Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed legal advice, but the thought of attorney fees made your stomach churn? Or perhaps you've been putting off important legal tasks like drafting a will because it seems too complicated or expensive? If so, then a legal plan might be exactly what you need. And when it comes to comprehensive and accessible legal support, MetLife Legal Plans stand out as a top choice.
This extensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about joining a MetLife Legal Plan, from understanding its benefits to the step-by-step enrollment process. Get ready to gain peace of mind knowing you have expert legal help just a call or click away!
Demystifying MetLife Legal Plans
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's quickly understand what a MetLife Legal Plan entails. Essentially, it's a pre-paid legal service plan that provides you, your spouse, and eligible dependents with access to a network of experienced attorneys for a wide range of personal legal matters. Think of it as having an attorney on retainer for a predictable monthly fee, significantly reducing the financial burden of unexpected legal issues.
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| How To Join Metlife Legal Plan |
Why Consider a MetLife Legal Plan?
- Cost Savings: Legal fees can be substantial. A MetLife Legal Plan covers attorney fees for many common legal services, often without deductibles, co-pays, or claim forms when you use a network attorney.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing you have access to legal professionals for everything from drafting a will to dealing with identity theft can alleviate significant stress.
- Convenience: Access to attorneys is often available in person, by phone, or online, making it easy to get the help you need, when you need it.
- Wide Range of Services: MetLife Legal Plans cover a vast array of legal issues, including estate planning, real estate, family law, financial matters, and much more.
Joining a MetLife Legal Plan: Your Step-by-Step Guide
The process of joining a MetLife Legal Plan is generally straightforward, primarily because it's often offered as an employee benefit through your employer.
Step 1: Discover Your Eligibility – Are You Ready to Unlock Legal Peace of Mind?
The very first and most crucial step is to determine if you are eligible to join a MetLife Legal Plan. This plan is predominantly offered as a group benefit through employers, organizations, or unions. So, ask yourself:
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- Does my employer offer MetLife Legal Plans as part of their benefits package? This is the most common way to access these plans. Check with your HR department, benefits administrator, or your company's internal benefits portal.
- Am I part of an organization or union that provides MetLife Legal Plans? Similar to employers, some organizations or unions extend this benefit to their members.
Important Note: While primarily a group benefit, MetLife also offers legal plans for individuals in some instances, typically administered by FedPoint. If you're not associated with an employer or organization, you might explore options on the MetLife Legal Plans website directly for individual plans. However, the most common route is through your employer.
Step 2: Understand the Enrollment Period – Don't Miss Your Window!
MetLife Legal Plans, like other employee benefits, are typically offered during specific enrollment periods.
Sub-heading: Annual Enrollment
- Most employers have an annual open enrollment period, usually in the fall, where you can select or change your benefits for the upcoming year. This is your primary opportunity to elect to join the MetLife Legal Plan.
- Mark your calendar and pay close attention to communications from your HR department regarding these dates.
Sub-heading: New Hire Enrollment
- If you're a new employee and your employer offers the plan, you usually have a specific timeframe (often 30 days) from your date of hire to enroll. This is a special enrollment period outside of the annual window.
Sub-heading: Qualifying Life Event
- In certain circumstances, a qualifying life event (e.g., marriage, birth of a child, divorce) might allow you to enroll outside of the standard enrollment periods. Check with your HR department to see if your specific situation qualifies.
Step 3: Review the Plan Details – What's Covered and What's the Cost?
Once you've confirmed your eligibility and identified the enrollment period, it's time to delve into the specifics of the plan offered by your employer or organization.
Sub-heading: Plan Coverage
- MetLife Legal Plans offer extensive coverage for a wide array of personal legal matters. This typically includes:
- Estate Planning: Wills, living wills, trusts, power of attorney.
- Home & Real Estate: Buying or selling a home, refinancing, landlord-tenant issues, boundary disputes.
- Family & Personal: Adoption, name changes, prenuptial agreements, domestic violence protection, some divorce coverage (often with limitations on hours).
- Money Matters: Debt collection defense, identity theft defense, tax audit representation, personal bankruptcy.
- Vehicle & Driving: Defense of traffic tickets (excluding DUI in some states), driving privilege restoration.
- Civil Lawsuits: Disputes over consumer goods and services, civil litigation defense, small claims assistance.
- Some plans even include an option to cover parents and parents-in-law for certain elder care issues.
- Important: Always review the specific plan description provided by your employer. While coverage is broad, there are usually exclusions (e.g., employment-related matters, business matters, matters where there's a conflict of interest with your employer or MetLife).
Sub-heading: Cost of the Plan
- The cost of a MetLife Legal Plan is typically an affordable monthly premium, often paid through convenient payroll deductions.
- The exact cost can vary based on your employer's specific plan and whether you opt for additional coverage (like the "Plus Parents" option). Many plans are around $16.50 to $25.86 per month.
