Group life insurance is a life insurance policy in which a single contract covers an entire group of people, e.g the staff at the place of work. Typically the life insurance policy owner is an employer or other entity, such as a labor organization and the life insurance policy covers the employees or members of the group.

Group life insurance is often provided as part of a complete employee benefits package. In most cases, the cost of group coverage is far less than you would pay for a similar amount of individual protection. So, if you are offered group life insurance through your employer or another group, you should consider it - especially if you have no other life insurance or if your personal coverage is inadequate.

As the policy owner, the employer or other entity keeps the actual group life insurance policy (called the "master contract"). All covered individuals typically receive a certificate of insurance. Although this certificate proves that you are insured, it is not actually a life insurance policy. As with other types of life insurance, group life insurance allows you to choose your beneficiary.