Mutual of Omaha offers the best burial insurance. The top provider may differ depending on your needs.
Best Burial & Final Expense Insurance Companies in 2025
The best burial and final expense insurance companies are Mutual of Omaha, Physicians Mutual, TruStage and Ethos.
Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.
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Updated: November 10, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Mutual of Omaha is the best burial and final expense insurance provider, earning a MoneyGeek score of 4.4 out of 5.
Physicians Mutual ranks second and is the best cheap burial insurance company, with average monthly costs at $41 for women and $50 for men for a $10,000 policy.
TruStage offers the best coverage options, while Ethos ranks first for customer satisfaction.
Burial or final expense insurance covers end-of-life costs like medical bills, burial or cremation. Beneficiaries receive the death benefit directly and can use funds for funeral expenses or other pressing financial obligations.
Burial and final expense insurance costs depend on policy type, coverage amount and the applicant's age. For a guaranteed acceptance policy, the average monthly cost for 60-year-old nonsmokers ranges from $5 to $121, depending on the coverage level.
Who Has the Best Burial and Final Expense Insurance in 2025?
Overall | Mutual of Omaha | 4.4 | $43 (women) | $512 (women) |
Affordability | Physicians Mutual | 4.3 | $41 (women) | $494 (women) |
Coverage Options | TruStage | 3.9 | $55 (women) | $660 (women) |
Customer Experience | Ethos | 3.8 | $55 (women) | $660 (women) |
Rates are based on quotes for a guaranteed acceptance life insurance policy for a 60-year-old with $10,000 coverage amount. Individual rates will vary depending on your coverage needs, age and health. Rates shown are estimates based on our survey methodology and may not reflect actual quotes available to you. Contact licensed insurers directly for personalized quotes.
Best Overall: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
4.4/5Customer Experience
4.8/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$43 (women); $57 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$512 (women); $683 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.
Best Cheap: Physicians Mutual
Physicians Mutual
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
5/5Affordability
3.3/5Customer Experience
3.3/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$41 (women); $50 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$494 (women); $595 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.
Best Coverage Options: TruStage
TruStage
MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ 5
3.2/5Affordability
4.7/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$55 (women); $72 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$660 (women); $864 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.
Best Customer Experience: Ethos
Ethos
MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ 5
3.2/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
4/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Cost
$55 (women); $72 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.Average Annual Cost
$660 (women); $864 (men)Based on $10,000 policy for 60-year-old nonsmokers.
Best Final Expense Life Insurance Options: Buying Guide
Finding the right burial insurance policy means matching coverage to your needs and budget. This guide covers comparing coverage options, costs and determining the right coverage amount.
What Is Burial Insurance?
Burial insurance is a type of whole life insurance that provides permanent coverage. Unlike term life insurance, burial insurance doesn't expire after a specific period. Coverage lasts until death, though some policies have a maturation age, usually 100. Burial insurance is also known as funeral insurance, final expense or modified issue whole life insurance.
Burial insurance works like other whole life insurance policies but has a smaller death benefit, making it more affordable. Your beneficiary can use the payout as they see fit, but these payouts cover expenses from a memorial service, embalming, purchasing a casket or cremation.
Final expense and burial insurance is popular among seniors to ensure their families won't face financial burden from end-of-life expenses. Death benefits range from $5,000 to $25,000, but some companies offer up to $75,000.
FINAL EXPENSE VS BURIAL INSURANCE VS FUNERAL INSURANCE
Final expense insurance, funeral insurance and burial insurance describe the same life insurance product. These terms denote a small whole life policy covering end-of-life expenses, including funeral or medical bills.
How Much Does Final Expense Insurance Cost?
The cost of burial insurance depends on several factors. The older you are when you buy your policy and the higher your coverage level, the more expensive your premium.
Life insurance companies have varying requirements. Some ask you to complete a health questionnaire, while others guarantee acceptance. Policies with guaranteed acceptance pose a lower risk but may cost more than those requiring health-related questions.
Here are average costs for different ages and coverage amounts:
Data filtered by:
Select
Female
| $1,000 | $5 | $59 |
| $5,000 | $24 | $289 |
| $10,000 | $48 | $583 |
| $15,000 | $71 | $850 |
| $20,000 | $99 | $1,187 |
| $25,000 | $121 | $1,454 |
Individual rates will vary depending on your coverage needs, age and health status. Rates shown are estimates based on our survey methodology and may not reflect actual quotes available to you. Contact licensed insurers directly for personalized quotes.
COST OF FINAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING BURIAL AND FUNERAL
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the national median funeral cost is $8,300, covering only basic services including viewing and burial. A funeral with cremation costs $6,280. Adding interment in a cemetery, monument or marker and flowers can push final expenses over $10,000.
