Blog

Published by Maple Valley Insurance Group — serving Kalamazoo and all of Southwest Michigan

If you’re a senior in Michigan—maybe here in Kalamazoo, Portage, or Vicksburg—you’ve probably seen a Globe Life ad promising “$1 buys you $100,000 in life insurance.” It’s everywhere. It sounds simple. But is it really a good fit for seniors looking for lasting coverage?

We’ve helped hundreds of Michigan families navigate life insurance decisions, especially when it comes to final expense or burial insurance. Here’s the honest breakdown you won’t get from a TV ad.

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🚩 The Problem With Globe Life’s $1 Offer

Let’s start with the offer that grabs attention:
“$1 buys $100,000 of life insurance.” Sounds like a steal, right?

But in reality:

• That $1 is only for the first month
• This particular policy is term insurance, which expires or becomes unaffordable as you age
• The $100,000 isn’t available to seniors—it’s usually for younger applicants
• There’s no permanent coverage option that guarantees your rates or death benefit won’t change

This is where Michigan seniors are most often misled. You’re not getting the full story.

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❓ Is Globe Life Term or Whole Life Insurance?

Globe Life primarily sells term life insurance but the also whole life insurance. But the difference between these policies—and how they’re marketed—it can be confusing for seniors.

• Term Life: This is what Globe promotes with its “$1 buys $100,000” offer. It’s temporary coverage that expires or gets more expensive with age—and is not designed for final expenses.
• Whole Life: Globe also sells whole life insurance for seniors, but it often has a graded death benefit for the first 2 years and limited coverage amounts (often $5,000–$25,000). It is not priced competitively.

So, yes—Globe Life offers both term and whole life insurance, but most of its advertising focuses on term coverage, which is rarely the right fit for Michigan seniors needing permanent, end-of-life protection that is priced for people living on a fixed income.

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🧓 Why Term Life Doesn’t Work for Most Seniors in Michigan

If you’re in your 60s, 70s, or beyond and looking for life insurance, term life insurance is rarely a good option—and here’s why:

1. It Expires

Term insurance only lasts for a set number of years—typically 10, 20 or 30. It is temporary life insurance. After that, you lose the coverage entirely, or the premiums become outrageously expensive. Think even 10X.

That’s very risky for seniors on a fixed income who are trying to cover:

• Funeral costs
• Medical bills
• A small legacy for kids or grandkids

2. The Premiums Skyrocket

Globe’s pricing structure for this policy increases over the time of ownership. That $1 promo can quickly become $30, $60, even $100+ per month—and that’s if you even qualify for coverage going forward.

3. It’s Not Meant for End-of-Life Planning

Term life is designed for income replacement during working years—not for end-of-life planning. But many Globe Life buyers in Michigan don’t realize this until it’s too late.

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✅ What Most Seniors in Michigan Actually Need: Whole Life Final Expense Insurance

If you’re looking to lock in coverage for the long haul, protect your family from funeral costs, and avoid surprises—whole life final expense insurance is often the best option.

Here’s why seniors across Kalamazoo and the rest of Southwest Michigan choose whole life insurance:

Feature	Term Life (Globe)	Whole Life Final Expense
Coverage Duration	Temporary (10–20 years)	Lifetime
Premium Increases?	Yes	Never
Builds Cash Value?	No	Yes
Expires With Age?	Yes, or premiums skyrocket	No
Typical Use	Income protection	Funeral & final bills
Available to Seniors?	Limited	Designed for applicants ages 50–85

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🔍 Real-World Example from Kalamazoo

A retired couple in Kalamazoo called us after paying Globe for many years. The premiums on the policy had gotten noticeably more expensive at that point. Further, they thought they had permanent coverage, but their policy was scheduled to expire. Now the insured individual was older and required whole life insurance to guarantee a lifetime of protection.

We were able to move them into level whole life coverage with a well-rated carrier that locked in their premium and coverage for life. No guesswork. No sudden jumps in cost. And…no more surprises!

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💡 Why Globe Life Markets So Heavily to Seniors

Globe Life is one of the most heavily advertised insurance brands in the country. They spend millions on mailers, commercials, and “$1 offer” promotions. But these term policies are not appropriate for the vast number of seniors.

They know many buyers won’t fully understand the fine print. And since the underwriting is light, Globe often charges higher premiums to offset the risk. This punishes the healthier folks who can qualify for better options including a lower premium with a more appropriate company and policy.

That’s why comparing quotes with an independent broker—someone who works for you, not the insurance company—is critical.

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🛡️ Better Burial Insurance Options for Michigan Seniors

Here at Maple Valley Insurance Group, we’re based in Southwest Michigan and work with over 15 top-rated final expense companies, including:

• Mutual of Omaha
• Aflac
• SBLI
• Foresters Financial
• Royal Neighbors Of America

We compare pricing, underwriting, and policy features so that you’re not stuck with one-size-fits-all coverage like Globe Life.

And we’ll help you find options even if you’ve had:

• COPD or asthma
• Diabetes
• Heart conditions
• Cancer history

You’re not out of luck—and you don’t need to settle for overpriced, expiring term coverage.

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🌟 Why Seniors in Kalamazoo & Southwest Michigan Trust Us

We’re not some call center. We’re real agents based in Michigan, helping your neighbors find real peace of mind.

Whether you’re in:

• Kalamazoo
• Portage
• Vicksburg
• Mattawan
• Texas Township
• Schoolcraft
• Anywhere across Michigan & 30 Other States…

We’ll walk you through your options, answer your questions, and help you compare Globe Life against better choices without pressure.

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📞 Get a Local, Honest Review of Your Life Insurance Options

Before you buy from Globe Life—or cancel your current policy—talk to a Michigan licensed independent agent who knows the life insurance options and market.

✅ Compare permanent policies built for seniors
✅ Lock in coverage that doesn’t expire
✅ Avoid surprises down the road

👉 If you’d like, get an instant quote comparison on our tool on this page as a starter.
Or simply call us at (269) 244-3420 to talk to a local advisor.

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🔚 Final Word: Globe Life Isn’t Evil—But It’s Often Wrong for Michigan Seniors

We’re not here to bash Globe Life—but we are here to help seniors make smart, confident decisions about something as important as life insurance, that which takes care of their loved ones. In most cases, especially here in Michigan, there are better, more affordable, more reliable options.

Whenever we release a review like this, we are going to base it on facts and form our own opinions accordingly. As a agency, we have taken many phone calls over the years from people looking to buy life insurance. In conversation we found a very large number of them had a bad experience with another life insurance company’s product. Globe has been near the top of the heap in terms of problems. The Globe products they or their family member had purchased at one time were not thought of very well.

No insurance product is perfect. In the end, affordability, good service and value in the policy are very important to protect those you love. The wrong policy, the wrong carrier, the wrong salesperson can lead to a poor outcome for the family.

Take the time and have a conversation about your needs with a real professional, a independent life insurance advisor who can help you get the right policy for the job.

If you want the peace of mind of knowing your final expenses are truly covered—for life—let’s talk. We’re here to help.

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Ready for a local, honest review of your life insurance options?