Burial, funeral, and final expense insurance are burial policies for seniors. Paying for funeral expenses is the primary reason why most seniors purchase these policies. Burial policies for seniors refer to small whole life insurance policies that cover the cost of burial and funeral expenses.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a funeral was $8,300 in 2023, and it has the potential to reach $10,000.

Paying for a funeral is a tremendous amount of money that could cause significant stress to the loved one left behind.

Burial insurance for senior citizens is the solution so that the surviving family doesn’t have to handle the financial aspect of the funeral. Funeral insurance can help protect loved ones from unexpected costs and debts associated with the funeral and burial.

If you’re looking for end-of-life insurance policies or final expense insurance for seniors, this article is for you. We will try to answer many of the common questions regarding seniors’ burial policies and provide information that will be important for anyone trying to buy this type of coverage.

What Is Burial Insurance?

Burial insurance is also referred to as final expense insurance, funeral insurance, cremation insurance, and even burial policies for seniors. All these terms pertain to a whole life insurance policy designed for seniors or older people to cover funeral and final expenses.

Final expenses are various costs that arise after a family member dies. 

Getting burial insurance is fairly easy. Insurance companies generally offer this kind of policy to people aged 50 to 80 or even 85. They only need to answer a few health questions.

No health questions guaranteed acceptance, or guaranteed issue policies are also available.

The face amount is relatively modest compared with traditional life insurance policies, which make the premiums affordable to applicants. You can choose from $2,000 to $25,000 insurance coverage, although some insurers will offer higher senior death benefits.

Burial insurance policies provide a cash benefit to the beneficiary when the insured dies. They can use this fund however they see fit.

The cash benefit can be used by the beneficiary to pay for outstanding medical bills, debts, funeral costs, and final expenses. If there’s some leftover, folks can keep it.

What Do You Need To Consider Before Buying Burial Insurance

By this time, we already know why burial insurance is essential. Before you search the internet for the best burial policies and companies, sit down and take some time to consider what you need from your policy.

First, you need to think about how much coverage you need.

To determine how much coverage you need, you must decide whether you want to be buried or cremated. Your decision will significantly affect your funeral budget because of the difference in cost between the two.

Other costs you must consider would be the burial location, funeral service, memorial service, casket, vault, flowers, markers, arrangement for the wake, and others. From these expenses, you can see why funerals are expensive and why having funeral insurance for parents is essential.

Talking about death can be awkward, but you should sit with family members to discuss your options. Once you get all the details sorted, you and your family will have a better understanding of what sort of coverage you need.

Burial Policies For Seniors

Simplified Issue Life Insurance – Level Benefit Plans

The underwriting process has been simplified compared to full life insurance, where you must have a medical exam. Final expense insurance no exam let you skip the needles.

Instead, you are asked to answer a few health questions to get an overview of your health condition.

You may be asked:

• Are you currently in a nursing home?
• Have you been diagnosed with a terminal illness?
• Do you suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia?

Health issues such as high cholesterol or other minor health problems are fine.

The objective of asking health questions is to determine if you’re a high-risk life insurance client, like those with cancer or heart disease.

Simplified Issue whole life insurance is a true burial insurance policy you can buy from age 50 to 85.

The monthly premium is leveled, meaning it will not change throughout the policy’s life.

Also, this plan comes with first-day coverage!

Burial insurance with no waiting period provides full death benefits when the policy is issued. If the insured dies after the policy is approved, 100% of the death benefit will be given to the beneficiary.

Guaranteed Issue Life insurance – Graded Benefit Plans

There is no medical exam or any health questions asked with this policy. It has guaranteed approval which is best for people with severe health conditions. A waiting period before the death benefit typically occurs after 24 months.

If you die before the waiting period, your beneficiary would not receive the full death benefit but would receive all premiums paid plus 10%. In a graded benefit policy, the benefits are provided in steps.

