However, that is not the only reason you may want a life insurance policy.
Even if you are retired — or don’t need to cover a mortgage or income — life insurance helps your family pay for other expenses that come up, including burial expenses. In fact, burial insurance, or final expense insurance, is designed for just that purpose.
The best burial insurance companies offer policies with coverage that meets your final expense needs and don’t require you to jump through hoops like a medical exam to qualify. Read on to learn about our top picks.
Getting Burial Insurance at a Glance
Burial insurance, also known as final expense insurance, is a type of life insurance designed to cover the cost of your burial, funeral expenses, and other costs associated with final arrangements. These policies may be less expensive than alternative options, primarily because coverage amounts are smaller. Some older applicants may not otherwise qualify for other kinds of life insurance plans.
Burial insurance is also often available with no medical exam or as a guaranteed acceptance policy, meaning you won’t be denied due to your health status. Other restrictions may apply, such as a maximum issue age or a waiting period before death benefits kick in.
Our top picks for final expense insurance offer easy approval, affordable premiums, and coverage amounts that are practical for common final expenses.
Comparing the Best Burial Insurance Companies
Ethos: Best for fast online approval
Mutual of Omaha: Best for whole life
State Farm: Best for guaranteed issue final expense
New York Life: Best for AARP members
American Family: Best for bundle discounts
Transamerica: Best for high coverage amounts
Colonial Penn: Best for trial period
Gerber Life: Best for seniors
Here's a closer look at the best burial insurance companies.
1. Ethos
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Best for: Fast online approval
Why we picked it: If you’re eager to secure coverage for your final expenses, Ethos offers a quick and easy online application process. The provider offers guaranteed issue whole life insurance for applicants between the ages of 50 and 85 with no medical exam. Coverage limits for this plan range from $10,000 to $30,000, which is a higher maximum than some competitor products but not the best available.
Online purchase: Yes
Policies offered: Whole life, term life and indexed universal life insurance
Pros:
Fully online application process
No medical exam required
Whole life policies available for seniors
Cons:
Not available in New York
Must complete application to access full policy details
2. Mutual of Omaha
Best for: Whole life
Why we picked it: Estimating how much insurance you need for burial expenses can be difficult, but Mutual of Omaha helps take some of the guesswork out of the equation with its final expense calculator. Just answer a few questions about your location and preferred burial, including whether or not you plan to have a funeral and if you plan to be buried or cremated, and you can get an idea of how much coverage you need from your whole life insurance plan.
Online purchase: Yes
Policies offered: Whole life, term life, children’s whole life, universal life, and accidental death insurance
Pros:
Online tools for helping estimate final expenses
Whole life policies available for applicants up to age 85
Guaranteed whole life insurance available
Cons:
Some policies do not offer online quotes
Not all policies can be purchased online
Read the full Mutual of Omaha review
3. State Farm
Best for: Guaranteed issue final expense
Why we picked it: Some companies offer other kinds of life insurance plans that can be used to cover final expenses, but State Farm has a dedicated policy for this purpose. State Farm's guaranteed issue final expense policy ensures you won’t be denied coverage and doesn’t require a medical exam. Coverage limits are a bit lower than alternative policies, but it can be a good option for those who only need insurance for burial expense purposes.
Online purchase: No
Policies offered: Term life, whole life, universal life, and guaranteed issue final expense insurance
Pros:
Guaranteed issue final expense policy available
Top-rated customer satisfaction
Offers no-medical-exam policy
Cons:
Some states are not serviced or no longer provide new policies
Must speak to an agent for full plan details
4. New York Life
Best for: AARP members
Why we picked it: For seniors who are members of AARP, New York Life offers the only life insurance program just for this group. The guaranteed acceptance life insurance policy offers coverage up to $30,000 following a quick online application — no medical exam required. It accepts applicants up to age 85.
Online purchase: Yes (Note this is only for the guaranteed acceptance AARP plan, not NYL in general)
Policies offered: Whole life, term life, universal life and variable universal life insurance; final expense insurance for AARP members only
Pros:
Variety of policies to choose from
Wide range of riders
Whole life policies eligible to earn dividends
Cons:
Final expense insurance policy only available to AARP members
No online quotes available
Read the full New York Life review
5. American Family
Best for: Bundle discounts
Why we picked it: Life insurance is an added cost, so the opportunity to save on this purchase can make a difference in many budgets. American Family offers all kinds of insurance products, including home and car insurance, and you may qualify for discounts if you bundle multiple offerings. American Family also offers a senior-focused whole life insurance policy that is available without a medical exam.
