Special needs require special planning • MetDESK Division introduced to help families with special needs children

Children with special needs hold an extraordinary place in their parents’ hearts. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company has introduced MetDESK (Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids), a new marketing division that will focus on the additional attention and care that families with special needs children often require.

MetDESK offers families with special needs children a dedicated staff of professionals and a Web page where visitors can learn about the financial issues surrounding raising a special needs child.

Defined as any limited functioning caused by a mental, emotional, genetic, physical or biological condition, children with special needs may require specialized pro training and/or government benefit assistance.

In conjunction with this initiative, MetLife’s Consumer Education Center has developed a new brochure, Planning for Your Special Needs Child,” in its award-winning LIFE ADVICE series of more than 85 brochures, created to help people better understand and manage the major events in the lives.

“MetDESK was established to extend MetLife’s traditional commitment to public service to special needs children and their families,” said Nadine Vogel, MetLife assistant vice president and director of the MetDESK programs. “MetDESK will reinforce that dedication with its own staff and diverse range of services that meet individual needs and circumstances. We looked closely at other successful programs, most particularly the MetLife Consumer Education Center, and we strive to parallel their successful public service efforts.”

“Planning for Your Special Needs Child” explains how parents ran take steps today to help ensure the future financial, legal, medical and education needs of their special child. Covering topics ranging from guardianships to medical coverage to educational development, the brochure offers need-to-know information for parents of special needs children.

Headquartered in New York City since 1868, MetLife is a leading provider of insurance and financial services to a broad spectrum of individual and institutional customers. The company provides individual insurance and investment products to approximately 9 million households in the U.S. MetLife also provides group insurance and investment products to corporations and other institutions serving over 33 million people.

For more information about MetDESK, the 1999 recipient of the National Business & Disability Council’s Valued Customer Gold Award of Honor, please visit www.metlife.com/desk or call 1-877-METDESK. For additional information about the MetLife Consumer Education Center’s Life Advice program or to request the free brochure,
“Planning for Your Special Needs Child,” please call 1-800-METLIFE.