Best Burial & Final Expense Insurance Companies in 2025

GEICO offers the best burial insurance. The top provider may differ depending on your needs. Compare the best burial insurance companies for different categories:

*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, health status and state regulations. 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.

Burial insurance availability, coverage options and pricing vary by state. Some features may not be available in all states due to regulatory requirements.

Finding the right burial insurance policy requires careful consideration of your specific needs and priorities. This guide will help you choose the best policy that fits your budget, from comparing coverage options and costs to determining the right coverage amount.

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.

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:

*Individual rates will vary depending on your coverage needs, age, health status and state regulations. 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.

Burial insurance availability, coverage options and pricing vary by state. Some features may not be available in all states due to regulatory requirements.

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.

These tips make life insurance for funeral costs more accessible and help you choose the best funeral insurance plan that aligns with your financial goals.

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.

Insurers offer two types of final expense plans: simplified issue and guaranteed acceptance. Neither type requires a health exam for approval, but simplified issue life insurance requires answering several health-related questions about your medical history.

Guaranteed acceptance life insurance ensures automatic acceptance regardless of health status. It simplifies the process but costs more and includes a waiting period before the full death benefit is available.

End-of-life expenses can be a concern if you're retired and lack coverage from a personal or employer-sponsored life insurance policy. Burial insurance offers a solution.

Unlike health insurance, burial insurance policies don't have deductibles. Your beneficiaries receive the full death benefit amount.

Key Steps to Get Coverage

• Application: Most final expense policies require answering a few health-related questions, though some offer guaranteed acceptance without health queries.
• Premium Payment: Once approved, pay premiums on a weekly or monthly schedule.

Your needs may change over time, so periodically review your funeral insurance policy with your provider to ensure it still meets your requirements.

Utilizing the Death Benefit

• End-of-Life Expenses: The death benefit covers costs like final medical bills, burial or cremation.
• Additional Uses: Beneficiaries can use the death benefit for other purposes like purchasing caskets or urns.

A final expense policy provides a financial cushion, allowing your beneficiaries to manage these costs. While the primary purpose of the death benefit is to cover end-of-life expenses, it offers flexibility for other financial needs. This adaptability makes final expense coverage a versatile financial tool.

Beneficiaries claim burial insurance death benefits by submitting a death certificate, completed claim form and policy information. Insurers pay death benefits within 30 days as a tax-free lump sum.

Most final expense policies guarantee that your beneficiaries will receive your death benefit within 30 days after filing the claim, but several reasons can cause delays:

• Incomplete or incorrect forms: Beneficiaries must submit several documents to your insurer to complete the claim filing process.
• The cause of death was homicide: Insurers need to investigate and ensure the beneficiaries were not involved in the incident.
• Premium payments not up to date: Most insurers have a 30- or 31-day grace period after the payment due date. If you pass away within the grace period, your beneficiaries may still be eligible for the payout minus past due amounts.

Final expense life insurance doesn't suit everyone's financial or personal circumstances. Those who may not need a funeral life insurance policy include:

• Individuals with Sufficient Savings: Those who have set aside funds for end-of-life expenses may not require additional coverage through a funeral insurance policy.
• People with Comprehensive Employer Benefits: Employees with extensive benefits packages that already include death benefits or funeral cover might not need separate life insurance to cover funeral costs.
• Young Adults Without Dependents: Younger people without dependents or major end-of-life expenses can consider other financial protections that align with their current life stages.
• Those Covered Under Family Policies: People included in family life insurance plans that already cater to funeral costs might not need separate policies.

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.

We answer common questions about final expense insurance:

Final expense insurance covers end-of-life costs without burdening your family, but finding reliable, affordable coverage gets complicated when policies vary widely in cost, approval processes and coverage limits. We evaluated burial insurance companies to help you navigate these differences and find coverage that fits your budget and needs.

Our Research Approach

We scored burial insurance companies using three categories that matter most when you're shopping for final expense coverage. Each company earned up to five points per category, which we weighted to generate a final MoneyGeek score out of 100.

Scoring Model

Affordability (50%): Premium costs matter most because you're on a fixed income and paying premiums for years or decades. We weighted affordability at 50% because even small monthly differences compound into thousands of dollars over the life of your policy.

Customer Experience (30%): Application ease and customer service quality determine whether you can actually get coverage and receive help when needed. We weighted customer experience at 30% because burial insurance buyers need straightforward applications and responsive support, especially when filing claims during difficult times.

Coverage Options (20%): Policy flexibility and benefit amounts let you match coverage to your actual funeral costs and family needs. We weighted coverage options at 20% because while important, most burial insurance policies offer similar benefit ranges of $5,000 to $25,000.

What We Analyzed

Our scoring included factors that directly affect your burial insurance experience. We evaluated AM Best financial strength ratings and years in business handling claims because you need confidence your insurer will pay benefits when the time comes. We reviewed NAIC complaint indices, customer reviews and claims processing efficiency because you want responsive service and smooth claim payments for your beneficiaries.

We also assessed practical features like online applications, quote tools and multiple payment options because burial insurance should be accessible without requiring agent visits or complicated paperwork.

Default Profile and Variables

We gathered quotes using a 60-year-old male nonsmoker (5 feet 9 inches, 160 pounds, average health) as our baseline. This profile represents typical burial insurance applicants, seniors seeking modest coverage for funeral expenses without medical exams. We then modified age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and location to reflect how these factors affect burial insurance premiums and availability across different demographics.

Why This Methodology Works

We focused on companies with broad national coverage and online quote capabilities, ensuring our recommendations are accessible and practical for most consumers seeking burial insurance.