"I have life insurance through work — I'm covered." Usually not enough.

Group life insurance through an employer is a real benefit, and if you have it, take it. But it's usually a starting point, not a finish line. Here's why I rarely tell a family their work policy is the whole plan.

It usually isn't very much

Employer coverage is often set at one or two times your salary. That can sound like a lot until you line it up against a mortgage, years of income your family relies on, and raising children. For many households, the group amount covers a fraction of the actual need.

It usually isn't yours to keep

This is the big one: group coverage typically ends when the job does. Change jobs, get laid off, or retire, and the coverage usually doesn't come with you. If your health has changed in the meantime, replacing it later can be harder or more expensive — or not possible.

You don't control the terms

The employer owns the master policy. They can change carriers, reduce the benefit, or drop the plan. A policy you own yourself stays on your terms as long as you pay for it.

How people usually handle it

Keep the free or low-cost group coverage, and layer an individual policy underneath it that you own and control — sized to your real need and locked in while you're healthy. Our coverage calculator gives you a need range to start from, or we can talk it through.