Compare Life Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes and offers from multiple insurance companies helps you find the best life insurance to cover funeral expenses. When evaluating quotes, compare premium costs, coverage amounts, waiting periods and policy exclusions to ensure equivalent coverage.
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Rates updated:
Nov 11, 2025
DON'T JUST FOCUS ON COST
The cheapest life insurance option isn't always the best. A lower price may mean reduced coverage or higher out-of-pocket expenses later.
Compare burial insurance policies based on cost and coverage. You'll get adequate protection without overpaying for benefits.
How to Choose the Best Burial Insurance Plans
Final expense plans have varying face-value amounts, similar to other types of life insurance. An ideal coverage amount is at least $10,000, but you can increase it to $20,000 or higher. The higher your limit, the higher the burial insurance cost.
Burial insurance is best suited for seniors age 60 and older with limited income or severe health conditions because it's more affordable than term life or permanent life plans.
You can buy simplified issue life insurance, which requires answering several health-related questions. If your health condition is a concern, guaranteed issue life insurance may be a better alternative.
CAN YOU BUY BURIAL INSURANCE ONLINE?
Buying burial insurance policies online is convenient. Many insurance companies offer online platforms where you can compare funeral insurance quotes, review policies and secure a plan from home.
Best Burial Insurance: Bottom Line
Final expense insurance covers funeral and other end-of-life costs through smaller coverage amounts with simplified or guaranteed issue options. Final expense insurance can help seniors, people with health conditions or those seeking an affordable way to ease financial strain on loved ones.
Comparing the best burial insurance companies, including GEICO, Mutual of Omaha, AARP and Physicians Mutual, helps you find a policy that aligns with your budget and personal needs. Getting personalized quotes from multiple insurers also helps.
Burial and Final Expense Insurance: FAQ
We answer common questions about final expense insurance:
How does burial insurance work?
Burial insurance policies don't have deductibles. Beneficiaries receive the full death benefit amount (the coverage amount you selected) directly upon the insured's death.
You apply by answering health questions (or skip them with guaranteed acceptance policies), then pay weekly or monthly premiums. When you die, beneficiaries receive the full death benefit with no deductible to cover funeral costs, final medical bills, cremation or other end-of-life expenses.
What can burial insurance death benefits cover?
Beneficiaries can use the death benefit for funeral costs, cremation, final medical bills, caskets or urns. While designed for end-of-life expenses, beneficiaries have flexibility to use the money for other financial needs if necessary.
Is final expense insurance worth it?
Final expense insurance is worth it for people wanting to protect loved ones from the financial strain of end-of-life expenses. Final expense policies ensure funeral costs and other associated expenses are covered, making burial insurance a prudent choice for many.
Who should buy burial insurance?
Burial insurance works best for seniors in their 60s through 80s who need affordable coverage for funeral costs rather than long-term financial obligations. It's particularly valuable if you have health issues that make traditional life insurance expensive or difficult to qualify for.
Who shouldn't buy final expense insurance?
Final expense insurance isn't necessary if you've saved enough to cover funeral costs, have comprehensive employer death benefits, lack dependents as a young adult or are already covered under a family life insurance policy that includes funeral expenses.
Our Ratings Methodology
Seniors shopping for burial insurance face a frustrating reality: quotes vary wildly based on age, health and location, making it hard to predict actual costs. We built this research around the 60-year-old demographic because this age group most often buys burial insurance and faces the steepest price variations.
We gathered quotes using a 60-year-old male nonsmoker (5 feet 9 inches, 160 pounds, average health) as our baseline. This profile represents seniors seeking modest coverage for funeral expenses without medical exams. We then modified age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and location to show how these factors affect burial insurance premiums and availability across demographics.
Why age 60 matters for burial insurance
Most burial insurance buyers are between 50 and 80, but the 60-year-old bracket represents the sweet spot where premiums remain relatively affordable before steep age-related increases kick in after 70. Testing multiple ages reveals which companies penalize older applicants least and which offer the most stable pricing as you age.
What this research tells you
We focused on companies with broad national coverage and online quote capabilities. Our recommendations work for most people seeking burial insurance without requiring agent visits or extensive medical underwriting. You'll see which companies actually serve your age bracket and health profile at competitive rates.
Related Pages
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
sources
- American Council of Life Insurers. "2024 Life Insurers Fact Book." Accessed November 7, 2025.
- Insurance Information Institute. "What Is Burial Insurance?." Accessed November 7, 2025.
- National Funeral Directors Association. "Statistics." Accessed November 7, 2025.