Our life insurance attorneys recently resolved a $200,000 denied Globe Life insurance claim after the insurer initially refused to pay the death benefit. Globe Life, like many carriers, relied on technical policy defenses rather than clear evidence that the claim should not be paid. This case highlights how and why insurers deny valid claims, and what beneficiaries can do when that happens.
Understanding the most common denial tactics is essential, because many Globe Life denials are reversible once the policy language and claim handling are closely examined.
Death Occurring During the Contestability Period
Most life insurance policies include a contestability period, typically the first two years after the policy is issued. During this window, the insurance company has expanded authority to investigate the policy application and the circumstances surrounding the insured’s death.
Globe Life frequently uses this period to revisit the underwriting file, looking for any alleged misstatement or omission. These investigations often focus on medical history, medications, lifestyle disclosures, or prior diagnoses. Importantly, a death during the contestability period does not automatically justify denial. The insurer must still prove that any alleged misrepresentation was material and that it would have changed the underwriting decision.
In many cases, Globe Life denies claims based on minor or unrelated issues that have little to do with the cause of death. Those denials are often vulnerable to challenge once the facts are fully developed.
What beneficiaries should know:
The insurer carries the burden of proving material misrepresentation
Innocent mistakes are not sufficient grounds for denial
The cause of death does not need to relate to the alleged omission for Globe Life to deny, but that does not make the denial valid
Exclusions Based on the Type of Death
Every life insurance policy contains exclusions, but Globe Life sometimes applies them more broadly than the policy language allows. Suicide is the most common exclusion raised, particularly when the death occurs early in the policy term.
If suicide occurs within the contestability period or within a defined suicide exclusion window, Globe Life may deny the claim and refund premiums instead. However, once those periods expire, suicide exclusions typically no longer apply, and the death benefit should be paid.
Other exclusions may involve criminal activity or hazardous conduct, but insurers often stretch these provisions beyond their intended scope. A close reading of the policy is essential, because exclusions must be clearly stated and narrowly applied.
Key considerations:
Exclusions are interpreted strictly against the insurer
Ambiguous policy language favors the beneficiary
The insurer must prove the exclusion applies to the specific facts
Alleged Omissions or Misstatements on the Application
Failure to disclose information on the application is one of Globe Life’s most frequently cited denial reasons. These allegations often involve prior medical treatment, medications, or lifestyle questions.
What insurers rarely emphasize is that omissions must be material to justify denial. If the missing information would not have changed the issuance of the policy or the premium, the denial may be improper. Additionally, applications are often completed quickly, sometimes with agent involvement, which can introduce errors not attributable to the insured.
During contestability investigations, Globe Life may rely on incomplete medical records or hindsight bias to support denial. Those decisions often collapse when scrutinized.
Important points for beneficiaries:
The insurer must show intent or material impact
Agent completed applications can shift responsibility
Medical complexity favors expert review, not insurer assumptions
Policy Lapse Due to Missed Premiums
Another common Globe Life denial defense is lapse due to nonpayment. While missed premiums can terminate coverage, insurers must strictly comply with notice requirements and grace periods.
Globe Life denies many claims by asserting that coverage lapsed before death, even when notice procedures were defective or confusing. In some cases, premium payments were misapplied, delayed by the insurer, or interrupted due to illness or incapacity.
When lapse is raised, payment history and notice records must be carefully examined. Many lapse based denials are reversed once those records are obtained.
What matters most:
Grace periods may preserve coverage
Notice failures can invalidate lapse claims
Payment history often tells a different story than the denial letter
Why Globe Life Denials Are Often Reversed
In the $200,000 Globe Life claim we resolved, the insurer’s denial did not withstand scrutiny once the policy terms, application history, and claim handling were reviewed together. Like many Globe Life denials, the decision relied on assumptions rather than enforceable policy language.
Beneficiaries should never assume a Globe Life denial is final. Insurers count on claimants giving up, especially when the process feels overwhelming.
Take Action if Your Globe Life Claim Was Denied
If Globe Life has denied your life insurance claim, the most important step is to act quickly and get the denial evaluated. Deadlines apply, and delay can weaken your position even when the denial is wrong.
Our firm focuses exclusively on denied life insurance claims and has resolved Globe Life disputes nationwide. A proper review can determine whether the insurer overreached and whether the death benefit can still be recovered.