Leave memories, not funeral bills
Free to useNo obligationLicensed agents only
Answer a few quick questions and we'll connect you with a licensed agent who can compare final expense policies by your age, health and budget, so your family isn't left with the bill.
- Free to use, no obligation to buy
- Many policies ask health questions instead of a medical exam
- Cash goes to the person you choose, for any bill
Why people buy final expense coverage
Funerals cost more than most expect
NFDA's 2023 study put the median funeral at $8,300 with viewing and burial and $6,280 with viewing and cremation, before cemetery costs such as a plot or headstone.
Your beneficiary can use it for anything
The insurer pays cash to the person you name, not a funeral home. It can go to any funeral home, medical bills, debts or whatever else shows up.
Premiums usually stay the same
Final expense is usually whole life coverage. With most policies the premium you start with is the premium you keep, and coverage lasts for life while premiums are paid.
Health questions, not exams
Most policies use a short health questionnaire. Guaranteed issue asks none at all, but usually pays a limited benefit for a natural death in the first two years.
- 01
In fairly good health
If you can answer a few health questions, a simplified issue policy usually costs less than guaranteed issue and pays the full amount sooner.
- 02
Serious health conditions
Guaranteed issue can't turn you down for your health. Natural deaths early in the policy usually return premiums plus interest; accidents are usually paid in full.
- 03
In your 70s or 80s
Age limits vary by insurer, and cost rises with age. An agent can compare insurers that accept your age and what each would charge.
- 04
Planning a cremation
Cremation often costs less than burial, which can lower how much coverage you need. NFDA projected a 2025 U.S. cremation rate of 63.4%.
- 05
Buying for a parent
You can apply for a policy on a parent with their consent and signature. Their age and health, not yours, decide what's available.
- 06
Already have other coverage
Many people keep a small final expense policy alongside term or work coverage, since those can end when a term runs out or a job ends.
Final expense and burial insurance
What Is Final Expense Insurance and How Does It Work?
Final expense insurance is a small whole life insurance policy, usually a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of dollars, that pays your beneficiary cash when you die. Families most often use the money for funeral costs, medical bills, and other debts left behind.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
How Much Does a Funeral Cost? NFDA Median Prices Explained
According to NFDA's 2023 General Price List Study, the national median cost of an adult funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300, and a funeral with viewing and cremation was $6,280. Those figures leave out cemetery charges, a headstone, and cash-advance items, so the real total is often higher.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance: Graded Benefits Explained
Guaranteed issue life insurance is small whole life coverage you can't be turned down for because of your health, as long as you fit the age range. The trade-off is a higher price per dollar of coverage and, on most policies, a graded death benefit that pays back premiums plus interest, not the full amount, if you die of natural causes in the first two years.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Buying Life Insurance for Your Parents: Consent, Cost, Rules
You can buy life insurance on a parent, but you need an insurable interest, and your parent must know about the policy and agree to it, usually by signing the application. A common approach is for the adult child to own and pay for a small final expense or whole life policy and name themselves as beneficiary.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Final Expense Insurance for Seniors Over 70 and 80
Most seniors over 70 can still buy final expense insurance, and many carriers accept new applicants into their early or mid-80s. Your health answers decide whether you get full coverage from the start or a policy with a graded benefit for the first two years.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Cremation vs. Burial Cost: What Each Really Costs
Cremation usually costs less than burial. NFDA's 2023 study put the median funeral with viewing and cremation at $6,280 versus $8,300 for viewing and burial, and burial adds cemetery costs that those figures leave out.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Common questions
What is final expense insurance?
It's usually a small whole life policy, from a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of dollars, that pays your beneficiary cash when you die. Families most often use the money for funeral costs, medical bills and other debts left behind. As long as premiums are paid, coverage doesn't expire at a certain age the way term insurance does.
Is final expense insurance the same as a prepaid funeral plan?
No. A prepaid or preneed plan is an agreement with a specific funeral home to pay for goods and services in advance. Final expense insurance pays cash to a beneficiary you choose, who can use it at any funeral home or for any other bill.
What is a graded death benefit?
It's a reduced payout if you die of natural causes early in the policy, most often the first two years, before the full amount applies. Beneficiaries typically get premiums back plus interest during that time. Accidental deaths are usually paid in full from the start. It's common on guaranteed issue policies, which ask no health questions.
Does my family pay taxes on the payout?
Generally, no. The IRS says life insurance proceeds paid to a beneficiary because of the insured person's death are generally not taxable income, though any interest paid on the proceeds is taxable. Ask a tax professional about your specific situation.
How much final expense coverage do I need?
Most people pick an amount close to what a funeral and a few final bills would cost in their area. Burial usually costs more than cremation, and cemetery costs are extra. A licensed agent can help you weigh the amount against the monthly premium so the policy stays affordable for life.
Is this service free, and who will I talk to?
Yes, it's free. We're a matching service, not an insurance company. You answer a few questions, and we connect you with a licensed agent who can compare final expense options with you. There's no cost to use the service and no obligation to buy.