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5 Best Burial Insurance Companies of December 2024
Pay for your own funeral and burial costs with a final expense policy from one of our top-rated insurers.
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Katia Iervasi Assistant Assigning Editor | Life insurance, disability insurance, health care
Katia Iervasi is an assistant assigning editor at NerdWallet. An insurance authority, she previously spent over six years covering insurance topics as a writer, where she loved untangling complicated topics and answering readers’ burning money questions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and has studied writing, fact-checking and editing with Poynter. Her writing and analysis has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Katia currently lives in New York City.
Erica Corbin is a former assigning editor at NerdWallet. Erica joined NerdWallet in 2020 as an assistant assigning editor at large. In 2023, she was promoted to assigning editor and helped lead the credit cards vertical at NerdWallet Canada. She previously wrote and edited content at companies such as GOBankingRates and Nasdaq. Her work has been syndicated to USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN and more.
If you want to buy life insurance purely to cover your funeral costs, medical bills and other end-of-life expenses, look into burial insurance. Also known as final expense insurance, these policies are designed for seniors who need only a small amount of coverage, and not all insurers offer them.
To narrow down the list of the best burial insurance policies, our experts analyzed policy features, age and state availability, and added value — such as free life insurance riders. We also looked at payment options and the amount of coverage you can buy, which typically starts at $1,000 and maxes out at $50,000 for this type of life insurance.
NerdWallet's life insurance content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in life insurance. We follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure the content on our site is accurate and fair so you can make financial decisions with confidence and choose the products that work best for you.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
Issue age: 50 to 85 in most states (50 to 75 in NY).
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates consumer experience, financial strength ratings and complaint data.
Issue age: 65 to 85.
NerdWallet rates insurers at the company level, not the policy level. This means our star rating reflects the company as a whole, and not its burial insurance policy specifically.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Low number of complaints from consumers.
Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.
Cons
Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: If reliable support is a top priority for you, State Farm has an excellent reputation for customer service.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Low number of complaints from consumers.
Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.
Cons
Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
Some app restrictions for Android samrtphones.
Pros
Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.
Broad range of term products, including instant answer life insurance.
Cons
Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts.
Some restrictions for Android smartphones when accessing policy details through online portal.
Company overview: State Farm consistently ranks No. 1 in J.D. Power’s annual customer satisfaction study for individual life insurance.
State Farm’s burial insurance policy earns cash value over time, and once you’ve accumulated enough, you can take out loans or withdraw money from that fund during your lifetime. Since State Farm is a mutual company, your policy might also pay out dividends based on the insurer’s financial performance.
State Farm burial insurance policy details
Policy name: Guaranteed Issue Final Expense Life Insurance (known as $10,000 Whole Life in New York).
Eligibility age range: 45 to 80 (50 to 75 in New York).
Coverage amount: $10,000 ($15,000 in some states).
Availability: All states. Note: State Farm isn’t offering policies to new customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: AARP’s policy is available to its members and their spouses, and the insurer has a relatively low complaint volume for a company of its size.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
No medical exams required.
Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
Cons
Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: AARP’s policy is available to its members and their spouses, and the insurer has a relatively low complaint volume for a company of its size.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
No medical exams required.
Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
Cons
Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
Pros
No medical exams required.
Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
Cons
Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
Company overview: Open to AARP members as part of a partnership with New York Life, this policy is a type of group life insurance. You’re guaranteed to be accepted as long as you’re an AARP member who meets the age requirements, and coverage typically lasts your entire life. In most states, AARP also allows members’ spouses who are 45 to 85 (or 80 in some states) to apply for a policy. In New York, the age eligibility for spouses is slightly different: 50 to 75.
AARP burial insurance policy details
Policy name: Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 50 to 85 (50 to 80 in some states; 50 to 75 in NY)
Coverage amount: Up to $30,000 ($25,000 in some states). You may be able to request a higher coverage amount by calling New York Life on 1-800-607-6957.
Availability: Not available in New Jersey. Non-members in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oregon may not be eligible.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: American Family allows you to bundle life insurance with other insurance products and possibly save money on the latter.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size.
Offers a variety of term and whole life options.
Cons
Not available in all states.
Pros
Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size.
Offers a variety of term and whole life options.
Cons
Not available in all states.
Company overview: American Family received fewer complaints to state regulators for a company of its size, making it a trustworthy choice. The company sells a range of insurance products, including vehicle insurance, property insurance and business insurance. In some cases, you can bundle your policies and save money.
American Family burial insurance policy details
Policy name: DreamSecure Senior Whole Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 50 to 80.
Coverage amount: $10,000 or $15,000.
Availability: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
Yes
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
No medical exam required.
Fully digital application.
Offers both term and whole life insurance online.
Cons
No live chat feature, which is unusual for insurtechs.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: You can be approved within minutes of applying and coverage starts as soon as you make your first payment.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Strong
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
Yes
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Fewer than expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
No medical exam required.
