Help With Final Expense & Burial Insurance
Coverage that helps your family handle funeral, burial, and end-of-life costs. Most policies have no medical exam. Speak with a licensed agent — free, no obligation.
Final expense insurance — also called burial insurance or funeral insurance — is a small whole life insurance policy designed to help your family handle the costs of your funeral, burial, and other end-of-life expenses. It's one of the most common reasons people call us, and one of the easiest types of life insurance to qualify for.
If you're researching coverage for yourself, or if you're an adult child looking into coverage for an aging parent, this page walks through how final expense insurance works, what it costs, how to qualify, and how to buy a policy without pressure or hassle. If you'd rather just talk to someone, our licensed agents are available seven days a week at the number above. No medical exam questions on the call, no commitment, no follow-up sales calls.
What Final Expense Insurance Is
Final expense insurance is a type of small whole life insurance policy built specifically to cover the costs your family will face after your passing. The death benefit is paid to your beneficiary in cash, usually within 24 to 48 hours of the claim being filed, and can be used for any purpose — funeral, burial, cremation, headstone, unpaid medical bills, credit card debt, or simply to help the family during a difficult time.
Most final expense policies share four important features:
- Coverage amounts from $5,000 to $50,000. Smaller than traditional life insurance because the goal is end-of-life costs, not income replacement. The most common amount is between $10,000 and $25,000.
- Level premiums for life. Your monthly cost is locked in when you buy the policy and never increases, regardless of your age or health changes.
- Permanent coverage. Unlike term life insurance, final expense insurance does not expire. As long as premiums are paid, the policy stays in force for your lifetime.
- Simplified or guaranteed issue underwriting. Most policies don't require a medical exam. You answer health questions on the application — or, with guaranteed acceptance policies, no health questions at all.
Why people buy it
The average traditional burial costs $8,300, and cremation with services averages $6,280, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Headstones, plots, vaults, and other extras can add another $1,000 to $5,000. For families on a fixed income, those expenses can be a significant burden — particularly because funeral homes typically require payment within days, not weeks or months.
Final expense insurance is designed to address exactly this gap. The premium is affordable, the payout is fast, and the family knows in advance that the money will be available when they need it most.
Key terminology
- Simplified issue — You answer health questions on the application but don't take a medical exam. Most applicants are approved within days.
- Guaranteed issue (or guaranteed acceptance) — No health questions at all. Anyone in the age range can qualify, but there is typically a two-year waiting period before the full death benefit is payable.
- Graded benefit — A policy that pays a partial death benefit in the first two or three years, then the full benefit after. Offered to applicants with certain health conditions.
- Level benefit — A policy that pays the full death benefit from day one. The standard for healthy applicants.
- Beneficiary — The person who receives the death benefit. Usually a spouse, adult child, or trust.
Who Final Expense Insurance Is Best For
Final expense insurance isn't for everyone, but for the right person it provides genuine peace of mind for a manageable monthly cost. Here are the situations where it makes the most sense:
1. Seniors who want to protect their family from funeral costs
If you're between 50 and 85 and your main concern is making sure your loved ones aren't left with a funeral bill they have to scramble to pay, final expense insurance is the most direct solution. You pay a modest monthly premium, your family receives a tax-free death benefit within days of your passing, and they can use the money exactly the way you'd want.
2. People who have been declined for traditional life insurance
Many seniors are declined for traditional term or whole life insurance because of age or health conditions. Final expense policies — especially guaranteed acceptance policies — are designed for exactly this situation. There are products available for almost every health profile, including diabetes, heart conditions, COPD, and others that disqualify applicants from standard underwriting.
3. People on fixed incomes who want predictable costs
Premiums on final expense policies stay level for life. If you buy a policy at age 65 paying $45 per month, you'll still be paying $45 per month at age 85. That predictability matters when you're managing a fixed retirement income.
4. Adult children buying coverage for an aging parent
One of the most common scenarios: an adult child wants to make sure their parent's funeral and end-of-life expenses are covered, but the parent doesn't have life insurance or savings earmarked for it. With the parent's consent and signature, you can be the policy owner (and pay the premiums) while your parent is the insured. We'll walk you through this in more detail in a section below.
5. People who simply want to leave their family with cash, not bills
Even if you have savings, those savings may be tied up in retirement accounts, real estate, or investments that take time to access. Final expense insurance pays out within days — fast, liquid, and tax-free.