Burial Policy Waiting Periods & Payouts

1. No waiting period – no waiting period life insurance is the preferred option for all funeral funding and burial plans, as it gives you immediate coverage with 100% payout of the funds from day one.
2. Partial waiting period –  These plans give you immediate partial coverage. The first 12 months of coverage will be 30 to 40% of the face amount, the following 13 to 24 months will be 60 to 70% of the face amount, and after 24 months, you will have 100% coverage.
3. Two-year waiting period (or Modified waiting period) – The best plans offer immediate coverage if accidental death occurs, a return of premiums, 8 to 10% interest on these premiums if a death occurs in the first 24 months, and a guaranteed payout of funds after 24 months.

All insurance companies have different eligibility and waiting period criteria. Here is one example of an insurance company waiting period:

Best Features Of Burial Policies For Seniors

1. Instant approval – There is fast approval for final expense insurance for seniors. The longest time you will ever wait for the application to be approved is just a few business days, but most insurance companies offer instant approval.
2. Lenient underwriting – Seniors with pre-existing conditions may still qualify for a guaranteed acceptance policy. There are relaxed underwriting requirements, and only a few health questions are asked of the applicants. No health questions are asked to qualify for guaranteed issue life insurance.
3. No medical exam – All funeral insurance companies will not require you to undergo a medical exam. The application process is simplified. That means you only need to answer health questions and don’t even ask for it.
4. No health questions – Some burial insurance policies for seniors do not ask health questions. Guaranteed acceptance policies are best for people with severe health conditions.
5. The coverage is permanent – Burial policies for seniors are whole-life policies locked in for the duration of the policy. You are covered for life, and the coverage cannot decrease; it does not expire at any age. The premiums are leveled and do not increase.
6. It has a cash value component – Burial insurance policies for seniors are a whole life with a cash value that grows over time. The cash value can be used to pay for premiums. It acts as a safety net to ensure the policy never lapses from nonpayment.
7. Fast payout – There is a quicker claims payout with burial insurance for seniors. The claim will be paid within a week once the proper paperwork is received.
8. Small value options – Burial policies for seniors are offered at small face value. You can buy as little as $1,000, so you can buy as much or as little as you need.
9. Portability – The payout for funeral insurance for seniors is in cash upon the insured’s death. The beneficiary will receive the full face amount of the policy, and they can use it as a final expense.
10. Many insurance company options – Many carriers offer seniors burial policies. More and more insurance companies are offering insurance because more than 10,000 people are turning 65 each day. All of those are competing for your business which drives the prices of premiums down.

What Does A Burial Insurance Policy Cover?

Burial policies for seniors provide cash when the insured dies. The death benefit is given to the beneficiary depending on the policy terms and conditions.

Most seniors buy burial policies to pay for the funeral, memorial, gravesite, or cremation facility. The most important feature of these policies is that beneficiaries are not limited to how to spend the cash benefit.

Most of the time, the designated beneficiary takes care of the final wishes of the insured.

Some things need to be covered by the burial insurance policy these include:

• Loss of income
• Travel allowance and accommodation for loved ones from other places
• Food for the house funeral guest

Choosing The Right Coverage Amount

Selecting the amount of coverage for funeral insurance for seniors can be best done after assessing the current prices on the market for everything that will be needed for the funeral.

You should also consider the other costs that may be incurred, such as medical bills and any outstanding debts, and you must give room for unexpected expenses.

Suppose your primary objective is to simply pay for the final expenses such as cremation or burial, funeral service, and memorial service. In that case, you need to visit your nearest funeral home to get a better idea about the cost of each good and service.

Here are some average costs from the National Funeral Directors’ Association:

• Full-service Funeral – with burial and burial vault – $9,135
• Full-service Funeral and Cremation – $5,150
• Direct Cremation with Urn – $2,000
• Memorial Service (Varies)

What Services Are Included In A Standard Burial Coverage Policy?

Generally, the items covered by a standard burial policy for seniors are the following:

• Service Fees
• Facilities cost
• Funeral staff fees
• Embalming costs or Cremation costs
• Casket or urn
• Burial plot
• Headstone
• Digging and filling the grave
• Funeral hearse
• Flowers

Cost Of Burial Policies For Seniors

Burial policies for seniors pay for final expenses.

A senior in their 60s to 85 will be able to get coverage in most cases.

