Final Expense Insurance Cost (2026 Rates)

Also known as burial insurance, final expense insurance costs $30 per month for a 50-year-old woman and $38 for a man at $10,000 in coverage. Age is the biggest pricing factor in our analysis. The same $10,000 policy costs an average of $125 per month for an 80-year-old woman and $164 for an 80-year-old man. Your gender, tobacco use, coverage amount and health history also affect your rates.

Find out if you're overpaying for burial insurance below.

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Updated: August 12, 2026

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Key Takeaways
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Age is the largest pricing factor in final expense insurance. A 50-year-old woman pays $30 per month on average. By 80, that same $10,000 policy averages $125 per month, more than four times as much.

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Women pay less than men at every age because of longer average life expectancies. At 65, the average pricing gap between men and women is $16 per month for $10,000 in coverage.

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Smokers pay more than nonsmokers. A 65-year-old female smoker pays $63 per month on average compared to $50 for a nonsmoker, a 26% increase.

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The sharpest rate jump in our data occurs between ages 75 and 80, when average premiums rise 44% for women and 45% for men. Buying before 75 locks in a meaningfully lower rate.

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Simplified-issue policies require a short health questionnaire but cost less than guaranteed-acceptance policies and pay the full death benefit from day one.

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Average Monthly Rate—

Average Cost of Final Expense Insurance

The average cost of final expense life insurance is $30 per month for 50-year-old women and $38 for men with $10,000 in coverage, based on MoneyGeek's 2026 rate analysis of quotes across major carriers. Your actual premium depends on your age, gender, smoking status, the insurer you choose and how much coverage you buy. Of all these factors, age has the largest effect on price.

Average Cost for Women

40
$22
$40
$58
$77
45
$28
$50
$69
$86
50
$30
$56
$76
$98
55
$36
$69
$89
$116
60
$42
$80
$105
$136
65
$50
$97
$129
$170
70
$64
$124
$167
$222
75
$87
$171
$229
$301
80
$125
$246
$327
$408
85
$155
$299
$460
$589

Average Cost for Men

40
$25
$45
$66
$87
45
$33
$62
$83
$104
50
$38
$72
$96
$126
55
$46
$87
$115
$154
60
$53
$101
$137
$180
65
$66
$126
$168
$221
70
$84
$162
$220
$298
75
$113
$220
$302
$402
80
$164
$321
$424
$548
85
$203
$396
$601
$801

Final Expense Insurance Rates for Smokers

Smokers pay more for final expense insurance than nonsmokers, because tobacco use increases the risk of an earlier death. For 50-year-olds buying $10,000 in coverage, smoking raises average rates by 27% for women and 24% for men.

Most insurers ask about tobacco use within the past 12 months, though some look back two or three years. Recent quitters should compare multiple carriers because these timeframes vary, and qualifying for nonsmoker rates can save you hundreds per year.

Average Cost for Female Smokers

40
$25
$45
$66
$87
45
$33
$62
$83
$104
50
$38
$72
$96
$126
55
$46
$87
$115
$154
60
$53
$101
$137
$180
65
$66
$126
$168
$221
70
$84
$162
$220
$298
75
$113
$220
$302
$402
80
$164
$321
$424
$548
85
$203
$396
$601
$801

Average Cost for Male Smokers

40
$33
$62
$92
$122
45
$40
$78
$112
$148
50
$47
$91
$132
$177
55
$56
$108
$159
$216
60
$66
$129
$192
$261
65
$85
$168
$252
$340
70
$110
$216
$331
$452
75
$150
$297
$459
$621
80
$211
$418
$620
$855
85
$278
$547
$854
$1,224

Final Expense Insurance Rates by Company

Transamerica, AARP and Mutual of Omaha have the cheapest final expense insurance for women in our analysis, averaging $24 per month for a $10,000 policy. For men, Transamerica, Mutual of Omaha and Americo are the most affordable companies, averaging $31 per month.

