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See which provider is right for you. The amount of coverage you need depends on many factors, including your age, income, mortgage and other debts and anticipated funeral expenses. Whole life insurance combines life insurance with an investment component. Coverage for life Tax-deferred savings benefit if premiums are paid 3 variations of permanent insurance: whole life, universal life and variable life include investment component Term life insurance is precisely what the name implies: an insurance policy that is good for a specific term of time. Fixed premium over term No savings benefits Outliving policy or policy cancellation results in no money back Find matches Powered by HomeInsurance.com (NPN: 8781838) This advertising widget is powered by HomeInsurance.com, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 8781838) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. HomeInsurance.com LLC services are only available in states where it is licensed and insurance coverage through HomeInsurance.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. Bankrate Why Lemonade? It's a fresh twist on life insurance: easy, accessible and affordable. See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More The last thing a grieving person should have to worry about is how they are going to pay for these services. To help alleviate some of that stress on your family, you may want to consider purchasing burial insurance, also known as end of life insurance. Burial insurance is a type of policy that is specifically intended to be used to cover the costs of your burial. By purchasing a burial insurance policy, you could help pay for expenses ranging from the memorial service to cremation expenses. Here’s what you need to know about this type of policy.

What is burial insurance

If you have your affairs in order, your loved ones already know what will happen when you die. You may have given instructions for how you would like your body to be treated, as well as notes on the organization of your memorial service or what you want written on a tombstone. But all of these things cost money, sometimes many thousands of dollars. If you do not want your survivors to be stuck paying those costs, you may want to consider a burial policy. This is a small permanent life insurance policy that pays out a death benefit — usually anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000 — intended to cover these costs. Because the payout for burial insurance is small compared to many regular life insurance policies, the can be quite affordable, too. The policies are easy to get and do not require a medical exam, even for those not in the best of health. But a waiting period may apply or the policy may offer only limited benefits in the first two years.

What is covered by burial insurance

Burial insurance policies cover all the normal costs incurred by someone’s death. Unless you have managed the estate of a loved one, you may not realize the number of costs involved in a death or how quickly they can mount up. According to the , costs may include: Embalming or preserving the body A casket Flowers Cremation costs A burial plot The cost of transporting the body and/or cremains A headstone, with customized carving Payment to minister or priest Rental costs for the venue where the memorial service is held Cost to open and close the grave Grave vault and/or grave liners

How does burial insurance work

Burial insurance can be purchased from most regular insurers or, in some U.S. states, through a funeral home, if they are licensed to provide it. To apply for a policy, you will fill out a form that may ask some simple health questions, but you will not be required to undergo an extensive medical exam like you might with a traditional life insurance policy. One type of burial policy, called a guaranteed issue life insurance policy, is available without any medical or health questions and is intended for those who are seriously ill and cannot get a policy any other way. Sometimes it is possible to purchase a policy online, but usually it will require a phone call to an agent or insurance broker. Working with a broker can be advantageous because they can show you products from different insurers to find the one that is right for you. Once you have purchased a policy, make sure that the person who is designated to handle your end-of-life matters is aware of the policy and knows the policy number and the agent who sold it to you. If all the appropriate arrangements have been made, the process of filing a burial insurance claim should be fairly smooth. Imagine that John dies suddenly. His son, Ted, is his executor and beneficiary, and has all the paperwork for John’s burial insurance. Ted notifies the company, which processes a check for the amount specified and hands it off to Ted within days. Ted is then able to make a down payment on a casket and begin making arrangements for a service and burial. He has the money he needs to pay for workers who will handle the details of John’s service and burial.

Who has the best burial insurance

Although there are companies, such as Lincoln Heritage, that primarily sell burial insurance, many regular also offer it. Here are some options worth looking into. Carrier Best For Coverage Amount Ease of applying $2,500 to $25,000 Flexibility Varies Affordability $2,000 to $25,000*
*($5,000 – $25,000 in WA) Cash value $10,000

AARP

The American Association of Retired Persons has a great deal of experience in meeting the needs of older people. In collaboration with New York Life, they offer burial policies and life insurance specifically geared toward seniors. There is no health questionnaire — the only requirement is to be a member of the organization and over the age of 50. Acceptance is guaranteed with just one health question, unless the applicant is terminally ill.

Colonial Penn

Colonial Penn sells only life insurance, including a guaranteed acceptance life policy that can be used for burial costs. There is no medical exam or health questions to answer to purchase a final expense policy. You can borrow against the cash value of the policy and there are flexible payment options available. Rates are guaranteed and prices are competitive.

Mutual of Omaha

Mutual of Omaha offers guaranteed acceptance policies for those aged 45-85. There are no health questions to answer. If you are looking for a smaller policy, coverage amounts start at $2,000 in most states and go up to $25,000. If the insured passes within two years of the policy effective date, 110% of premiums paid replace the death benefit amount.

State Farm

State Farm’s policies may allow you to earn dividends, which can be paid to you in cash or used to pay premiums. Cash value also grows within the policy, which is tax-deferred and can be borrowed against the death benefit if needed. Though there are advantages to its final expense policy, coverage is capped at $10,000. Policies are available to seniors 50-80 or until age 75 in New York.

How much does burial insurance cost

Your burial insurance premiums are determined by your gender, age, the size of the policy and other factors, so the amount you pay will be specific to your own situation. The states that, as of 2021, the average cost of a funeral with cremation is $6,971 and with a viewing and burial is $7,848. According to burial insurance company , here are some standard rates for a $5,000 death benefit policy, both with and without a health questionnaire: Man, age 50 $16, or $20 with no health questions Man, age 75 $51, or $63 with no health questions Woman, age 50 $14, or $15 with no health questions Woman, age 75 $38, or $46 with no health questions

Are burial insurance policies worth it

A burial insurance policy may play a role in your financial strategy, but it pays to consider your options. Rates increase with age, as is true of all life insurance policies, so the older you are, the less likely you might be to want to spend significant resources on a policy. Burial insurance for seniors is quite popular, but another option would be to accumulate a nest egg of $10,000 or so and keep it in a moderately liquid investment so that your heirs can access it quickly after you die. Another option to consider is prepaying your funeral expenses. Many funeral homes will allow you to choose a casket and will assist you in choosing and paying for the other expenses associated with a funeral. This allows you to retain control — you get to decide how you would like your end-of-life affairs handled, rather than those who are grieving your loss. By locking in the rates at an earlier time, you may also save money in the long run.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need burial insurance if I am younger

It depends. Burial insurance is specifically intended to cover the expenses associated with your death, so it may not be necessary when you’re younger. It’s important to remember that anything can happen, though, and there is nothing wrong with being prepared. If you are young and healthy, a better investment may be to look into other types of whole life or term life insurance policies to find one that meets your specific needs.

How is burial insurance different from regular whole life insurance

Burial insurance is a type of whole life policy, but generally features a smaller death benefit and does not include the in-depth health questioning that goes with most whole life insurance policies.

How is burial insurance different from funeral insurance

Funeral insurance is simply another name for burial insurance, but it provides the same benefit. This type of insurance is a whole life policy that exists with the intention to cover the costs associated with burials. Depending on the insurance company that you purchase your policy through, this type of insurance may be called either burial insurance or funeral insurance. SHARE: Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades. Angelica Leicht is an insurance editor on the Bankrate team. She is truly passionate about helping readers make well-informed decisions for their wallets, whether the goal is to find the right comprehensive auto policy or the best life insurance policy for their needs. Cate Deventer is a writer, editor and insurance professional with over a decade of experience in the insurance industry as a licensed insurance agent.

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