MetLife Ordered To Respond to Rate Discrimination Suit

A U.S. District Court Judge on Tuesday ordered MetLife Inc. to respond to charges that it consistently charged black Americans higher premiums than whites for low cost life insurance and burial policies.

By failing to grant MetLife’s request to dismiss the suit, the judge opened the way for an examination of MetLife’s premium policies going back many years, and may well validate the discrimination claims.

Prudential faces a similar suit in New Jersey, and American General earlier agreed to a settlement which would provide up to $206 million in refunds to policyholders.