Brighthouse Life Insurance $9.25 Million Settlement, Universal Life Policyholders Get Automatic Payments With No Claim Form

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company has agreed to pay $9,250,000 to settle a class action by universal life policyholders who say the company failed to lower its cost of insurance rates even as people lived longer and its expenses fell. If you are an eligible policyholder, you do not need to file a claim. The settlement administrator will use the records it has and mail checks automatically after the court gives final approval and any appeals are resolved.

The case is Martin v. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-02923-MMG, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. It was filed on April 6, 2021. Judge Margaret M. Garnett granted preliminary approval on September 1, 2026. The final approval hearing is set for January 26, 2027 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Brighthouse denies any wrongdoing, and the court has not decided the merits.

Two deadlines matter if you do not want to be part of the settlement or want to object. The opt-out deadline is December 11, 2026. The objection deadline is December 23, 2026. They are different deadlines with different legal effects.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Settlement Quick Facts: Martin v. Brighthouse

Detail	Information
Case	Martin v. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company et al., No. 1:21-cv-02923-MMG
Court	U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Judge	Margaret M. Garnett
Plaintiff	Lawrence E. Martin
Defendant	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
Settlement fund	$9,250,000
Main claim	Breach of contract (alleged failure to lower cost of insurance rates)
Who is included	Current and former owners of certain Brighthouse universal life policies in the 50 states, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories
Covered policy forms	22 listed forms (see table below)
Claim form required	No. Payments are automatic by mailed check
Individual payment	Not yet determined; a share of the net fund
Opt-out deadline	December 11, 2026 (postmarked)
Objection deadline	December 23, 2026
Final approval hearing	January 26, 2027, 10:30 a.m. ET
Settlement administrator	Epiq Global
Official website	brighthouseinsurancecase.com
Current status	Preliminary approval granted; final approval pending

What the Brighthouse Cost of Insurance Lawsuit Alleges

A universal life insurance policy combines coverage with an account value. Each month the insurer deducts a “cost of insurance” charge, often called COI, which pays for the death benefit. The insurer sets the rate within limits written into the policy.

The lawsuit says Brighthouse and its predecessors, MetLife Insurance Company USA, MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut and The Travelers Insurance Company, kept those rates higher than they should have been. According to the plaintiffs, expected mortality improved and the insurer’s expenses fell, but the rates did not come down with them. They say policyholders paid more than they should have to keep their coverage in force.

The theory is breach of contract. The policies at issue say:

“We will base these rates only on our future outlook for mortality and expenses.”

The plaintiffs argue that this language required Brighthouse to lower COI rates when its outlook for mortality and expenses improved. In its SEC filings, Brighthouse also describes claims for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and for unjust enrichment. Brighthouse denies the allegations and says the contracts did not require rate reductions in the way the plaintiff claims.

A settlement is not a finding that Brighthouse breached its contracts. The parties agreed to resolve the dispute without a trial decision.

How the Brighthouse Case Reached a Settlement

On September 25, 2025, the court certified a nationwide class on the breach of contract claim over the alleged failure to decrease rates. That class covered owners of universal life policies with product codes ULX or ULXP containing the quoted language. The plaintiff then asked the Second Circuit for permission to appeal on October 9, 2025. The Second Circuit denied permission on February 11, 2026.

Brighthouse signed the settlement agreement on July 27, 2026 and the agreement was filed on August 12, 2026. Brighthouse’s quarterly report to the SEC says the settlement excludes policies at issue in a separate case and remains subject to court approval. The settlement class definition is broader than the ULX and ULXP forms in the 2025 certification, so use the settlement definition to check your policy.

Laws Behind the Brighthouse Universal Life Cost of Insurance Case

Breach of Contract Under State Law

The principal claim is breach of contract under the laws of the states and territories where class members live. A plaintiff generally has to show a contract, a breach of a contractual duty and damages. The key question here is whether the policy language tying rates to “future outlook for mortality and expenses” required Brighthouse to lower COI rates when its expectations or expenses improved. Brighthouse disputes that reading.

Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing and Unjust Enrichment

Brighthouse’s SEC filing describes additional claims for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, which requires parties to a contract to exercise discretion honestly, and for unjust enrichment, which asks whether the insurer kept money it should not have.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23

Rule 23(b)(3) governed the 2025 class certification. Rule 23(f) is the rule under which the plaintiff asked the Second Circuit for permission to appeal that ruling. Rule 23(e) requires court approval of the settlement after a finding that it is fair, reasonable and adequate, which is the purpose of the January 26, 2027 hearing.

Class Action Fairness Act Notice, 28 U.S.C. § 1715

Under the Class Action Fairness Act, the defendant must notify the appropriate federal and state officials of a proposed class settlement, and a court cannot grant final approval until at least 90 days after those officials are notified. The January 26, 2027 hearing date falls well after that window.

Why the April 6, 2021 Date and Statutes of Limitations Matter

Contract claims must be filed within a set time, and that period varies by state. New York, for example, generally allows six years for breach of contract under CPLR 213(2). The settlement class definition ties eligibility to whether a policy was in force as of April 6, 2021, “as determined by the applicable statute of limitations.” Having a Brighthouse policy with similar language does not by itself make you a class member.

