SeniorLiving.org is compensated when you click on the provider links listed on this page. This compensation does not impact our ratings or reviews. Read our Editorial Guidelines here to learn more about our review process and to learn more about how we are compensated.
It is never too soon to start planning for your family’s future. It may not be pleasant to think about what will happen after you pass away, but it’s important. While larger term or whole life insurance policies can help ensure that your loved ones are taken care of once you’re gone, you may not need an expensive policy with high death benefits. Instead, you may just want enough to cover your final expenses. In this case, you can opt for a burial insurance policy. No two burial policies or providers are exactly alike. So, in today’s guide, we’ll take a closer look at the best burial insurance for seniors in 2023!
AARP ranks among the best life insurance for seniors, especially if you want multiple policy options. The simplified issue policy will require you to answer some health questions, which means you could be denied coverage based on your health. Fortunately, you still have the option to pay a little more for a guaranteed issue policy and bypass the health questions and medical exams altogether. Either way, AARP makes sure that you can find a burial insurance policy that meets your needs.
Pro Tip: Are you worried about being denied coverage based on your health status? Visit our list of the best life insurance for seniors without medical exams.
Progressive may not underwrite its own burial and life insurance policies, but it still offers plenty of benefits for older adults. The monthly premiums are some of the lowest on the market, while policies are available to seniors up until their 85th birthday. That said, you may have to deal with multiple customer service providers if you have a question about your policy, as Progressive outsources its underwriting to various life insurance providers.
If you want a simple policy that will pay for your essential final expenses, State Farm is a great option. The premium will never increase, and you can even accumulate cash value and dividends on your death benefit. On the other hand, if you’re looking for more policy variety or add-ons, you may want to consider other providers. In short, State Farm is one of the best choices if you want to “set it and forget it.”
Transamerica’s burial insurance is unique, as you have several policies to choose from, all of which have death benefits that decrease with age. The lack of waiting periods and medical exams make these policies great options for many seniors, especially those with preexisting health conditions. Just remember that you will still have to answer some health questions, which could impact your eligibility and/or monthly premiums.
Burial insurance differs from other types of life insurance, as it is designed to cover the cost of your funeral and similar final expenses only. Many providers put specific limitations on these policies, including low death benefits and even two- or three-year waiting periods (periods that you must outlive in order for your beneficiaries to receive the full death benefit). When evaluating the best burial insurance policies and providers, we examined a wide range of factors, including the following:
Starting premium* | Age limit | Maximum benefit | |
---|---|---|---|
AARP | $46 per month | 80 | $50,000 |
Progressive | $53 per month | 85 | $35,000 |
State Farm | $50 per month | 80 | $10,000 |
Transamerica | $57 per month | 80 | $40,000 |
* Premiums are for burial insurance policies with a benefit of between $5,000 and $50,000 (as of 2022). These are the lowest available premiums for seniors ages 50 and above; actual premiums will vary based on age, location, health, and other factors.
Burial insurance, also known as funeral or final expense insurance, is a term for a low-death-benefit life insurance policy designed to provide the funds to pay for funerals and associated expenses related to your death. Burial insurance is best for seniors who want a small insurance policy that will provide their beneficiaries with the essential funds they need to pay for these final expenses. While the premium is generally lower than that of a larger term or whole life insurance policy, it is important to note that you will need to pay a relatively high premium for a low death benefit.
Quick Tip: Visit our guide to burial insurance to learn more about final expense insurance, including the costs and whom it’s best for.
For example, let’s say you have a burial insurance policy that costs $50 per month and pays out a death benefit of $25,000. Alternatively, you could get a comprehensive whole life insurance policy for $100 per month that pays a death benefit of $100,000. While the larger policy requires you to pay twice as much per month, it offers four times the value in death benefits.
Burial insurance costs vary widely based on your age, health, location, type of policy, and maximum coverage. That said, you can generally expect to pay somewhere between $40 and $80 per month for burial insurance when you are in your 50s. This is about half the cost of larger whole life insurance policies. As previously mentioned, you do not get as much value for your money with a burial insurance policy. Unless you get a policy with a fixed premium, you can expect your premium to get substantially more expensive as you age. For example, the average burial insurance premium for someone in their 80s is roughly $335 per month.2
Here are a few tips to help you choose the best burial life insurance for you:
Burial insurance is a form of life insurance with low death benefits, but it tends to have a lower monthly premium than a larger term or whole life insurance policy.
For seniors who already have the funds to provide their loved ones with financial stability, a burial policy is a great way to ensure that the costs of your funeral and final expenses are covered. However, if you do not have other financial vehicles to take care of your beneficiaries, you may want to get a life insurance policy with a higher death benefit.
Yes. The death benefit paid out to your beneficiaries can be used for anything. You can set stipulations in your will to ensure that the funds are used in a certain way; otherwise, your beneficiaries can use the death benefits as they see fit.
Yes. Many burial insurance policies accrue cash value that you can withdraw during your lifetime. However, this takes away from the death benefit that your beneficiaries will receive.
Since graduating from Harvard with an honors degree in Statistics, Jeff has been creating content in print, online, and on television. Much of his work has been dedicated to informing seniors on how to live better lives. As Editor-in-Chief of the personal… Learn More About Jeff Hoyt
Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage. (2022). How Much Does a Funeral Cost?
Choice Mutual. (2022). How Much Does Burial Insurance (Also Known As) Final Expense Insurance Cost?