Video story: I'd been meaning to look into final expense insurance for a while. One morning, I finally picked up the phone. The Licensed Insurance Agent listened, and explained my options in plain English. In one call, I learned what might be available to me. Now I feel more prepared for my family's future. If you've been meaning to look into it too, take the first step and call. Take the first step today. Talk with a Licensed Insurance Agent. It's free, and there's no obligation.
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Clear answers about funeral costs and burial insurance.
BurialFacts is an independent consumer guide to burial insurance, final expense insurance and funeral costs. We are not an insurance company or a government agency.
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Facts sourced from
National Funeral Directors AssociationSocial Security AdministrationMedicare.govU.S. Department of Veterans AffairsFederal Trade CommissionNational Association of Insurance CommissionersInternal Revenue ServiceConsumer Financial Protection Bureau
$8,300
Median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial
Source: NFDA, 2023
$255
Social Security lump-sum death payment
Source: SSA
$0
Medicare does not pay for funerals or burial expenses
Source: Medicare.gov
Funeral costs
What does a funeral actually cost?
See typical expenses based on national data, and estimate what a funeral might cost in your area.
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Funeral with viewing and burial (median)$8,300
Cemetery plotOften extra
Burial vaultOften extra
Headstone or markerOften extra
Why people call
One phone call can help you feel more prepared.
- Tell them your situationYour age, your state and any health conditions.
- Hear your real optionsA Licensed Insurance Agent compares policies from several insurance companies for you.
- Decide on your own timeRequest prices and information. There is no obligation to buy anything.
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Questions families ask most
Get clear answers.
Straightforward explanations to help you make the right decision for your family.
What is final expense insurance?
Final expense insurance, also called burial insurance, is a small whole life insurance policy meant to help pay for a funeral and final bills. You pay a fixed monthly premium, and the benefit goes to your beneficiary when you die. Most policies ask health questions to decide which type you can get. Read more
How much does a funeral cost?
The national median was $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial and $6,280 with cremation in 2023, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Cemetery costs such as the plot, vault and headstone are extra. Read more
Can I get burial insurance with no waiting period?
Often, yes. Level policies pay the full benefit from day one if you can answer the health questions. People with some serious recent conditions are usually offered graded or guaranteed issue policies, which commonly have a waiting period of about two years for death from illness. Read more
How much coverage do I need?
Add up expected funeral and cemetery costs, final medical bills and debts you want paid, then subtract savings set aside and life insurance you already have. The difference is your coverage gap. Read more
Is the $25,000 burial benefit real?
Not as a government benefit. The $25,000 in ads is the maximum coverage on some private final expense policies. You request it through a Licensed Insurance Agent, the insurance company reviews your age and health, and you pay monthly premiums. Read more
Does Medicare pay for funerals?
No. Medicare is health insurance and pays nothing toward a funeral, burial or cremation. Social Security pays a one-time $255 to an eligible surviving spouse or child. Read more
Why trust BurialFacts?
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