Key takeaways
- Globe Life's adult whole life plan offers $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or $50,000 with rates that stay level for life.
- Its adult term plan ends at the policy anniversary after age 90 in most states and age 80 in several others.
- There is no medical exam, but applicants answer health questions, so approval is not automatic.
- Globe Life says it is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best, rating as of 11/25.
- You buy direct; the first month costs $1, then your age-based rate applies.
Globe Life sells small life insurance policies straight to consumers: an adult whole life plan from $5,000 to $50,000 and an adult term plan up to $100,000, both with no medical exam. It can fit a healthy adult who wants a simple, buy-direct policy. The main trade-off is that the adult term plan ends at age 80 or 90, so it is not lifelong burial coverage unless you choose the whole life plan.
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Globe Life at a glance
Item | What Globe Life publishes |
|---|---|
Final expense products | Adult Whole Life; Adult Term Life (marketed for burial and final expenses) |
Whole life coverage | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or $50,000 |
Term coverage | $5,000 up to $100,000 |
Issue ages | Not stated on the product pages; ask before applying |
Underwriting | No medical exam; simple application with health questions |
Waiting period | Globe Life's pages state "No Waiting Period" |
How to buy | Direct: online, by mail or by phone (1-800-742-6787) |
Term end age | Policy anniversary after age 90 in most states; after age 80 in AL, GA, MS, SC, MO, OK, DC, TN and NY |
Financial strength | A (Excellent) from AM Best, "rating as of 11/25," per Globe Life |
NAIC complaint index | Look up Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company on NAIC Consumer Insurance Search |
What does Globe Life sell for final expenses?
Globe Life offers two adult policies that people use for funeral and final costs: whole life and term life. Both are sold by Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company, and Globe Life notes that not all products are available in all states.
Adult Whole Life
The adult whole life page lists coverage of $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or $50,000. Globe Life states that:
- Rates are based on your age when the policy is issued and "will never increase for any reason."
- The policy builds cash value.
- Coverage will not be reduced or canceled as long as premiums are paid on time.
- $1 pays for the first month; after that your regular rate applies.
- You can return the policy within 30 days for a full refund.
This is the plan that most closely matches what people mean by final expense insurance: a small, permanent policy that stays in force for life.
Adult Term Life
The adult term page offers $5,000 to $100,000 with "rates as low as $3.49 per month" for adults, with the lowest rates going to the youngest ages. Globe Life's own state rate schedule page describes it as a "modified premium term-to-age-90 product" in most states and "term-to-age-80" in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Missouri, Oklahoma, Washington D.C., Tennessee and New York.
That description matters. The policy renews in five-year periods that begin at set ages (21, 26, 31 and so on), and the final period "will expire and the policy will terminate" at the policy anniversary after the insured's 80th or 90th birthday. The state rate schedules list term rates by age band, so ask how your premium changes at each renewal. If you're 70 and want coverage that pays whenever you die, a term plan ending at 80 or 90 may run out first. Our guide to term vs whole life insurance explains the difference.
Does Globe Life have a waiting period?
Globe Life's product pages say "No Waiting Period" and "Full Coverage The First Day." That is different from guaranteed issue policies, which accept everyone but often pay only premiums plus interest for non-accidental deaths in the first two years.
The trade-off is underwriting. Globe Life describes its process as "No Medical Exam — Simple Application." There's no exam or blood test, but the application asks about your health, and Globe Life can decline it. Like most life policies, the contract will also have standard terms such as a contestability period and a suicide clause. Read the policy you receive during the 30-day review window.
How strong is Globe Life financially?
Globe Life reports that it is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best, "rating as of 11/25," on its adult and burial product pages. An A rating is AM Best's third-highest financial strength grade, after A++ and A+. It is an opinion about the insurer's ability to pay claims, not a measure of price or service.
Globe Life is part of a family of affiliated insurers; the rating above applies to Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company, the company that issues these direct policies.
For complaints, search "Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company" on the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search. The NAIC complaint index compares an insurer's share of confirmed complaints to its share of premiums in a line of business. An index of 1.00 is the national baseline. Above 1.00 means more complaints than expected for the company's size, and below 1.00 means fewer. Check the most recent year shown, and look at individual life coverage rather than all lines combined.
Globe Life pros and cons
Pros:
- Published rates. Globe Life posts monthly rate schedules for each state on its website.
- No exam. Both adult plans use a simple health-question application.
- Level whole life premiums. Globe Life says whole life rates are locked in at issue and never increase.
- 30-day refund. You can return the policy for a full refund within 30 days.
Cons:
- Term plan ends. The adult term plan ends at the anniversary after age 80 or 90, depending on your state.
- Term renewals by age band. The term policy renews in five-year periods, and the rate schedule lists rates by age band; confirm how your premium changes at renewal.
- Not guaranteed acceptance. Health questions mean some applicants will be declined.
- Whole life tops out at $50,000. It's a fixed menu of five amounts.
- Issue ages not listed. The product pages don't state the age limits, so you need to ask.
- Only Globe Life's plans. Buying direct means no one compares its rates with other insurers for the same coverage.
Who Globe Life may fit, and who should look elsewhere
Globe Life may fit you if you're in reasonably good health and want a small whole life policy with a published rate. The fixed coverage amounts are easy to compare against a funeral cost estimate, and a licensed agent can price the same amount with other insurers so you know whether Globe Life's rate is competitive.
Look elsewhere if you have serious health conditions that may lead to a decline, if you want an agent to compare several insurers for you, or if you're older and were only quoted the term plan. People in their late 70s especially should compare carefully. Our guide on final expense insurance for seniors over 70 walks through those choices.
Globe Life alternatives
If Globe Life isn't a fit, these reviews cover other final expense options:
- Gerber Life Guaranteed Life review: guaranteed acceptance for ages 50 to 80, with a two-year graded benefit.
- Mutual of Omaha final expense review: simplified and guaranteed options sold through agents.
- Colonial Penn review: another direct-mail seller for older adults.
You can also compare every carrier in our best final expense insurance companies guide, or browse all life insurance company reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Does Globe Life's $1 offer mean coverage costs $1 a month?
No. Globe Life says the $1 pays for the first month only. After that, you pay the regular monthly rate for your age and coverage amount, which Globe Life publishes in state rate schedules on its website.
See final expense optionsWhat happens when a Globe Life term policy reaches the end age?
According to Globe Life's own policy description, the adult term policy terminates at the policy anniversary after the insured's 80th or 90th birthday, depending on the state. Term coverage does not build cash value, so nothing is paid back when it ends.
See final expense optionsCan I return a Globe Life policy if I change my mind?
Yes. Globe Life advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on its adult whole life policy: return the policy within 30 days and it refunds your money. Check your policy for the exact terms in your state.
See final expense optionsIs Globe Life the same company as American Income Life or Liberty National?
They are separate insurance companies in the same corporate family. Globe Life's website lists American Income Life, Family Heritage Life, Liberty National Life, United American, National Income Life and Globe Life Insurance Company of New York as affiliates of Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company.
See final expense optionsWill Globe Life accept me if I have serious health problems?
Not necessarily. Globe Life uses a simple application with health questions rather than guaranteed acceptance. If you have serious health conditions, a guaranteed issue policy may be the only option, though those usually come with a graded death benefit in the first two years.
See final expense optionsSources
About the author
Editorial TeamResearch & editorial
Our editorial team researches and writes these guides from primary sources — including the VA, IRS, Social Security Administration, CFPB, NAIC, and NFDA — and updates them as rules and figures change. Guides are general information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.
