The short answer
Burial insurance for seniors over 90 is very uncommon. Most insurers stop selling new policies somewhere in the 80s. If a policy is available at 90, coverage is likely small, with high premiums. For most people over 90, the practical options are an existing policy, savings set aside for the funeral, or a prepaid funeral plan.
Key takeaways
- Most burial insurance policies stop accepting new applicants before age 90.
- Any policy available at 90 or older is likely to be small, with high premiums, and may have a waiting period.
- There is no free burial insurance for people over 90, and no government program that provides it.
- Checking for old policies, savings and prepaid contracts is often more useful than buying new coverage.
- A prepaid funeral plan or payable-on-death account is often a practical way to plan at this age.
Can a 90-year-old get burial insurance?
Rarely. Every insurer sets a maximum age for new policies. For burial and final expense insurance, most of those limits fall in the 80s. A very small number of policies may accept applicants at 90, and after that, new policies are very uncommon. What exists varies by state.
Even when a policy is offered, the premium is high compared with the benefit. A waiting period is also likely, which means a death from illness in the first two years may only return the premiums paid.
Example (hypothetical): Say the monthly premium is one-twentieth of the coverage amount. Then in 20 months, premiums add up to the full benefit, and by two years they are more than the benefit. If the policy has a two-year waiting period, it never pays more than you put in for death from illness. Saving the same monthly amount would leave your family the same money or more.
Why "any age" and "free" ads mislead
Be cautious with ads that promise coverage at any age, or "free" burial insurance for seniors. There is no government program that provides free burial insurance. See the truth about free burial insurance.
- Ask exactly what is paid if death from illness happens in the first two years.
- Ask what the total premiums would be after one, two and three years.
- Ask whether the policy is sold to someone your age in your state at all.
First, check what you already have
- Old life insurance policies, including ones from a former job or union.
- A prepaid funeral contract bought years ago.
- Bank accounts with a named payable-on-death beneficiary.
- Bank statements that show regular payments to an insurance company.
Tell a family member where these papers are kept. That way, any policy you have can be found and claimed. After a death, families can use the NAIC's free Life Insurance Policy Locator to search for policies.
Practical ways to plan instead
| Option | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid funeral plan | A contract with a funeral home for set services | Often no health questions. State protections vary. See prepaid funeral plans |
| Payable-on-death account | A bank account that passes directly to the person you name | Your bank can set it up. Money stays yours while you live |
| Burial trust or savings | Money set aside only for the funeral | See burial trust funds |
| VA benefits | Burial help for eligible veterans | See veterans burial benefits |
| Social Security | A one-time $255 to an eligible surviving spouse or child | It does not pay the funeral home. See Social Security death benefit |
The FTC Funeral Rule lets you get an itemized price list and choose only the services you want. Choosing a smaller service, such as direct cremation, can lower the amount you need. See funeral costs and our funeral cost calculator.
Medicare does not pay for funerals, burial or cremation. See does Medicare pay for funeral expenses? If you receive SSI, money set aside for burial may be treated differently from other savings. See SSI burial funds.
For family members helping a parent over 90
- Ask your parent about their wishes and write them down.
- Gather any existing policies, prepaid contracts and account details.
- Get price lists from one or two local funeral homes.
- Decide who will pay the funeral home and from which money.
- Give copies of the wishes and papers to family. The FTC advises not to rely only on a will, which may not be read until after the funeral, and not to keep the only copy in a safe deposit box.
- Keep our first 30 days checklist handy for what comes after a death.
If money is tight, see how to pay for a funeral for other options.
Who a new policy is not right for
For most people over 90, a new policy may not be a good value. That is especially true for anyone with a serious illness, anyone with savings that already cover the funeral, or anyone on a tight budget. A Licensed Insurance Agent can check whether any insurer still accepts your age, but it is fine to decide that savings or a prepaid plan make more sense.
Common questions
Can a 90-year-old get burial insurance?
It is rare. Most insurers stop issuing new burial insurance policies in the 80s. A very small number of policies may accept applicants at 90, usually with small coverage and high premiums. A Licensed Insurance Agent can check whether any company accepts your age in your state. Compare the total premiums with the benefit before deciding.
Is there free burial insurance for seniors over 90?
No. There is no free burial insurance and no government program that provides it, at any age. Ads that suggest otherwise are usually selling a regular policy. Real help that may be available includes VA burial benefits for eligible veterans and a one-time $255 Social Security payment to an eligible spouse or child.
What are practical ways to pay for a funeral at 90?
For many people, it is savings set aside for the funeral, a payable-on-death account, or a prepaid funeral plan. These avoid the high premiums and waiting periods of a new policy at this age. Get itemized prices from local funeral homes first, so you know how much to set aside.
Does Social Security pay for a funeral?
Not directly. Social Security pays a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment to an eligible surviving spouse, or in some cases a child. It does not pay the funeral home, and it must be claimed within two years. Monthly survivors benefits are a separate program with their own rules.
Can you get burial insurance at 95?
Almost certainly not as a new policy. We are not aware of burial insurance commonly sold to new applicants at 95. The practical options are an existing policy, savings, a payable-on-death account or a prepaid funeral plan. Families can also check for forgotten policies through old papers and bank statements.
Can I buy burial insurance for my parent who is over 90?
It is very unlikely you will find a new policy. Even where one exists, your parent must agree, sign and answer the health questions, and the premiums may soon exceed the benefit. For most families, arranging a prepaid funeral plan with the parent or setting aside savings in a payable-on-death account works better.
Does Medicare pay for funerals for people over 90?
No. Medicare pays for health care, including hospice care, but not for funerals, burial or cremation. Social Security pays a one-time $255 to an eligible surviving spouse or child, and veterans may have VA burial benefits. Most families pay from savings, an existing policy or a prepaid plan.
What if my parent over 90 dies without burial insurance?
First, search for policies your parent may have bought years ago, including through the NAIC's free Life Insurance Policy Locator. Ask funeral homes for an itemized price list, which the FTC Funeral Rule requires, and choose only the services you want. Check Social Security and VA benefits, and see our guide on how to pay for a funeral.