Final expense insurance, made simple.
Find out what burial insurance really costs for your age — from a licensed agent, not a form. No cost, no obligation, nothing to sign on this page.
- One licensed agent. We don't sell your information to a list of companies.
- No medical exam. A few health questions by phone.
- Coverage sized to a funeral, not a mortgage — most plans run $5,000 to $25,000.
You'll speak with a licensed agent.
The bill arrives about a week after the funeral.
Someone has to pay it, and it's almost always the person grieving hardest. A small policy is the difference between a family remembering you and a family paying for you.
National median costs from the funeral industry's own survey. Yours will vary by state and by the choices your family makes.
| Item | Median cost |
|---|---|
| Funeral home basic services and staff | $2,495 |
| Embalming and preparation | $1,140 |
| Viewing and ceremony | $1,025 |
| Transportation and printed materials | $1,140 |
| Metal casket | $2,500 |
| Funeral with viewing and burial | $8,300 |
| Burial vault (required by most cemeteries) | $1,695 |
| Total with vault | $9,995 |
| Cemetery plot, opening and closing, headstone | typically $3,000 or more, on top |
| If cremation instead of burial, with a viewing | $6,280 |
Sources: National Funeral Directors Association, 2023 Member General Price List Study (the most recent national study; medians exclude cemetery costs, flowers and obituary); plot figure from Elayne, 2025.
What does final expense insurance cost?
It depends on four things: your age, your health, whether you use tobacco, and how much coverage you choose. That's why two people the same age can pay very different amounts — and why a number on a website is only a guess. A licensed agent can quote your actual rate in one phone call, for free.
What is final expense insurance?
Final expense insurance — also called burial insurance — is a small whole life policy, usually between $5,000 and $25,000, designed to cover a funeral and the bills left behind. With most policies, the premium stays the same for life, the coverage never shrinks, and there's no medical exam. Ask the agent to confirm those terms for the policy you're offered.
Who it's for
People between 50 and 85 who want their funeral paid for without leaving the bill to a spouse or children. It's a fit if you don't have life insurance, if a work policy ended when you retired, or if you have coverage but want a separate policy set aside just for final costs.
What the money can be used for
Anything your family needs. Most people use it for funeral and burial or cremation costs, but it can also cover medical bills, credit card balances, or day-to-day expenses while the family regroups.
How it compares to term life
Both pay cash to the person you name, for any purpose. The difference is what each is for: term covers a temporary need for a set number of years; final expense covers a cost that doesn't expire.
Comparing final expense and term life
| Feature | Final expense insurance | Term life insurance |
|---|---|---|
| How long it lasts | For life, as long as premiums are paid | 10–30 years, then it ends |
| Premium | Typically fixed for life | Fixed for the term; renewing is expensive or not offered |
| Medical exam | Typically no — a few health questions, or none | Often required |
| Health conditions | Often still qualify | Underwriting is more restrictive |
| Typical amount | $5,000–$25,000 | $100,000 and up |
| Best for | Funeral, burial or cremation, final bills | Income replacement, a mortgage, other temporary needs |
If you already have term insurance, final expense can sit alongside it: the term policy protects your household while you're earning, and the small permanent policy is still there after the term ends. Read more in our comparison guide, and see the three kinds of final expense policy — level, graded and guaranteed issue — in our options guide.
Three steps. No paperwork on this page.
Everything is handled over the phone with an experienced, licensed insurance agent.
- 1
Call a licensed agent
Compare options for your age and state.
- 2
Answer a few health questions by phone
No exam, no lab work, no waiting weeks for an answer.
- 3
Pick the amount that fits
Choose what suits your budget. Many policies can start within days.
Would rather just ask someone?
(813) 730-8342 — you'll speak with a licensed agent.
The questions everybody asks
Direct answers to the most common questions about burial insurance and coverage terms.
Can I be turned down?
Most people can get some form of coverage. Some health conditions change the price or add a waiting period, and guaranteed-acceptance plans — no health questions at all — are available for many ages. Read our guide to health conditions.
Will my premium go up as I get older?
With most final expense policies, the premium is locked when you buy and never increases. Ask the agent to confirm this for the specific policy you're offered.
Is there a waiting period?
Sometimes. Policies that ask health questions often pay in full from day one. Guaranteed-acceptance policies usually have a two-year waiting period — if you pass away from natural causes before then, your family receives the premiums paid back plus interest rather than the full amount. The agent will tell you which applies to you.
How quickly does it pay out?
Once your family files the claim with a death certificate, most insurers pay within a few weeks. The money goes directly to the person you name, not to a funeral home.
Is this the same as pre-paying a funeral?
No. A prepaid funeral plan is a contract with one funeral home for specific services. Final expense insurance is money paid to your family, which they can use at any funeral home or for anything else.
Do I have to fill out a form on this page?
No. Everything happens by phone with a licensed agent.
Learn more before you call
How much does final expense insurance cost?
Typical rates by age (2026). See average premiums for men and women across different coverage amounts.
How much does a funeral cost in 2026?
Burial vs. cremation, by state. Line items and medians from the funeral industry's latest study.
Can you get burial insurance with health conditions?
Underwriting with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and guaranteed issue policies.
Can I buy burial insurance for my parents?
Insurable interest, parental consent, power of attorney rules, and how adult children set up coverage.
Does Social Security or Medicare pay for a funeral?
What the $255 lump-sum Social Security death payment covers and Medicare funeral benefit guidelines.
Final expense vs. term life insurance
Term life covers temporary obligations. Final expense is permanent whole life coverage for costs that do not expire.
Final expense insurance options
Level vs. graded vs. guaranteed issue. Learn how waiting periods, underwriting, and benefits differ.
Talk to a licensed agent before you decide anything.
No cost, no obligation, and nothing to sign on this page.
¿Habla español? Llame al (813) 547-8476 — hable con un agente con licencia.