The difference between the cheapest and most expensive providers is $22 per month for women and $27 for men, or $264 and $324 per year, respectively. Compare quotes from multiple providers to find your best rate.

Final Expense Insurance Company Rates for Women

AARP
$24
$45
$64
$80
$96
Mutual of Omaha
$24
$45
$67
$88
$109
Transamerica
$24
$45
$65
$86
$107
Americo
$26
$48
$70
$92
N/A
Foresters Financial
$26
$49
$72
N/A
N/A
Liberty Bankers Life
$26
$48
$70
N/A
N/A
Lincoln Heritage
$26
$48
$70
N/A
N/A
Aetna
$27
$51
$75
$99
$123
Aflac
$27
$50
$73
$95
$118
American Amicable
$27
$51
$75
$99
$123
American Home Life
$29
$55
$80
$106
$132
USAA
$30
$60
N/A
N/A
N/A
Gerber Life
$34
$68
N/A
N/A
N/A
Royal Neighbors of America
$34
$64
$94
$124
N/A
Fidelity Life
$35
$60
$85
$110
N/A
Physicians Mutual
$35
$68
$101
N/A
N/A
State Farm
$35
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
AIG
$39
$80
N/A
N/A
N/A
AAA
$46
$77
N/A
N/A
N/A
Your Next Step:

Get your real quotes from trusted insurance providers.

*Rates shown are average premiums for 50-year-olds. “N/A” indicates that the company doesn't offer policies at that coverage amount.

Final Expense Insurance Company Rates for Men

Transamerica
$31
$57
$84
$111
$138
Americo
$31
$58
$84
$111
N/A
Mutual of Omaha
$31
$58
$86
$113
$141
American Amicable
$32
$61
$90
$119
$148
Foresters Financial
$32
$61
$90
N/A
N/A
AARP
$33
$63
$90
$115
$140
Lincoln Heritage
$33
$62
$90
N/A
N/A
Liberty Bankers Life
$33
$62
$90
N/A
N/A
Aflac
$34
$63
$92
$121
$151
Aetna
$34
$65
$96
$127
$158
American Home Life
$39
$75
$111
$148
$184
Royal Neighbors of America
$39
$74
$109
$144
N/A
USAA
$40
$79
N/A
N/A
N/A
Physicians Mutual
$41
$81
$120
N/A
N/A
State Farm
$41
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Fidelity Life
$44
$78
$111
$145
N/A
Gerber Life
$44
$87
N/A
N/A
N/A
AIG
$56
$110
N/A
N/A
N/A
AAA
$58
$104
N/A
N/A
N/A
Your Next Step:

Get your real quotes from trusted insurance providers.

*Rates shown are average premiums for 50-year-olds. “N/A” indicates that the company doesn't offer policies at that coverage amount.

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COVERAGE LIMITS DECREASE WITH AGE

Some burial expense insurance companies reduce their maximum coverage as you age. For example, Transamerica allows up to $50,000 through age 55, $40,000 through age 65, $30,000 through age 75 and $25,000 through age 85. Buying earlier gives you access to more coverage.

Final Expense Insurance Cost Factors

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    Age

    Rates rise quickly as you get older. Women pay an average of $30 per month for $10,000 in coverage at age 50, compared with $64 at 70 and $155 at 85. Some insurers also reduce maximum coverage limits for older applicants.

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    Coverage amount

    Higher death benefits cost more. A 50-year-old woman pays an average of $30 per month for $10,000 in coverage and $98 for $40,000. For men, average rates increase from $38 for a $10,000 policy to $126 for a $40,000 policy.

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    Gender

    Women pay less than men because they have longer average life expectancies.

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    Tobacco use

    Smoking raises average rates by 27% for 50-year-old women and 24% for men buying $10,000 in coverage. Insurers consider how recently you used tobacco when determining your rates, but the time required to qualify for nonsmoker rates varies. Recent quitters should compare quotes from multiple companies.