The overall cost of your burial insurance plan will depend on the following:

• What type of policy you choose, either a simplified issue or guaranteed acceptance
• The face amount you have chosen
• The insurance provider
• Age
• Gender
• Tobacco use
• Health condition
• Location

What Kind Of Burial Policies For Senior Should I Avoid?

TV AND MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENTS – Most burial policies or final expense policies you see advertised on television or in magazines are sold as “the no-brainer way” to shop for this protection.

Just about everyone is eligible for immediate coverage and better pricing allowed by these heavily advertised policies that cost an arm and leg.

To make a long story short, it is better to shop for burial policies for seniors with a specialist in burial insurance, like FuneralFunds.com, than to sign up with a company that spends millions of dollars each month advertising on television and in magazines.

Increasing Price Policies

Those TV and magazine final expense policies may increase in price every five years.

These tricky television magazine ads will lure you with an attractive rate, only to have the cost of your insurance increase every five years until you cannot afford the premiums, and then you must cancel your policy.

What happens after you cancel the policy? You’ll die and will have wasted all that money because you bought a policy that increases in price as you get older.

Why choose Final Expense Guy for my burial policy?

Most life insurance agents are fine, respectable people.

However, some life insurance agents will sell you the easiest and most expensive policy possible.

The guaranteed issue agents claim you don’t even need to talk to an agent (but you will need to wait 2 years for your coverage to begin…even if you’re healthy). Answering a few health questions will often get you immediate coverage and MUCH BETTER RATES.

Avoid these people at all costs!

The rest of the life insurance agents, who are fine respectable people, are most often generalists.

They deal with all kinds of life insurance policies.

They are nice people but are not the logical choice if you want the best pricing and a burial insurance policy with no waiting period.

We work with 20+ final expense companies, so we can get you qualified for the best-priced plan to get folks like you immediate coverage when possible.

How Can Final Expense Guy Help Me?

In reality, inexperienced and less knowledgeable insurance agents will cost you loads of money by selling you overpriced burial and final expense policies.

Our job at Final Expense Guy is to be the most knowledgeable burial insurance expert available. By doing so, we can get you free life insurance quotes and affordable rates.

Once we know more about your age and health history, we can accurately give you burial insurance quotes from the final expense companies that best fit you.

With access to all the best final expense insurance companies, we will help you understand your best options, given your current age, health, and financial situation.

Burial Insurance Policies For Seniors

Burial, funeral, and final expense insurance are specifically designed for seniors to help cover funeral costs. Let’s be real—funerals aren’t cheap, and these small whole life insurance policies are a smart way to handle those expenses.

Did you know the average funeral costs $8,755? Yep, that’s straight from the NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association). And guess what? That number could climb to $10,000 in no time. Without a burial life insurance policy, that cost could land on your family’s plate, adding even more stress during an already tough time.

Burial insurance for seniors covers those unexpected funeral costs. The best part? Tons of companies offer affordable options for people 50 – 80 years old. And guess what? Around 95% of the folks we help get coverage without a waiting period.

In this article, we’ll break down how funeral insurance for seniors works, how to find the best company, what goes into the approval process, and how to apply. Let’s make sure you’ve got all the info to protect your family – stress-free!

What Is Burial Insurance?

Burial insurance, also known as final expense insurance, funeral insurance, cremation insurance, or even burial policies for seniors, is basically a whole life insurance policy designed to cover funeral costs and other final expenses.

“Final expenses” is just a fancy way of saying all the bills and costs that show up after someone passes away.

Getting burial insurance is super simple. Most companies offer it to people aged 50 to 80, sometimes up to 85. Usually, all you have to do is answer a few easy health questions.

Not into health questions? No worries—there are guaranteed acceptance policies that don’t ask a single thing about your health.

These policies don’t have massive payouts like traditional life insurance, but that’s what makes them affordable. You can pick coverage anywhere between $2,000 and $25,000—sometimes more, depending on the company.

When the insured person passes, their beneficiary gets a cash payout. What can they do with it? Pretty much anything—cover medical bills, pay off debts, handle funeral costs, or take care of other final expenses. And if there’s anything left over? They can keep it.

It’s straightforward, stress-free, and designed to make life easier for your loved ones.

