What a funeral costs in Wisconsin
NFDA doesn't publish funeral prices by state. Nationally, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023, and $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation. Cemetery costs such as a plot, vault, and headstone are extra, and prices vary widely between funeral homes.
In Wisconsin, about 65.4% of deaths resulted in cremation as of 2020. Source: NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report, state table (final 2020 data)
Federal law (the FTC Funeral Rule) requires funeral homes to give you an itemized price list, so you can compare. Estimate your own total with our funeral cost calculator.
Consumer protections in Wisconsin
If a life insurer licensed in Wisconsin becomes insolvent, the Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund covers up to $300,000 in death benefits per insured life. Source: Wis. Stat. § 646.31(4) (maximum claim per life)
Questions or complaints about an insurer or agent go to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (800-236-8517). Funeral homes are licensed by the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services).
Help paying for a funeral
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services' Funeral and Cemetery Aids Program (WFCAP) covers funeral, cemetery, and crematory provider expenses not fully paid by an eligible person's estate, family, or other resources; providers apply, and a life insurance policy over $3,000 can reduce the payment. Source: Wisconsin DHS: Wisconsin Funeral and Cemetery Aids Program FAQ
Veterans may qualify for VA burial allowances and a free burial in a national or state veterans cemetery — see benefits for Wisconsin veterans. A small final expense policy is one way families make sure the rest is covered; learn how final expense insurance works and how guaranteed issue waiting periods work.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my life insurance in Wisconsin if the insurance company fails?
The Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund protects Wisconsin policyholders if a licensed insurer becomes insolvent, up to $300,000 in life insurance death benefits per insured life under state law. Coverage above those limits isn't protected.
See final expense optionsHow common is cremation in Wisconsin?
About 65.4% of deaths in Wisconsin resulted in cremation as of 2020, according to NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report, state table (final 2020 data).
See final expense optionsWho regulates life insurance in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance licenses insurers and agents and handles consumer complaints; its consumer line is 800-236-8517. Funeral homes are licensed by the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services).
See final expense options