Best Burial Insurance and Final Expense Insurance Policies for 2024

Funeral costs can come suddenly and be a major expense. Buying burial insurance guarantees that your family members have the financial ability to handle your funeral service and expenses related to your passing when that time arrives. A final expense policy is normally available for those between the ages of 50 and 80. Many can be active within a business day. Insurance policy holders can use final expense funds to purchase products or services that are related to the beneficiary’s death, which can include unpaid debts or expenses not directly tied to burial costs. Your funeral insurance is a contract between you and the insurer that breaks down the coverage you’ll receive in detail. A death benefit can stay the same, increase in value, or remain equal to the return of the premium.

Taking the time to grasp the pros and cons of buying burial insurance from one company as opposed to another requires patience. Studies have shown that many Americans are under the false impression that Social Security will cover their expense needs after death. The government issues a lump-sum of $255 for those who qualify, unfortunately. That’s it. In the case of the Veterans Administration, the final expense benefit available is just $749 for a plot. A $300 burial allowance is also given. Recent studies have shown that most don’t read the terms of agreement that come with the products and services they buy. When it comes to burial insurance, however, it’s absolutely essential to give the fine print a thorough going over. Do some comparison shopping between the products available and you’ll choose the policy that best suits you. The following companies are some of the most well known in the burial insurance industry and ones that you should consider.

Fidelity Life

Fidelity Life is licensed to operate throughout the United States, though its burial insurance products are unavailable in Wyoming or New York. It’s a well-known brand that has operated for over 100 years and ranks at the top of the burial insurance industry. Fidelity insurance products are sold via agents with whom you make appointments. Its customer service team is also available to provide information on its products as well as fast quotes. Its Rapid Decision Express option gives those up to age 95 years of age fast approval. No medical tests are required to qualify. Coverage can begin within a few days. “There is a reduced death benefit in the first three years of coverage, with full coverage beginning in year four,” according to Fidelity’s own description. While Fidelity policies are often not considered the most discounted form of funeral insurance, signing up for an insurance policy is said to be simple and many of its customers are happy with the support as well as returns they receive. Your monthly fees can be paid using automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account. Its Rapid Decision Final Expense insurance is a life insurance policy that offers fixed premiums and coverage amounts that they guarantee will remain the same for the duration of your burial insurance. Fidelity doesn’t recommend it, however, for those with serious health conditions. It extends 30 days during which you can go over the details of your funeral insurance policy again after purchasing it. If you decide to change your mind within that window, you can request a refund of the fees and premiums you’ve paid

AIG

American General Life Insurance consistently ranks as one of the best companies in the United States. It’s policies have a reputation for being more affordable than others. Standard & Poor’s, which sets standards across the financial industry, gives AIG the highest rating possible when it comes to the products and services it sells. Its Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance (GIWL) policy is described as funeral insurance that lets you “Leave a legacy of love and peace of mind, not debt.” It provides coverage for those between 50 and 85, guaranteeing that you won’t be denied no matter your state of health. If you’re terminally ill suddenly, it offers a 50 percent accelerated death benefit. Getting covered by a guaranteed issue life insurance plan from AIG lets you pay medical bills while hospitalized in critical condition, then issue the remaining funds to your beneficiaries after death. Some of the features of the plan are not eligible in certain states, however. AIG’s quote hotline enables you to call in and get an idea of how much a final expense policy that fits your needs would cost as well as resolve other questions.

Gerber

Many first think of baby food when they hear the name of this brand, but Gerber Life is a legitimate contender in the family life insurance industry. The company did $856 million in sales in 2017. Western & Southern Financial Group recently purchased Gerber Life for USD 1.55 billion in cash. Gerber’s burial insurance plan is considered one of the most popular burial policies on the market due to its guaranteed acceptance policy. Gerber doesn’t require health exams to decide if you’re eligible. Its prices don’t increase over the course of time and remain the same once you’ve signed up. An important distinction between Gerber’s insurance and those sold by other insurers is that its plans don’t expire. Final expense policy plans come in the amount of 5000 to 25,000. Gerber promises that it’s insurance cost less while offering the same benefits as its competitors. Gerber Life’s guaranteed issue insurance is a life insurance policy that gets consistently positive reviews. If you have a health condition such as cancer, HIV or Alzheimer’s disease that has made being approved for burial insurance difficult, it’s worth picking up the phone and getting more information on the coverage it offers. Gerber’s final expense insurance plan is whole life. The premium you pay each month won’t change. Neither will the benefits. Its final expense plan is a guaranteed issue life insurance policy, You can apply online and it takes just minutes.

