It isn’t renegotiated
Group benefits can change with each new contract. A policy you own isn’t on the table at the next round of bargaining.
Who we serve · Union members
Life insurance for union members
Your local fought hard for your benefits, and group life is a good one. But it belongs to the plan, not to you. A policy you own stays with you through layoffs, contract fights, job changes, and retirement — as long as you keep it.
Why it matters
What life insurance does for union members
Almost everyone needs life insurance, and union members are no exception — in fact, many are underinsured precisely because they already have some. Group life through your union or employer is usually a set multiple of your pay or a flat dollar amount. It is a real benefit, but it was designed as a baseline for everyone on the plan, not sized to your mortgage, your kids, or your spouse’s future.
The bigger issue is that group coverage is tied to the job and the plan. Depending on your contract, it can be reduced or stop during a layoff, a long strike, or a move to a non-union shop, and it often drops sharply or ends at retirement. When group coverage ends, you typically have only a short window to convert it to an individual policy — and converted coverage is priced at your age at that point, which can make it expensive.
Michigan has one of the deepest union traditions in the country — UAW members on the line, Teamsters, IBEW electricians, pipefitters and the rest of the building trades, plus teachers, nurses, and public employees. As an independent agency based in Troy, we help union members of every trade put a policy they own underneath the plan they have, so their family stays covered no matter what happens at the bargaining table. We are not affiliated with any union or employer; we simply help members compare and place private coverage.
The case for owning your coverage
Why union members own a policy too
Layoffs, strikes, job changes
Group coverage can pause, shrink, or end when the work does. Coverage you own keeps going as long as you pay the premium.
Sized to your family, not the plan
A multiple of pay or a flat amount rarely covers a mortgage, years of income, and the kids’ future. Your own policy can be sized to the real number.
Lock it in while you’re working
Buying while you’re younger and healthier generally means lower premiums — and no scramble for coverage the year you retire.
Coverage that fits
Options worth comparing
Most members keep their group coverage and add a term policy they own on top — we’ll help you size the gap.
Term life
Affordable, level coverage sized to your income and mortgage — the usual foundation on top of a group plan.
Learn more →Whole life
Permanent coverage that doesn’t end at retirement — for final expenses, a spouse, or a legacy.
Learn more →Mortgage protection
Coverage timed to your mortgage so a loss — or a lost job — doesn’t put the family home at risk.
Learn more →IUL for union trades
Already have term and a pension? See where indexed universal life honestly fits for tradespeople — and where it doesn’t.
Learn more →Life insurance calculator
Find the gap between your group coverage and what your family would actually need.
Learn more →Questions we hear
Union members life insurance FAQ
I already have life insurance through my union. Why would I need more?
Group coverage is a great start, but it is usually a set multiple of your pay or a flat amount — rarely enough on its own to replace years of income and pay off a mortgage. It is also tied to the plan, so it can change with a new contract or end when you leave the job or retire. Most members keep the group coverage and add a policy they own to close the gap. We can help you figure out how big that gap is.
What happens to my group life insurance if I’m laid off, go on strike, or change jobs?
That depends on your plan and contract, so check your benefits booklet or ask your benefits office. In many plans, coverage can be reduced, suspended, or ended when you stop working, and it generally does not follow you to a new employer. A policy you own isn’t connected to your employment status — which is why it matters most in exactly those moments.
Can I convert my group coverage when it ends?
Many group plans let you convert to an individual policy without new health questions, but only within a short window after coverage ends — commonly 31 days — and the converted policy is priced at your age at that time, which can be expensive. Your plan booklet has the exact deadline. If you’re in good health, it’s often worth comparing the conversion offer against a new individual policy, ideally before your group coverage ends.
What happens to my union life insurance when I retire?
Many plans reduce coverage to a smaller amount at retirement or end it altogether; the details vary by plan and contract. If your spouse would depend on your pension or Social Security, or you want final expenses handled, it is smart to have a policy you own in place before you retire — while you are still working and, usually, healthier.
Is United Eagles Financial affiliated with my union?
No. United Eagles Financial is an independent life insurance agency. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any labor union, employer, or benefit plan — including any union mentioned on this page, which are named only to describe the members we serve. We help members compare and place private coverage alongside the benefits they already have.
No-pressure quote
See what coverage looks like for your family
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll reach out with honest options — no obligation, no jargon.
- Independent — we compare multiple carriers
- Plain answers, no pressure
- Coverage built around your real needs