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    Health

    Simplified issue insurers ask health questions and offer lower rates to applicants who qualify for better health ratings. Guaranteed issue policies accept applicants without health questions but cost more and include a graded death benefit.

Types of Final Expense Insurance

Burial and final expense insurance comes in two main forms. The policy you qualify for affects your premium and when the full death benefit is available.

  • Simplified issue policies require a short health questionnaire, which usually includes five to 10 yes-or-no questions about serious medical conditions. People in moderate to good health receive lower rates and full coverage from day one. Some insurers offer graded or modified options with higher premiums and limited benefits during the first two years for applicants with severe health conditions.
  • Guaranteed acceptance policies accept anyone within the eligible age range without requiring a medical exam or asking health questions. Premiums are higher per dollar of coverage, and a two- to three-year waiting period applies. If you die of natural causes during this period, the insurer returns your premiums plus interest instead of paying the full death benefit.

If your health allows you to qualify, simplified issue coverage has a better combination of price and benefits. Guaranteed acceptance is intended for people who can't qualify for simplified issue coverage due to medical issues.

How to Get Low-Cost Final Expense Insurance

Your final expense insurance cost depends on when and how you buy the policy. These tips help you get the cheapest final expense insurance for your situation.

  • boyThinking icon

    Buy as early as you can

    Final expense insurance is a whole life policy with lower coverage levels. Your rate locks in when you buy, so the longer you wait, the more you'll pay.

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    Compare quotes from multiple insurers

    Life insurance rates for the same coverage can vary widely across companies. Get at least three quotes at the same coverage level before you decide.

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    Answer health questions if you can

    Policies with a short health questionnaire cost less than guaranteed-issue options. If you can qualify for one, you'll pay a lower premium.

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    Match coverage to your actual costs

    Don't overbuy. Add up your funeral, burial and outstanding debt costs, then choose a death benefit amount that covers them.

  • cigarette icon

    Avoid tobacco use

    Tobacco raises premiums. Most insurers charge less for nonsmokers, so it pays to wait until after you've quit to apply.

  • discount icon

    Ask about annual payment discounts

    Paying annually instead of monthly costs less at many companies. Ask your insurer if that option is available before you set up payments.

How Much Burial Insurance Do You Need?

The right coverage amount for you depends on your expected end-of-life costs. Add up estimated funeral and burial costs, outstanding medical bills and any small debts you want covered, then choose a death benefit near that total. The National Funeral Directors Association reports a median funeral and burial cost of $8,300, so a $10,000 policy leaves some room for additional expenses.

Coverage above $25,000 may make sense if you have larger debts or want to leave a small inheritance. A $25,000 policy averages $69 per month for a 50-year-old woman and $89 for a man of the same age.

Compare Burial Insurance Rates

Get the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

Final Expense Insurance FAQs

We answer common questions about burial insurance:

Our Methodology

We gathered thousands of final expense quotes across a range of ages, genders, health profiles and coverage amounts. Our baseline is a 50-year-old nonsmoker in average health. All premiums reflect this profile unless a section notes otherwise.

Rates varied across four underwriting factors:

  • Age: Quotes from ages 40 to 89
  • Gender: Male and female
  • Smoking status: Nonsmoker and smoker
  • Coverage amount: Multiple death benefit levels

MoneyGeek analyzed the full dataset to show how final expense costs change by age, coverage amount, gender and smoking status. Younger buyers pay less than older ones, and women pay less than men. Each section breaks down these differences so you can find a rate that fits your profile, not just a broad average.

Related Pages

About Patrick Bryant

Patrick Bryant, Vertical Lead, Life & Health Insurance, MoneyGeek

Patrick Bryant is the Vertical Lead for Life and Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches insurance products, writes consumer guides and maintains the scoring methodologies behind our provider comparisons. He analyzed more than 50 life insurance carriers across multiple policy types, collecting thousands of quotes nationwide to evaluate rates, coverage options and underwriting factors. His methodologies are reviewed quarterly to reflect current market conditions and carrier data.

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