Online purchase: No
Policies offered: Whole life, term life, and flexible life insurance
Pros:
Discounts may be available for bundling other types of insurance
Online quotes available
Senior life insurance policy available with no medical exam
Cons:
No dedicated final expense insurance policy
Not available in all states
Read the full American Family review
6. Transamerica
Best for: High coverage amounts
Why we picked it: For policies specifically covering final expenses or burial expenses, rather than whole or term life policies that can help cover these costs, coverage limits are usually on the lower side. But with Transamerica, you can get a final expense plan with coverage up to $50,000, depending on your age. Many Transamerica life insurance policies include online assistance with end-of-life planning tasks like organizing legal documents and finding a funeral home.
Online purchase: Yes
Policies offered: Whole life, term life, indexed universal life and final expense life insurance
Pros:
Final expense policy available with quick online approval
Concierge planning tool for end-of-life planning on some policies
High coverage amounts available
Cons:
Concierge planning tool not offered in all states
Below-average customer satisfaction rating
7. Colonial Penn
Best for: Trial period
Why we picked it: Taking on any new expense is a risk, but Colonial Penn takes some of the stress out of signing up for life insurance with its 30-day trial period. If you cancel at any point during this time, you can secure a full refund. The provider’s final expense life insurance is available without a medical exam to applicants up to age 85 in most states.
Online purchase: No
Policies offered: Guaranteed acceptance life insurance
Pros:
Final expense insurance available
30-day trial period during which you can cancel for full refund
No medical exam requirement
Cons:
Few policies available
Must provide personal details to get a quote
Read the full Colonial Penn review
8. Gerber Life
Best for: Seniors
Why we picked it: Gerber Life offers several insurance plans for seniors, including a guaranteed life insurance plan for applicants between 50 and 80 years of age. With no medical exam requirement, this is a good option for older applicants seeking assured coverage for their final expenses.
Online purchase: Yes
Policies offered: Term life, whole life, and guaranteed life insurance
Pros:
Guaranteed life insurance plan available for applicants up to age 80
No medical exam needed for most policies
Online quotes available
Cons:
Lower coverage limits than some competitors
Must provide personal details for online quote tool
Read the full Gerber Life review
Methodology: How We Picked the Best Burial Insurance Companies
We evaluated the best burial life insurance companies based on our core life insurance criteria, which rates providers in the following categories:
Coverage options: We looked at policies marketed as burial, final expense or guaranteed issue, with preference given to those that offered a range of coverage amounts. Though these tend to be lower than coverage maximums found on other kinds of insurance policies, we compared against similar competitor products to find the most flexible options.
Availability: Our top insurance providers offer policies to a range of customers, which can include those with pre-existing health conditions. For burial insurance, we looked for guaranteed acceptance plans that did not require a medical exam. We also looked for high maximum issue ages.
Affordability: We prioritize affordability, based on both average premiums and value for the price in the form of useful policy benefits. We also look for transparent rates and no hidden fees.
User experience: To help ensure the life insurance shopping process is as painless as possible, we look for life insurance providers with user-friendly websites, online quote tools, and accessible policy details. We also consider the speed of the application process and whether it can be completed online or requires applicants to speak with an agent.
Customer service: Finally, we consider the average customer experience working with a life insurance company once a policy is secured. We look for positive customer service reputations as reported by existing customers on sources like TrustPilot, in addition to customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power. We also consider available support channels and average response time.
For final expense insurance, we considered that target customers were more likely to be older applicants, so we looked for policies with max issue ages above 65. You can read more about our life insurance methodology here.
What is Burial Insurance?
Burial insurance, which is also called final expense insurance, is a type of life insurance policy that is issued in smaller coverage amounts than other types of permanent life insurance. It has the intended purpose of covering end-of-life expenses, such as funeral services or burials.
“It’s typically aimed at older adults who want to avoid burdening their loved ones with these expenses, without overcommitting to large, unnecessary coverage,” said Brian Crater, CEO at American Independent Financial Group.