Royal Neighbors of America

A life insurer with a distinctive history, RNA was launched in 1895 by a group of women. It has been better business accredited since 1986 and offers diverse life insurance products. It’s simplified issue Whole Life Plan provides death benefits and comes with a set premium payment schedule. “We are a life insurer that believes we are more than a nation of individuals; we are a nation of neighbors. So we have a dual mission to financially protect our members and their families,” is Royal Neighbors of America’s mission. Royal Neighbors of America isn’t a traditionally structured burial insurance entity. It’s a fraternal benefits society, which means that it doesn’t have shareholders. Being a non-profit means all of RNA’s earnings are actually distributed among its members. Its Simplified Issue Whole Life Plan provides a family with final expense policy money. Request a paperless voice signature application by phone. Use the interactive features on its site to figure out which of the final expense plans they sell best satisfy your burial insurance needs. This is a company that is known for having the least stringent criteria for burial insurance applicants. Its burial insurance is offered to residents of all fifty U.S. states except for Alaska, Alabama, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York.

New York Life

New York Life’s reputation precedes it https://www.newyorklife.com/articles/being-prepared-for-more-than-just-burial-insurance/. It’s the third largest life insurer in the US. Like most insurance policies, its are guaranteed as long the insured keep up their claim payments. New York Life promotes the concept that a final expense insurance policy should be assessed annually to make sure it’s appropriate for the growth stage you’re family’s in. Do the Two Minute Review Checklist on their website to better understand exactly what your policy needs are.

Its site is particularly user friendly in that it provides a cost calculator that allows you to enter information and estimate how much your burial expenses will be. It also breaks down the full range of costs that go beyond funeral home burial expenses that can include airfare and accommodations for relatives, so it assists you in understanding all the moving parts of funeral planning. Loans can be taken out against final expense insurance policies. The loan gives the policy cash value without the policy holder losing coverage. Policy loans accrue interest and reduce the overall value of your insurance product. you even pick up the phone and pursue further information on burial insurance or request that a New York Life agent stop by your home or office. While some may avoid meeting one on one with a sales rep, it’s the best way to figure out how much burial insurance you need to buy. A decent rep will show you how to calculate what amount of burial insurance you need. The rep can also help you to do the math involved and bring a more personal experience to understanding the value of your policy.

Mutual of Omaha

Rated at number 37 on Fortune 500’s top company list, Mutual Omaha is a well-known and respected brand in funeral insurance, so buying its final expense policy gives you the assurance that you’re doing business with a company that’s stable and has a transparent balance sheet. It gets an A+ rating from the better Business Bureau. Standard & Poor’s gives Mutual of Omaha an AA-. Moody’s gives it an A1. Once known as Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association, Mutual Omaha’s burial insurance plans can be valued from as little as $2,000 to as much as $100,000 https://wholelife.mutualofomaha-lifeinsurance.com/faq. There’s not an extended waiting period before the deed is in your hands. The qualification process is rapid. Its Living Promise Whole Life Insurance plan includes expenses such as the medical bills and outstanding debts of the deceased. Its Accidental Death Insurance covers those between the ages of 18 and 70. You’re not ruled out if your occupation is considered dangerous. Health exams are not part of the criteria for becoming eligible for its burial insurance either. Mutual of Omaha advises its prospective clients to take the necessary time to review the benefits, reductions, limitations and fine print details of all of its burial insurance products.

Transamerica

It’s one of the biggest financial institutions in the world. More than 13 million Americans do business with Transamerica. Its products span a broad range of insurance needs, so if you’re interested in final expense insurance, the frequently asked questions (FAQ) part of their website should provide you with all the information you need to decide if you want to purchase one of its final expense policies. The Transamerica website also offers a worksheet you can use to assess exactly what type of coverage will best serve your final expense needs. Beneficiaries of Transamerica burial insurance plans receive a lump payment upon death. Accidental death policies from Transamerica give families who have lost a loved one the ability to cover the costs of sudden expenses. The amount of final expense coverage doubles if the accident is caused by a train or bus. Two accidental death insurance policies are available. Plan A pays a benefit of $250,000 to the policy holder as long as the death can deemed as accidental. Plan B pays a benefit of $125,000 to a death insurance beneficiary. The payments increases to $250,000 if public transportation vehicle is responsible for the policy holder’s death. Transamerica clients can opt for a plan A feature that allows an extra $125,000 payout on the death of a spouse, and a $5,000 payout if children are the deceased. The option for Plan B pays out $75,000 upon the loss of a spouse and $5,000 after the accidental death of any children. You can contact their call center for more detail or request a quote on their site.

