Leave your family memories, not funeral bills
Final expense insurance helps pay for a funeral and final bills. One call connects you with a licensed agent who can explain your options in plain language.
- Licensed agents
- Free quote
- No obligation
What final expense coverage can help pay for
The benefit is paid to the person you choose, who can use it for whatever is needed.
Funeral and burial costs
A service, a casket, a burial plot, and the many smaller costs that add up.
Cremation and memorials
Cremation, a memorial gathering, flowers, and an urn or keepsake.
Final medical bills
Medical bills that can still arrive after a loved one has passed.
Debts and everyday bills
Credit cards, utilities, and other bills your family would otherwise have to settle.
A headstone or marker
A headstone, a grave marker, or another lasting tribute.
Help for your family
Travel to the service, time off work, or everyday costs while they grieve.
Why families call us
Shopping for coverage on your own can be confusing. A licensed agent can explain your options and answer your questions.
- One call instead of shopping around on your own
- Talk with a licensed insurance agent
- Free quotes, with no obligation to buy
- Help choosing a coverage amount that fits your budget
How it works
Call us
Calling is free, and there is nothing to fill out.
Talk with a licensed agent
They will ask a few questions about you and what you want your coverage to pay for.
Choose what is right for you
Review your options and costs. There is no obligation to buy.
Is final expense insurance right for you?
A licensed agent can help you decide. These are common reasons people choose it, and when other coverage may fit better.
Often a good fit if
- You want to cover funeral costs and final bills
- You want a smaller policy that may be easier to qualify for
- You do not want to leave those costs to your family
- You want premiums that stay the same (on many plans)
Other coverage may fit better if
- You need to replace years of income for your family
- You want to pay off a mortgage or other large debts
- You are younger and in good health, when term life may cost less
What a funeral costs today
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the national median cost of an adult funeral with a viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023, the latest figure it has published. Add a burial vault, which many cemeteries require, and the median rises to $9,995. That still leaves out the cemetery plot, opening and closing the grave, and a headstone.
A funeral with a viewing followed by cremation had a median cost of $6,280. Direct cremation without a service usually costs less. See our guides to burial insurance and cremation coverage for a closer look.
Prices vary a lot from one funeral home to the next. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must give you an itemized price list when you ask, so it pays to compare. Source: NFDA 2023 General Price List Study.
The three kinds of final expense plans
The main difference between plans is how the insurer decides to accept you. That affects the price and when the full benefit is available.
Level benefit
You answer some health questions, with no exam. If approved, the full benefit is generally available from day one. Usually the lowest price.
Graded benefit
For people with some health conditions. If death from natural causes happens in the first two or three years, a partial benefit is paid. After that, the full amount.
Guaranteed issue
No health questions within the insurer’s age limits. Most plans have a two-year waiting period for natural causes, when premiums are typically refunded with interest instead.
Terms differ by insurer and state, so your agent should walk you through the actual policy language. Learn more about guaranteed issue or how final expense works.
Have a question? A real person can help.
Call to talk with a licensed agent. It is free, and there is no obligation to buy.
How much coverage do you need?
Start with the kind of service you would want. Add any debts or medical bills you do not want to leave behind, and a little cushion for travel and the weeks after. For many people that lands somewhere between $5,000 and $20,000. Someone planning a simple cremation may need less, and someone who wants a traditional burial with a plot and headstone may want more.
Most important, pick a monthly premium you can keep paying for life, because a policy that lapses pays nothing. An agent can help you weigh the amount against your budget. Read more about what affects the cost and coverage at ages 50 to 85.
Straight answers, no runaround
Most of us do not like to think about it, and that is normal. But when someone passes, the bills tend to show up fast, often before the family has had time to grieve. Many families end up splitting the cost between siblings or putting it on a credit card.
We built this site to explain final expense insurance clearly, without scare tactics or fine print. When you call, you talk with a licensed agent who can compare options from insurers available in your state. You will never be asked to decide on the spot. Take the information, talk with your family, and call back when you are ready. Find your state on our state guides page.
Common questions
What is final expense insurance?
A type of whole life insurance with a smaller benefit, usually meant to help pay for a funeral, burial or cremation, and other final bills.
Do I need a medical exam?
Many final expense plans do not require a medical exam. Some ask a few health questions, and some accept applicants without any. A licensed agent can explain which options are available to you.
How much coverage can I get?
Final expense policies are usually smaller than traditional life insurance. The amount and the price depend on the plan, your age, and your health.
Is this service free?
Yes. Talking with an agent and getting a quote costs nothing, and there is no obligation to buy.
Who will I be talking to?
A licensed insurance agent. We are not an insurance company. We connect you with agents who can quote plans from insurance carriers.
Is final expense the same as burial insurance?
Mostly, yes. Burial insurance, funeral insurance, and final expense insurance usually describe the same small whole life policy.
Will my premium go up?
Most final expense policies are whole life with level premiums set when the policy starts. Check the policy terms to be sure.
Does the money have to go to the funeral home?
No. The benefit goes to the beneficiary you name, and they decide how to use it.
What is a waiting period?
Some plans, especially guaranteed issue, pay a limited benefit if death from natural causes happens in the first two or three years. After that, the full benefit is paid.
Is this a government program?
No. This is private insurance. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency or by Medicare.
Learn More About Final Expense Coverage
Read our guides before you call, so you know what to ask.
How Final Expense Insurance Works
How these small whole life policies work, step by step.
Burial Insurance
Coverage meant to help pay for a funeral and burial.
Cremation Coverage
Plans sized for cremation and memorial costs.
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
Options with no health questions, and how waiting periods work.
Coverage for Ages 50 to 85
What to know about applying at different ages.
What Final Expense Insurance Costs
What affects the price of a policy.
Final Expense FAQ
Straight answers to the most common questions.
Coverage by State
Find information for your state.
Popular state guides
Ready to talk it through?
Call now for a free quote from a licensed agent. There is no obligation to buy.