Fully digital application.
Offers both term and whole life insurance online.
Cons
No live chat feature, which is unusual for insurtechs.
Can't customize coverage with riders.
Pros
No medical exam required.
Fully digital application.
Offers both term and whole life insurance online.
Cons
No live chat feature, which is unusual for insurtechs.
Can't customize coverage with riders.
Company overview: Ethos’ whole life application takes five minutes to complete and coverage goes into effect once you pay the first premium, making this policy ideal for those who need a policy quickly. You don't need to take a life insurance medical exam. You stop paying premiums at age 100, and the coverage stays intact.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: Most burial insurance policies are open only to seniors 50 and older, but Mutual of Omaha allows 45-year-olds to buy coverage in all states but New York.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Close to expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Whole life insurance available without a medical exam.
Ranks highly in J.D. Power’s latest consumer satisfaction study.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Bottom line: Most burial insurance policies are open only to seniors 50 and older, but Mutual of Omaha allows 45-year-olds to buy coverage in all states but New York.
Financial strength ratingThese ratings indicate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims.
Exceptional
Online purchaseThis indicates whether the company offers a way to apply for and purchase policies entirely online.
No
NAIC complaintsRatings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC.
Close to expected
Policies offeredTerm policies last a set number of years, while permanent policies typically last a lifetime. No-exam policies don’t require a medical exam.
Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros
Whole life insurance available without a medical exam.
Ranks highly in J.D. Power’s latest consumer satisfaction study.
Cons
No online quotes for term life insurance.
Pros
Whole life insurance available without a medical exam.
Ranks highly in J.D. Power’s latest consumer satisfaction study.
Cons
Close to the expected number of complaints for life insurance for a company of its size.
No online quotes for term life insurance.
Company overview: Mutual of Omaha’s broad issue age range means people can get a policy at a younger age, when rates are likely to be cheaper. You can buy as little as $2,000 in coverage — making this option good for those who don’t need too much life insurance.
The insurer says it pays roughly 80% of claims within 24 hours, which can help your loved ones cover your funeral costs and any other immediate expenses when you die.
Mutual of Omaha burial insurance policy details
Policy name: Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in New York).
Coverage amount: $2,000 to $25,000 ($5,000 to $25,000 in Washington).
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare life insurance quotes from several companies to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews.
How we review life insurance companies
In our life insurance reviews, our editorial team considers the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Policies offered. There are many types of life insurance on the market, and they fall into three key categories:
Term life insurance offers temporary coverage and a guaranteed payout if the policyholder dies during the term.
Permanent life insurance typically lasts a lifetime and builds cash value that can be borrowed against in the future.
No-exam life insurance issues coverage without the need for a medical exam.
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Here’s the breakdown:
Exceptional: A+, A++.
Strong: A-, A.
Moderate: B, B+.
Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
Buy online. This indicates whether an insurer allows you to apply for and buy a policy completely online.
Final expense policies are designed to help you cover the costs of your own funeral and burial, but they’re expensive and capped at small amounts so they don’t suit everyone. If you crunch the numbers and decide you need more life insurance, you can apply for a traditional term life insurance or permanent life insurance policy.
Burial policies cover end-of-life expenses, like funerals or lingering medical bills. These policies are relatively small, usually in the $1,000 to $50,000 range, which means they have limited application beyond those final expense needs.
How much is burial insurance?
Burial insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam can be more expensive per dollar of coverage than many other life insurance policies. For instance, a healthy 50-year-old woman might pay about $360 a year for $10,000 in guaranteed issue life insurance, according to data from Choice Mutual, a brokerage specializing in burial insurance coverage. To compare, a $250,000 whole life policy would cost her about $4,740 — over ten times as much per year but for 25 times as much coverage.
What is the cheapest burial insurance?
The cheapest burial insurance will depend on your needs and health. While many policies can be issued with no medical questions or exams, they're usually much more expensive. The best way to get cheap life insurance coverage for any type of policy is to shop around.
What is a burial insurance policy?
Burial policies cover end-of-life expenses, like funerals or lingering medical bills. These policies are relatively small, usually in the $1,000 to $50,000 range, which means they have limited application beyond those final expense needs.
How much is burial insurance?
Burial insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam can be more expensive per dollar of coverage than many other life insurance policies. For instance, a healthy 50-year-old woman might pay about $360 a year for $10,000 in
, according to data from Choice Mutual, a brokerage specializing in burial insurance coverage. To compare, a $250,000 whole life policy would cost her about $4,740 — over ten times as much per year but for 25 times as much coverage.
What is the cheapest burial insurance?
The cheapest burial insurance will depend on your needs and health. While many policies can be issued with no medical questions or exams, they're usually much more expensive. The best way to get
coverage for any type of policy is to shop around.
Methodology
Life insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