Assurity Life

Assurity Life has an A+ Better Business Bureau Rating and was recently ranked as one of the top companies worldwide in terms of customer engagement https://assurity.com/panel/products.html. It paid out $69.3 million in death benefits to beneficiaries in 2017. Its Simplified Whole Life Insurance policy doesn’t require getting a physical or taking a blood test. Filling out a form with general final expense insurance questions will determine if you’re eligible for the Level Death, Graded Death or Modified Death Benefit policy, though the first two burial insurance plans are not eligible in every state. The Level Death Benefit Option is a burial insurance that’s paid as soon as the insured person passes, regardless of what the cause of their death was. The Graded Death Benefit Option is an offering appropriate if the policy holder dies of natural causes in the first two years after which they’ve signed their final expense insurance deed. The death benefit paid is a fraction of the final expense insurance death benefit. The Modified Death Benefit Option is applicable to an insured person who dies of natural causes after the first two years of their policy. The death benefit is a portion of the annual premium amount paid in the year the death occurs. Questions about burial insurance policies can be asked by phone. The client services support provided by Assurity Life is comparably extensive. Burial insurance policy holders can pay burial insurance premiums online as well as download forms on its site that are needed. Once you receive your burial insurance policy, Assurity Life gives you a grace period in which to go over the final expense insurance word for word in order to verify that it’s exactly the final expense plan you’re looking for. You have 30 days to change your mind and opt out. You’re able to request a refund within that allotted time if you decide that it’s not the right plan for you. The full money you paid will then be refunded, and you won’t be expected to meet any specific criteria.

Sagicor

Another popular insurer, Sagicor operates globally and has clients in more than 22 countries. Its U.S. headquarters is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. One of the services it offers is repatriation of the deceased remains in the event that they pass while abroad. When minors are the chosen beneficiaries of a burial insurance policy, the parents of the child or guardian will have to get legal permission before Sagicor issues the death benefit payment. The Peace Assured Plan is available to all between 18 and 80 years of age. A medical exam isn’t required. Some of the expenses it covers are a wake, a headstone, the funeral service and cremation plans. Sagicor has various insurance products. The four major products they sell are term, whole life, universal life and endowment insurance. Term insurance is the most basic. It’s active for a specified term after which you have the opportunity to renew. If you pass away during the term of the policy, your beneficiaries receive the amount owed. If the term ends while you’re still alive, no pay-out takes place. Its Whole insurance is a mixture of a death benefit combined with a savings plan. Universal is another type of final expense insurance. Endowment insurance pays out benefits up to an agreed upon age. It enables payments only if your death becomes before the burial insurance policy matures. While Sagicor’s name may not be as familiar as other insurers who sell burial insurance, Sagicor has a Better Business Bureau of A+. The company’s assets were measured as $5.8 billion in 2017.

United Home Life

An insurer in Indianapolis, Indiana, United Home life has been accredited since only 2016, but offers a wide selection of insurance protection. The company has more than 2 billion in assets. Its death benefit premiums are guaranteed to never increase. UHL describes itself as a company with simpler and more affordable burial insurance plans than its competitors. Even if you’ve been denied a death insurance policy in the past, UHL will provide you with coverage without requesting blood tests or any other kind of medical tests be performed. The application procedure begins with a phone call to one of its underwriters. Burial insurance premiums are guaranteed as long as they’re paid regularly. One particularly useful fact worth knowing is that burial insurance premiums can’t be paid by credit card. Premiums payments can be made through an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from your bank account. You’re able to have more than one beneficiary of your burial insurance. Your beneficiary doesn’t have to be an individual. It can be an estate, a trust, a trustee, a corporation, a charitable organization or any other entity. The owner of a Unified Home Life policy can change the name of the burial insurance policy holder simply by completing a form on the site. United Home Life lets you know who has access to your personal information. It can also issue reports to you regarding when and at what times personal information about you regarding your burial insurance was shared.