maintain the same coverage. Whether that means being laid off, moving from full-time to part-time or leaving the company… in many cases, an employee can’t retain their policy when circumstances change.
Coverage may end when you retire or reach a specific age. Many people tend to lose their insurance coverage when they continue working past a specified age or when they retire. This could mean losing your insurance when you need it most. (Related: Term vs. Whole Life Insurance: What’s the Difference?)
It’s a benefit… not a guarantee. Your employer can change or stop offering life insurance coverage without your consent, since the contract is between your employer and the insurer. With many employers in cost-cutting mode, employee benefits might (unfortunately) be among the first things on the chopping block.
Your options are limited. This type of coverage is not tailored to your specific financial needs. Furthermore, your employer might not offer the option for you to purchase extra coverage as you need, leaving you exposed.
Individual life insurance plans can offer superior benefits, and regardless of your employer or employment status, you can tailor them to meet your individual needs and circumstances. Read the full article on the Life Happens blog.
Life Insurance from ERIE Can Help
You shouldn't have to choose between your budget and your family's security in the future. With flexible coverage options, we can help you build a policy that’s affordable now and adaptable later. See how different types of life insurance stack up, or request a free quote from a local ERIE agent in your neighborhood.
Do you have the coverage you need?
Discover great rates from local people who care. Get a free quote now.
Insurance Types
Select
ZIP
ZIP Code
Get a quote
Share On
Share on Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Twitter
Share on Pinterest
Related Articles
concept image of donate button on computer keyboard
Crowdfunding Is Not Life Insurance
smiling senior woman holds coffee mug in yard
Quiz: How Do You Know if a Long-Term Care Policy is Right for You?
Adult sitting and reading to child
Why Life Insurance? 8 Things Your Policy Covers
ERIE® insurance products and services are provided by one or more of the following insurers: Erie Insurance Exchange, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Company, Flagship City Insurance Company and Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home offices: Erie, Pennsylvania) or Erie Insurance Company of New York (home office: Rochester, New York). The companies within the Erie Insurance Group are not licensed to operate in all states. Refer to the company licensure and states of operation information.
The insurance products and rates, if applicable, described in this blog are in effect as of the article’s publish date and may be changed at any time.
Insurance products are subject to terms, conditions and exclusions not described in this blog. The policy contains the specific details of the coverages, terms, conditions and exclusions.
The insurance products and services described in this blog are not offered in all states. ERIE life insurance and annuity products are not available in New York. ERIE Medicare supplement products are not available in the District of Columbia or New York. ERIE long term care products are not available in the District of Columbia and New York.
Eligibility will be determined at the time of application based upon applicable underwriting guidelines and rules in effect at that time.
Your ERIE agent can offer you practical guidance and answer questions you may have before you buy.
1.
Life Happens does not endorse any product, company or insurance adviser.
ERIE life insurance products and services are provided by Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home office Erie, PA), a member of Erie Insurance Group, and are not available in New York.
This story was originally published in 2019.
Posted 4:35 PM