Best Features Of Burial Insurance

1. Instant Approval – No waiting forever here. Most companies approve you instantly, and the longest you’ll ever wait is just a few business days. Fast and painless.

2. Chill Underwriting – Got some health issues? No big deal. With lenient rules, you can still qualify, and if you go for guaranteed acceptance, there aren’t even health questions. It’s practically a breeze.

3. No Medical Exams – Forget the needles, forget the tests. No funeral insurance company will make you go through a medical exam. Answer a few health questions, and you’re good to go.

4. No Health Questions? Even Better – Some policies don’t even bother with health questions. Guaranteed acceptance is perfect for folks with serious health conditions.

5. Coverage is for Life – These are whole-life policies, locked in for good. Coverage doesn’t shrink, doesn’t expire, and your premiums? They’ll never go up. You’re set for life.

6. Builds Cash Value – This policy isn’t just about coverage; it grows cash value over time. You can even use that cash to pay premiums if you’re ever in a pinch. It’s like a safety net for your safety net.

7. Fast Payout – Claims are processed super quickly. As soon as the paperwork is in, your beneficiary gets the money—usually within a few days.

8. Small Coverage Options – Only need $1,000? No problem. Want more? You can get that, too. Buy as much or as little as you need.

9. Portable Cash Payout – When you’re gone, the payout is cash, and your beneficiaries can use it however they want—for funeral costs, bills, or whatever they need.

10. Tons of Choices – With so many insurance companies competing for your business (because thousands of people turn 65 every day), you can shop around and find the best deal at a great price.

What’s the Deal with Burial Insurance Waiting Periods?

No Waiting Period – This is the gold standard. You’re covered 100% from day one, with no delays and no drama. If you want peace of mind ASAP, this is the way to go.

Partial Waiting Period – It’s a “sort of now, sort of later” deal. You get partial coverage right away:

• First 12 months? 30–40% of the payout.
• Months 13–24? Bumps up to 60–70%.
• After 24 months? Boom, you’re at 100% coverage.

Two-Year Waiting Period (aka Modified Waiting Period) – This one comes with some perks:

• If death is accidental, you’re covered immediately.
• If it’s not, your premiums are refunded with 7–10% interest during the first 24 months.
• After two years, you’re fully covered, no questions asked.

Here’s the catch – Every insurance company does things a little differently. Eligibility and waiting periods can vary, so read the fine print and know what you’re signing up for.

Bottom line: Whether you need coverage now or are okay waiting a bit, there’s a plan that fits. Just make sure you know what you’re getting into!

What Does Burial Insurance Cover?

Burial insurance is like a safety net for your loved ones. When the insured passes, the policy pays out cash to the beneficiary based on the terms of the plan.

Here’s the best part: your beneficiary can spend that money however they want. Most of the time, they’ll use it to handle your final wishes—funeral, memorial, cremation, or gravesite costs.

But burial insurance doesn’t stop there. It can cover a bunch of other stuff, like:

• Funeral service fees
• Embalming
• Cremation
• Funeral home facilities
• Staff fees
• A casket or urn
• A vault
• A headstone
• Digging and filling the grave
• The hearse
• Flowers
• A burial plot

Basically, it’s there to make sure everything is taken care of without stressing your family out. So, your final goodbye? It’ll be exactly how you’d want it.

What Affects the Cost of Your Burial Insurance?

How much you’ll pay for burial insurance depends on a few things, like:

• The type of policy you pick: simplified issue or guaranteed acceptance.
• The face amount (how much coverage you want).
• The insurance company you go with—different providers, different prices.
• Your age—the younger you are, the cheaper it’ll be.
• Your gender—yep, that matters too.
• Tobacco use—smoking? Expect higher premiums.
• Your health condition—better health usually means better rates.
• Where you live—location can also impact costs.

Basically, all these factors add up to determine what you’ll pay. 

Choosing the Right Coverage Amount

Figuring out how much burial insurance you need? Start with the big question: buried or cremated? That choice alone can totally change your funeral budget—burials cost more than cremations, plain and simple.