If you are in a situation where you don’t have extensive financial obligations to protect or just want an affordable way to provide your family coverage for your last expenses, burial insurance was designed for just that purpose.
“These policies are usually more affordable than traditional life insurance because the death benefit is lower — generally between $5,000 and $25,000. They also tend to be easier to qualify for, especially if someone has health issues,” says Crater.
In many cases, final expense insurance is what is known as guaranteed issue insurance, meaning you are guaranteed acceptance when you apply. However, some policies may still have restrictions in place on this kind of plan, which can include a maximum issue age or a waiting period before death benefits can be issued in the case of natural death.
What Kinds of Expenses Does Final Expense Insurance Cover?
Final expense insurance death benefits tend to be much lower amounts than other kinds of life insurance policies, because they aren’t meant to cover costs like your mortgage liability or lost income. Instead, they are focused on your burial expenses and other end-of-life costs.
“The coverage is intentionally modest, usually $5,000-$25,000, but it's laser-focused on real costs. Beyond funeral expenses, it covers what families often forget — outstanding utility bills, credit card debt, and even the cost of probate proceedings. One client's family used the policy to cover three months of mortgage payments while settling the estate, preventing foreclosure during an already difficult time,” explains Christian Strange, founder and insurance broker with Strange Insurance Agency.
Remember that final expenses can vary significantly based on your burial plans, so you will need to plan for coverage accordingly. For instance, decisions on burial versus cremation, funeral size, and more weigh into total costs.
Even if you have savings set aside to cover your funeral expenses, you can use your burial life insurance payout in other ways.
“Some families also use the payout to settle modest estate matters or make a charitable donation in memory of the deceased,” Crater notes.
Who Should Get Final Expense Insurance?
Final expense or burial insurance has a niche group it appeals to. It is best for those who have fewer expenses to cover or who cannot qualify for other kinds of life insurance plans.
“I've found burial insurance fills a critical gap that traditional life insurance misses. It's designed specifically for people who've been priced out of regular coverage or whose term policies have expired. The sweet spot is typically ages 50-85, where health issues make standard underwriting either impossible or prohibitively expensive,” details Strange.
Many final expense insurance plans are guaranteed issue, meaning those who are locked out of other policies by pre-existing health conditions can still get coverage. In these cases, you usually won’t have to get a medical exam or answer questions about your health. While this can be a plus for the right kind of applicant, it comes with some drawbacks.
“[Guaranteed issue policies] often come with a graded benefit period — usually 24 or 36 months. If the insured passes away during that time, the policy typically refunds all premiums paid in, plus interest — often in the ballpark of 6% to 10%,” says Crater.
Essentially, you won’t have access to the full death benefit if you pass away during this period. This is something to consider for those with terminal illnesses, who may be better off with alternative financial planning for final expenses.
How To Choose a Burial Insurance Policy
If a burial insurance policy makes sense for you, it’s important to do your research on plans to find an option that is cost-effective and provides accessible benefits to your loved ones. Consider these factors:
Waiting period: While a guaranteed issue plan can offer peace of mind to those with pre-existing health conditions worried about qualifying for final expense insurance, they may also come with waiting periods to be eligible for benefits that can nullify this perk. “The biggest pitfall I warn clients about is the two-year waiting period for natural death benefits. Insurance companies use this to offset the risk of guaranteed acceptance, so if you're relatively healthy, you might get better value from a simplified issue policy that asks basic health questions but offers immediate full coverage,” warns Strange.
Cost: While it’s true that burial insurance can be less expensive thanks to lower coverage amounts, you still need to find a premium that works for your budget. “Look at the total cost over time, not just the monthly premium,” advises Crater.
Coverage amounts: Death benefits on final expense insurance plans tend to be lower, but some providers have higher maximums than others. Consider your preferred burial experience and average costs to calculate how much you will need, and don’t forget to factor in unexpected expenses like final bills.
Customer experience: Issues come up, and you want to make sure you can resolve them quickly. Look at customer service reputations on sources like Trustpilot for highly-rated providers. And don’t forget to consider your beneficiary’s experience collecting your benefits. “Stick with financially strong carriers with a reputation for fast, hassle-free claims,” reminds Crater.
You may also consider getting quotes and policy details from several providers or working with an insurance broker to ensure you are getting the best deal.
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