Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Globe Life Inc. have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Therefore, they do not include all of the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for annual financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial position at September 30, 2019, and the condensed consolidated results of operations, comprehensive income, and cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The interim period condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements that are included in the Form 10-K filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 1, 2019.

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year / Yet to be Adopted



Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year
Standard	Description	Effective date	Effect on the consolidated financial statements
ASU No. 2016-02/2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), with clarification guidance issued in July 2018.	The standard requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet for all operating leases that do not qualify for the practical expedients allowed for in this standard. Additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required.	This standard became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019.	The Company adopted the optional transition method allowed for under ASU 2018-11 by not restating comparative periods and recognizing an immaterial cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings on January 1, 2019. The Company does not have any significant lessor contracts. The adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2017-08, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Topic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities	This standard was issued to shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. The standard requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date.	This standard became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019.	This adoption did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.



Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted
Standard	Description	Effective date	Effect on the consolidated financial statements
ASU No. 2016-13/2018-19/2019-04/2019-05, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, with clarification guidance issued in November 2018, along with April and May 2019.	This standard ("CECL") provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, such as assets recorded at amortized cost, as well as to change the loss impairment methodology for available-for-sale fixed maturities by use of an allowance rather than a direct write-down.	This standard will become effective on January 1, 2020 with a modified retrospective transition and an opening balance sheet adjustment to retained earnings on January 1, 2020. The applicable section of the standard related to debt securities requires a prospective transition.	The Company's available-for-sale fixed maturities and other financing receivables will be the relevant financial assets within the scope of the standard. Based on current analysis, the adoption of the guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts	ASU 2018-12 is a significant change to our current accounting and disclosure of long-duration contracts, which is our primary business. The guidance was primarily issued to 1) improve the timeliness of recognizing changes in the liability for future policy benefits and modify the rate used to discount future cash flows, 2) simplify and improve the accounting for certain market-based options or guarantees associated with deposit (or account balance) contracts, 3) simplify the amortization of deferred acquisition costs, and 4) improve the effectiveness of the required disclosures.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021. In July 2019, the FASB tentatively approved a proposal to defer the adoption date by one year to January 1, 2022. While final approval was received in the third quarter, the corresponding ASU has not yet been issued. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted. An entity may select to either adopt a modified retrospective transition or a full retrospective transition. Each adoption allows for an opening balance sheet adjustment through AOCI.	The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact this standard will have on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures, specifically assessing key accounting policies, assumption and data inputs, controls, as well as enhanced system solutions. Due to the overall nature of the standard, the impact on the consolidated financial statements is expected to be significant. At this time, the Company does not have an estimate of the impact. The Company does not anticipate to early adopt this ASU.
ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement	The amendment modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying, or adding certain disclosures.	The revised standard is effective beginning January 1, 2020. The removed and modified disclosures will be adopted on a retrospective basis and the new disclosures will be adopted on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.



Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted (continued)
Standard	Description	Effective date	Effect on the consolidated financial statements
ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20), Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans	The standard removes disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarifies the specific requirements of disclosures and adds disclosure requirements identified as relevant to defined benefit plans.	This standard is effective beginning January 1, 2021, and will be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract	The standard was issued to now allow the capitalization of implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with similar treatment of developed or obtained internal-use software.	The standard is effective beginning January 1, 2020, and the Company plans to apply the standards on a prospective basis. Early adoption of the amendments is also permitted.	The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.