Who Qualifies for the Brighthouse $9.25 Million Settlement

A policy must meet all of the following conditions:

1. Qualifying insurer: Brighthouse Life Insurance Company issued or administered the policy.
2. Required policy language: The policy contains the sentence “We will base these rates only on our future outlook for mortality and expenses.”
3. Limitations requirement: The policy was in force as of April 6, 2021, as determined by the applicable statute of limitations.
4. Listed policy form: The policy is one of the 22 covered forms.

The class includes current and former owners in any U.S. state, Puerto Rico or a U.S. territory.

Which Brighthouse Policy Forms Are Covered

Covered policy forms	Covered policy forms
TUL91	TUL
ULX	TUL85
ULXP	TULP
ULXP86	UL
ULXP88	UL2
VUL	UL2JH
SPVUL	ULFP85
ULQPL	ULFP88
ULQP85	ULFPP
ULQP88	ULP
GCOUL1	ULS

A matching form code is not enough on its own. The policy must also have the required language and meet the limitations condition.

Which Brighthouse Policies and People Are Excluded

The settlement excludes Georgia-issued ULXP86 and ULXP88 policies. The exclusion applies to those policies, not necessarily to every other qualifying policy the same person owns. It also excludes policies at issue in a separate case, Brighthouse and certain related entities, certain officers and directors, the presiding judge and court staff, and anyone who submits a valid opt-out request.

Can a Beneficiary or Estate Receive a Payment for a Deceased Policyholder?

Possibly. The notice explains that a legal representative can act for a deceased policyholder who would otherwise be a class member. If you are handling an estate, contact the administrator at 877-318-7068 to confirm what documents are needed.

How Much Each Brighthouse Policyholder Will Receive

The $9,250,000 is the total fund, not a payment per person. Each eligible class member gets a share of the net settlement fund under a plan of allocation approved by the court. The net fund is what remains after administration costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses, and a service award to the named plaintiff. No individual amount has been announced.

Item	Amount or limit
Total settlement fund	$9,250,000
Maximum attorneys’ fees requested	Up to 33.3% of the fund, or $3,080,250
Litigation expenses	Reimbursement requested; amount not stated in the sources reviewed
Service award to Lawrence E. Martin	Up to $25,000
Administration costs	Paid from the fund; amount not stated in the sources reviewed

These are maximums. The court decides the final amounts and can approve less. The final net fund will not be known until then.

Do You Need to File a Claim for the Brighthouse Settlement?

No. There is no online or paper claim form. The administrator will identify eligible class members from the records it has and mail each one a check by first-class mail. There is no claim deadline.

Checks are valid for 180 days from the date they are mailed, so deposit yours promptly. If your address has changed, send the update in writing to:

Martin v. Brighthouse Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 2477 Portland, OR 97208-2477

You can also call 877-318-7068. Keep copies of anything you send.

When Will Brighthouse Settlement Checks Be Mailed?

Under the agreement as summarized in the notice, the administrator calculates each class member’s share within 30 calendar days after final approval and mails checks within a further 14 days. That timeline starts only if the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved in a way that allows payment. If the settlement is appealed, payments wait until the appeal ends. As of October 23, 2026, no payment date is confirmed.

Key Dates in the Brighthouse Life Insurance Settlement

Event	Date	Status
Lawsuit filed	April 6, 2021	Completed
Class certified on breach of contract claim	September 25, 2025	Completed
Petition to Second Circuit	October 9, 2025	Completed
Second Circuit denied permission to appeal	February 11, 2026	Completed
Settlement agreement signed	July 27, 2026	Completed
Settlement agreement filed	August 12, 2026	Completed
Preliminary approval granted	September 1, 2026	Completed
Opt-out deadline (postmarked)	December 11, 2026	Upcoming
Objection deadline	December 23, 2026	Upcoming
Final approval hearing	January 26, 2027, 10:30 a.m. ET	Scheduled
Payments	After final approval and any appeals	Date not yet known

The court can change the hearing date, time or format, so check brighthouseinsurancecase.com before relying on a date.

Your Options in the Brighthouse Settlement: Stay In, Opt Out or Object

Stay in the class. You do nothing and receive a payment if you qualify. You are bound by the settlement and its release of claims. Read the release in the settlement agreement and long-form notice if you own a policy.

Opt out by December 11, 2026. You receive no payment for the policy you exclude, and you are not bound by the settlement for that policy, so you keep the right to sue on your own, subject to the law and filing deadlines that apply. If you own several policies, you can opt out of some and stay in for others. Mail a written request that includes:

• Your full name and address
• A statement that you want to opt out of Martin v. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, Case No. 1:21-cv-02923
• The policy number of each policy you want to exclude
• Your signature, or your legal representative’s signature with proof of authority

Send it to the settlement administrator at the Portland, OR address above, postmarked by December 11, 2026. Opt-out requests cannot be made by phone or email.