But don’t stop there. Think about all the extras:

• Burial location
• Funeral service
• Memorial service
• Casket or urn
• Vault
• Flowers
• Markers or headstones
• Wake arrangements

Yeah, funerals add up fast. That’s why having funeral insurance, especially for seniors, is so important.

To nail down the right coverage amount, start by checking current prices for everything you’ll need. Funeral homes are a great resource for getting real costs.

Don’t forget the other expenses, like unpaid medical bills, outstanding debts, and anything unexpected. You want enough coverage to handle it all, without stressing your family out.

Here’s a quick look at average costs from the National Funeral Directors’ Association:

• Full-service funeral (with burial and vault): $9,135
• Full-service funeral with cremation: $5,150
• Direct cremation with urn: $2,000
• Memorial service: Varies

The bottom line? Plan for what you need, add a little cushion for surprises, and get the coverage that’ll leave your family feeling supported, not strapped.

Burial Insurance to Avoid

TV and Magazine Ads – You’ve seen them. Those flashy ads promise “the no-brainer way” to get burial insurance. Sounds good, right? Wrong.

These policies might say “everyone qualifies” and act like they’re the best deal ever. But spoiler alert—they’ll cost you an arm and a leg.

Here’s the deal: companies that spend millions on TV and magazine ads aren’t giving you the best price—they’re passing those ad costs onto you. Instead, shop smart. Work with a burial insurance specialist, like FuneralFunds.com, and skip the overpriced hype.

Increasing Price Policies – Those sneaky TV and magazine plans often come with a big catch: the price goes up every five years.

At first, the rate seems affordable, but it keeps climbing until you’re priced out. Then what? You’re forced to cancel the policy because you can’t afford it anymore.

And here’s the kicker: after all that money you’ve paid, you’ll end up with nothing. If you cancel, you’ve wasted your cash on a plan that was designed to work against you as you age.

Moral of the story? Avoid the overhyped, overpriced policies and go with someone who puts your needs first. Your wallet—and your family—will thank you.

How Can Final Expense Guy Help You?

Here’s the truth: some agents don’t know what they’re doing and might sell you overpriced burial insurance. Don’t let that happen to you.

Burial insurance doesn’t have to cost a fortune. At Final Expense Guy, we’re experts at finding affordable policies that fit your needs.

We’ll ask a few simple questions about your age and health, then find the best quotes from top companies.

Because we’re independent, we can compare all the best options to find the perfect fit for your age, health, and budget.

We make it easy to understand, save you money, and get you covered without any stress. Let us help you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can senior citizens get life insurance?

Yes, most insurance companies offer life insurance policies to seniors. Many insurers have special life insurance products designed specifically for older adults.

Can I get burial insurance without a medical exam?

In many cases, you can get burial insurance without a medical exam.

Can you get a first-day coverage plan if you are a senior citizen?

Yes, there are first-day coverage life insurance policies available for seniors. These policies are designed to provide coverage on the first day of the policy without the need for a medical exam.

What is the maximum age to apply for burial insurance?

The typical maximum age to apply for burial insurance is 85 years old. Once approved, your policy will remain active until you are 121 years old.

At what age does burial insurance expire?

Burial insurance policies typically do not expire. Once approved, your policy will remain active until you are 121 years old.

Can you pay monthly for burial insurance?

All insurers will allow you to pay monthly for your policy.

Can I get burial insurance for a senior family member?

Yes, you can get burial insurance for a senior family member. These policies are available through many different insurers.

How many burial insurance policies can a senior have?

A senior can have multiple burial insurance policies if they choose to do so as long as they can pay the premiums on time.

What is the best way to get burial insurance?

The best way to get burial insurance is to work with a qualified life insurance agent from Final Expense Guy, who can compare quotes from multiple insurers and find the policy that best meets your needs.

What is the minimum amount of coverage for burial insurance?

Most burial insurance policies have a minimum starting amount for coverage of $2,500.

What is the maximum amount of coverage for burial insurance?

The maximum amount of coverage for burial insurance will vary depending on the insurer but is typically around $25,000-$50,000 (depending on your age).

What is the best age to buy burial insurance?

The best age to buy burial insurance is as early as possible and before you have any significant health problems.