If you have no dependents and already have $25,000 or more set aside specifically for end-of-life costs, you may not need final expense insurance at all. A licensed agent can help you decide honestly without pressure.
How Much Final Expense Insurance Costs
Final expense premiums depend on four main factors: your age, your gender, your health, and the amount of coverage you want. Premiums also vary by carrier, which is why a licensed agent who works with multiple carriers can usually find a better rate than calling any single insurance company directly.
Here's a general guide to what monthly premiums look like for a non-smoker in average health, with a $10,000 level benefit policy:
| Age | Female (monthly) | Male (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | $25 – $35 | $32 – $45 |
| 60 | $30 – $42 | $40 – $55 |
| 65 | $38 – $52 | $50 – $68 |
| 70 | $50 – $68 | $65 – $88 |
| 75 | $70 – $95 | $90 – $120 |
| 80 | $100 – $135 | $130 – $170 |
Ranges are approximate and based on industry-standard rates for non-smoking applicants in average health. Actual quotes from carriers may be lower or higher depending on your specific situation. A licensed agent can give you exact quotes from multiple carriers in one call.
Why getting quotes from multiple carriers matters
The same person, with the same health profile, applying for the same $10,000 in coverage, can receive premium quotes that differ by 30% to 50% between carriers. That's because each carrier uses its own underwriting criteria — one carrier might charge more for a specific health condition while another might offer better rates for it. A licensed agent who works with multiple carriers can run your information against all of them at once and find the best fit.
What raises your premium
- Age. Premiums rise with each year of age. Applying sooner saves money over the life of the policy.
- Tobacco use. Smokers typically pay 30% to 80% more than non-smokers for the same coverage.
- Health conditions. Diabetes, heart conditions, cancer history, and other conditions can affect rates. Some carriers are friendlier to specific conditions than others.
- Coverage amount. A $25,000 policy costs roughly 2.5x what a $10,000 policy costs at the same age.
- Type of underwriting. Simplified issue is the most common and offers the best rates for healthy applicants. Guaranteed acceptance costs more because it asks no health questions.
Want exact quotes for your situation?
A licensed agent can pull quotes from multiple carriers in a single call. No pressure to buy — just real numbers for your specific age, health, and coverage need.
Speak with a licensed agent: (877) 684-6070Final Expense vs. Term Life vs. Whole Life
It can be confusing to figure out which type of life insurance fits your needs, especially when the terminology overlaps. Here's a side-by-side comparison of the three most common options for seniors:
| Feature | Final Expense | Term Life | Whole Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage Length | Lifetime | 10, 20, or 30 years | Lifetime |
| Coverage Amount | $5K – $50K | $100K – $1M+ | $50K – $1M+ |
| Medical Exam | Usually no | Often yes | Usually yes |
| Premium | Low to moderate | Low | High |
| Cash Value | Builds slowly | None | Builds steadily |
| Best for | End-of-life costs | Income replacement | Estate planning |
| Typical buyer | Seniors 50–85 | Adults 25–55 | Adults 30–60 |
The simplest way to think about it: if your main concern is making sure your family has enough money to handle your funeral and final costs without struggle, final expense insurance is built for that exact purpose. If you have dependents who rely on your income, you might also want term or whole life. Many families have both.
"They made it easy."
"I'm 73 and on a fixed income. They helped me find a $15,000 policy for $68 a month. The agent was patient, explained everything, and didn't pressure me at all."
"My mom is 81 and I wanted to make sure her funeral was paid for. They found a policy that accepted her even with her diabetes. The whole process took less than an hour on the phone."
"I'd been declined by two other companies because of my heart condition. They found me a graded benefit policy that I qualified for. So grateful."
"My dad passed last year and we were scrambling to pay for the funeral. I didn't want that for my mom. Got her covered for $42/month. Such peace of mind."
"The agent compared three different carriers for me and saved me almost $20 a month vs. the first quote I'd gotten from a TV commercial company. Wish I'd called them first."
"I'm 68 and healthy. Got a $20,000 level benefit policy for under $60/month. Took 20 minutes. They didn't try to sell me anything I didn't need."
Final Expense Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Get Final Expense Insurance Help Today
Whether you're researching coverage for yourself or setting up a policy for a parent, a licensed agent is standing by — seven days a week, no pressure, no rush.
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