- Compare this monthly fee to the potential hourly rates of attorneys (which can be several hundred dollars an hour!) to truly appreciate the value.
Step 4: Make Your Enrollment Decision – It's Time to Act!
With a clear understanding of your eligibility, enrollment periods, and plan details, it's time to make your decision.
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Sub-heading: How to Enroll
- Online Benefits Portal: Most commonly, you will enroll through your employer's online benefits enrollment portal. This is usually where you select all your benefits (health, dental, vision, etc.).
- Enrollment Forms: Some employers might still use physical enrollment forms. Follow the instructions provided by your HR department.
- Client Service Center: If you have questions or need assistance during enrollment, you can usually contact the MetLife Legal Plans Client Service Center at 1-800-821-6400. They can clarify details and guide you.
- Ensure you complete your enrollment by the deadline! Missing the enrollment window means you'll likely have to wait until the next open enrollment period.
Step 5: Activate Your Coverage and Start Using Your Plan!
Congratulations! Once you've successfully enrolled and your coverage has become effective (typically the first day of the month after your enrollment, or the start of the new plan year), you're ready to start using your MetLife Legal Plan.
Sub-heading: When Coverage Begins
- Your enrollment materials will specify your coverage effective date. This is the date from which you can start utilizing the legal services. There are no waiting periods for most covered services.
Sub-heading: Accessing Your Benefits
- Online Member Portal: The easiest way to get started is by visiting the MetLife Legal Plans member website (often members.legalplans.com). You'll likely need to create an account using your email and a password. This portal provides:
- A clear overview of your specific plan's coverage.
- An attorney locator tool to find network attorneys in your area.
- Access to digital estate planning tools to create wills, living wills, and powers of attorney online.
- Self-help legal forms.
- Client Service Center: You can also call the Client Service Center at 1-800-821-6400 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET). Be prepared to provide your membership number (or the last four digits of your Social Security number) and zip code. A representative will:
- Verify your eligibility.
- Help determine if your case is covered.
- Give you a case number (you'll need a new one for each new legal matter).
- Provide contact information for a network attorney convenient to you.
- Contacting an Attorney: Once you have a case number (if calling the Client Service Center) or have found an attorney through the online portal, simply call the attorney's office to schedule an appointment. Be sure to mention you are a MetLife Legal Plans member.
- Choice of Attorney: You always have the freedom to choose an attorney from MetLife's extensive network of over 18,000 qualified attorneys. You can also choose an attorney outside the network, and MetLife will reimburse you according to a set fee reimbursement schedule (though using network attorneys means no out-of-pocket costs for covered matters).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions to further assist you:
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How to use my MetLife Legal Plan once I'm enrolled?
Once enrolled, visit members.legalplans.com to create an account and access the attorney locator, digital estate planning tools, and self-help forms, or call the Client Service Center at 1-800-821-6400 to get a case number and attorney referral.
How to find a MetLife Legal Plan attorney?
You can find a network attorney through the online member portal (members.legalplans.com) using their attorney locator tool, or by calling the MetLife Legal Plans Client Service Center at 1-800-821-6400.
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How to know what legal matters are covered by my MetLife Legal Plan?
The best way to know is to review the specific plan description provided by your employer or log into your MetLife Legal Plans member account online, which details your exact coverage. You can also call their Client Service Center.
How to add my family members to my MetLife Legal Plan?
MetLife Legal Plans generally cover your spouse and eligible dependent children automatically. Some plans offer a "Plus Parents" option to include your parents and parents-in-law; check your employer's specific plan details during enrollment.
How to get reimbursed if I use an out-of-network attorney with MetLife Legal Plan?
If you use an out-of-network attorney for a covered matter, you will need to submit a reimbursement claim according to MetLife's fee reimbursement schedule. You can obtain this schedule by contacting their Client Service Center.
How to contact MetLife Legal Plans customer service?
You can contact MetLife Legal Plans Client Service Center by calling 1-800-821-6400, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
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How to create a will online with MetLife Legal Plan?
Many MetLife Legal Plans offer a digital estate planning solution through their member website (members.legalplans.com), allowing you to create wills, living wills, and powers of attorney online in as little as 15 minutes.
How to enroll in MetLife Legal Plan if I'm a new employee?
If you're a new employee, you typically have a special enrollment period (often 30 days from your hire date) to elect the MetLife Legal Plan through your employer's benefits enrollment process. Contact your HR department for specific instructions.
How to cancel my MetLife Legal Plan enrollment?
Changes to your MetLife Legal Plan enrollment, including cancellation, are usually only permitted during your employer's annual open enrollment period or upon a qualifying life event. Contact your HR department for their specific policies.
How to understand the cost of MetLife Legal Plan?
The cost is typically a low monthly premium, paid through payroll deductions, and can vary based on your employer's plan and any additional options chosen. Consult your employer's benefits materials for the precise monthly cost.
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