Total Group Term Life inforce premium grew by 2 percent in 2010,totaling over $20.3 billion, results from the 2010 U.S. Group LifeMarket Survey and the 2010 U.S. Group Disability Market Surveyshowed. Combined short-term disability and long-term disabilityinforce premium rose slightly, by roughly 1 percent, totaling closeto $13.2 billion.

STD inforce premium increased by 4 percent while LTD inforcepremium remained level year-over-year. Compared to 2009, the totalnumber of employers offering coverage declined by approximately 1percent for Group Term Life, and increased by 1 percent for LTD andSTD. The total number of insured employees was up close to 1percent for Group Term Life, remained level for LTD and increasedby 3 percent for STD. Group Term Life sales remained flat in 2010,at $2.3 billion.

Reported volume for participating carriers decreased by close to5 percent. The average face amount on new Group Term Life policiesincreased by 10 percent, to $79,204 in 2010. Combined groupdisability (STD and LTD) sales declined by 13 percent, to nearly$2.3 billion.