Object by December 23, 2026. You stay in the class but tell the judge why you oppose the settlement or part of it, such as the fee request. An objection must be in writing and include your contact information, policy number, the reasons for your objection, supporting materials and your signature. File it with the court so it is received by December 23, 2026:

Clerk of Court U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York 500 Pearl Street New York, NY 10007

Check the FAQ on the settlement website for the complete filing requirements. If you object but do not opt out, you can still receive a payment if the settlement is approved. You cannot both opt out and object for the same policy.

Brighthouse Settlement Final Approval Hearing: January 26, 2027

The hearing is set for January 26, 2027 at 10:30 a.m. ET at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007, Courtroom 906. Judge Garnett will decide whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate and will rule on the requested fees, expenses and service award. She may hear objections. You do not have to attend to get a payment.

Brighthouse Settlement Administrator and Class Counsel Contact Information

• Administrator: Epiq Global, Martin v. Brighthouse Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 2477, Portland, OR 97208-2477
• Phone: 877-318-7068
• Website: brighthouseinsurancecase.com

The sources reviewed did not name class counsel. The contact page on the settlement website lists them. Do not call the court about the settlement.

Other Life Insurance Class Action Settlements Covered by AllAboutLawyer

This case is about alleged failures to lower cost of insurance rates. Other life insurance settlements involve different policy terms and different claims, and qualifying for one does not make you eligible for another.

• Transamerica $110M Life Insurance Settlement, Check If You Qualify, Wren v. Transamerica Life Insurance Co., No. 5:21-cv-00178-JGB-SP concerns alleged failures to credit cash-value increases under certain policies.
• 11M Talcott Premium Tax Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Arbuckle Funding LLC v. Talcott Resolution Life & Annuity Insurance Company, No. 7:23-cv-07972-CS concerns allegations about premium tax charges on universal life policies.
• Sun Life $213.5 Million MetLife Class Action Settlement for Canadians, Which Canadians Qualify and How to Register involves universal life policies originally sold in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Brighthouse Life Insurance $9.25 Million Settlement

Is the Brighthouse $9.25 million settlement final?

No. Judge Garnett granted preliminary approval on September 1, 2026. Final approval is pending, with a hearing on January 26, 2027.

Do I need to file a claim to get Brighthouse settlement money?

No. Eligible class members are paid automatically by mailed check. Keep your address current with the administrator.

How much will I get from the Brighthouse settlement?

No amount has been announced. Payments will be a share of the net fund after court-approved deductions.

Which Brighthouse policy forms qualify?

Twenty-two forms are covered, including ULX, ULXP, VUL, TUL and UL. The policy must also contain the required rate language and meet the April 6, 2021 limitations condition. Georgia-issued ULXP86 and ULXP88 policies are excluded.

What is the deadline to opt out of the Brighthouse settlement?

December 11, 2026. The request must be mailed and postmarked by that date.

What is the deadline to object to the Brighthouse settlement?

December 23, 2026, according to the long-form notice. Confirm it on the settlement website.

Can I object and still get paid?

Yes. If you stay in the class and the court approves the settlement, you can still receive a payment. Opting out gives up the payment for that policy.

What happens if I do nothing?

You stay in the class, receive a payment if you qualify and give up the right to sue Brighthouse over the claims released by the settlement.

Does the settlement prove Brighthouse overcharged policyholders?

No. Brighthouse denies wrongdoing, and the court has not decided the merits.

How do I reach the Brighthouse settlement administrator?

Call 877-318-7068 or write to Martin v. Brighthouse Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 2477, Portland, OR 97208-2477.

Official Sources and Legal References

1. Official settlement website and FAQ: https://brighthouseinsurancecase.com/
2. Long-form notice: https://brighthouseinsurancecase.com/Content/Documents/Long%20Form%20Notice.pdf
3. Settlement agreement: https://brighthouseinsurancecase.com/Content/Documents/Settlement%20Agreement.pdf
4. Preliminary approval order: https://brighthouseinsurancecase.com/Content/Documents/Preliminary%20Approval%20Order.pdf
5. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2026, “Cost of Insurance Class Actions”: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000733076/000073307626000009/bhl-20260630.htm
6. Law360, “Brighthouse Strikes $9.25M Deal In Life Policy Rate Suit” (August 13, 2026): https://www.law360.com/articles/2513114/brighthouse-strikes-9-25m-deal-in-life-policy-rate-suit
7. Claim Depot, Brighthouse Life Insurance settlement summary (October 22, 2026): https://www.claimdepot.com/settlements/brighthouse-insurance-case
8. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23: https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_23
9. Class Action Fairness Act notice, 28 U.S.C. § 1715: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1715

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Brighthouse denies wrongdoing and the court has not decided the merits. Confirm dates on the official settlement website.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official Long Form Notice, Settlement Agreement, Preliminary Approval Order and settlement website run by Epiq Global (brighthouseinsurancecase.com), Brighthouse’s SEC filing and published case coverage, as of October 23, 2026. Last Updated: October 23, 2026.