Final expense insurance works much the same way wherever you live: a small whole life policy that pays the person you choose a lump sum to help with a funeral, cremation, or final bills. What changes from place to place is mostly the people, the traditions, and what a local funeral actually costs. Pick your state below for a closer look.
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Families plan a goodbye differently in a small farm town than in a big city, and a retiree who moved across the country has different questions than someone who has lived in the same county all their life. Each guide looks at final expense coverage from the point of view of someone living there.
Whatever state you are in, you can call and talk it over with an agent. It is free, and there is no obligation to buy.
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 most recent figure it has published. When a burial vault is included, which many cemeteries require, the median rises to $9,995. Those numbers do not include a cemetery plot, opening and closing the grave, or a headstone, which can add thousands more.
A funeral with a viewing followed by cremation had a median cost of $6,280. Direct cremation, without a viewing or service, usually costs less.
Prices vary a great deal between regions and even between funeral homes in the same town. Most funeral homes will give you an itemized price list if you ask. Comparing two or three price lists is one of the simplest ways to keep costs down. Source: NFDA 2023 General Price List Study.
Call to talk with an agent. It is free, and there is no obligation to buy.
Final expense policies are sorted mostly by how the insurer decides whether to accept you. That choice affects the price and when the full benefit is available, so it is worth understanding before you call.
You answer a short list of health questions on the application, and there is no medical exam. If the insurer approves you, the full death benefit is generally available from the first day the policy is in force. Because the insurer knows a bit about your health, this is usually the lowest-priced option for people who qualify.
This is built for people who have some health conditions that keep them from qualifying for a level plan. If death from natural causes happens during the first two or three years, the policy pays a reduced amount or returns premiums. After that period, the full benefit is paid. Accidental death is usually covered in full from the start.
There are no health questions at all, as long as you are within the insurer’s age limits. In exchange, nearly every guaranteed issue plan has a waiting period, typically two years, for deaths from natural causes. If death happens in that window, the beneficiary usually receives the premiums paid, often with interest. These plans cost the most for each dollar of coverage and often cap the benefit around $25,000.
Exact terms differ by insurer. An agent should show you the actual policy language, including any waiting period, before you apply.
Start with the kind of goodbye you would want. A simple cremation needs less coverage than a traditional funeral with a burial, a vault, and a headstone. Then add any debts or medical bills you would not want to leave behind, and a small cushion for travel and other costs your family may face in the weeks after.
For many people that lands somewhere between $5,000 and $20,000. Final expense policies are usually available from about $2,000 up to $25,000 or more, and some insurers go as high as $50,000. The right amount is the one that covers what matters to you at a monthly premium you can keep paying for life, because a policy that lapses pays nothing.
If you already have some coverage, such as a small policy from an old job or a union, count it. A good agent will help you avoid buying more than you need.
Calling connects you with an insurance agent. Expect a relaxed conversation, not a sales pitch. The agent will usually ask:
From there, the agent can tell you which kinds of plans you are likely to qualify for and what they cost. You never have to decide on the call. It is completely fine to write things down, talk with your family, and call back later.
The basic product is similar everywhere, but the companies and plans available can vary depending on where you live.
Call anyway. An agent can tell you what may be available where you live.
An insurance agent. We are not an insurance company. We connect callers with agents who can quote plans from insurance carriers.
No. This is private insurance. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency, Social Security, or the federal Medicare program.
Call to speak with an agent. It is free, and there is no obligation.