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Best Final Expense Burial Insurance Companies (Top 18 for 2024)

At IBUSA, we specialize in no-exam life insurance, including final expense and burial insurance policies, with and without health questions. We have compiled a list of our top picks so that our visitors can familiarize themselves with the current crop of companies offering final expense life insurance.

For the best final expense plans, we recommend permanent life insurance policies. All the burial life insurance companies we list below have some permanent insurance; that way, the policy remains in force for your entire life as long as you pay the premiums.

The following are our current final expense life insurance companies we recommend listed in alphabetical order:

Interested in seeing how these companies stack up versus the competition? No problem! Choose two companies and click “compare” to see how each company compares head-to-head.

Compare over 50 top life insurance companies instantly.
Select two companies and click COMPARE.


AIG guaranteed issue whole Life

American International Group, aka AIG.

A.M. Best rating: A

AIG offers guaranteed issue whole life insurance. “Guaranteed issue” means no health questions for life insurance.

The best part about this policy is that there are no health questions and exam requirements. Since the policy is a guaranteed issue, there is a 2-year waiting period before the policy will pay out for natural causes.

AIG’s final expense insurance policy is for ages 50-85, ranging from $5,000-$25,000 in coverage.

Read our AIG Life Insurance Review for more detailed information about the company.

american amicable final expense insurance

American Amicable

A.M. Best rating: A

American Amicable is an excellent option for burial insurance or final expense coverage.

American Amicable offers Golden Solution, which is a whole life insurance policy. There are two plans available: an immediate death benefit plan and a graded death benefit plan.

The immediate death benefit plan pays 100% of the face amount from day one.

The graded death benefit plan pays 33% of the face amount in year one, 70% in year two, and the full face amount in year three onward.

With face amounts ranging from $2,500 to $30,000, the immediate death benefit plan is a top final expense insurance policy.

Depending on your state, there is also a terminal illness accelerated benefit rider available at no additional cost.

Read our American Amicable Life Insurance Review for more.


Americo

A.M. Best rating: A

Americo has various life insurance products that will cover final expenses.

Their Ultra Protector Series is what you need to be looking at. This has policies for people 50-85, ranging from $2,000-$30,000 in coverage.

Protector I and II require a basic health screening as well as health questions. If you need a guaranteed issue final expense policy due to health problems, this may not be the best option.

Americo also offers Ultra Protector III, which is a graded death benefit plan with a 3-year waiting period.

Optional Child and Grandchild Riders are available on select products.

Read our Americo Life Insurance Review for more detailed information about what they offer.


American National

A.M. Best rating: A

With American National, you can get a $2,000-$50,000 policy. Graded and modified death benefit plans go up to $25,000.

Graded Benefit Whole Life is available for ages 45-80. The death benefit in the first two years equals premiums paid plus 10%. In year three and beyond, 100% of the death benefit is paid.

The great thing about this policy is that it has cash value. Additionally, there is a terminal illness rider if your policy is $25,000 or more.

For more information, read our American National Life Insurance Company Review.


Assurity

A.M. Best rating: A-

Assurity is one of our favorite no-medical exam companies. If you have any health problems, then you should consider Assurity.

They offer Simplified Level Benefit Whole Life, Graded Benefit, and Modified Benefit policies.

The Level Benefit Whole Life Plan pays out 100% of the face amount from day one.

The Graded Benefit Whole Life Plan pays out 40% in year one and 75% in year two, with the full face amount paid out in year three and beyond.

The Modified Benefit Whole Life Plan pays a 110% return on premium in year one and a 220% return on premium in year two, with the full face amount paid out after the second year.

Assurity’s final expense insurance offers one of the larger death benefits. The death benefit is $5,000-$50,000 until age 65. From 66 to 80 years old, the death benefit is between $5,000 and $25,000.

Read our Assurity Life Insurance Review to learn more about their products.


Baltimore Life

A.M. Best rating: B++

Baltimore Life’s Silver Guard products are great, and three different burial life insurance policies are offered.

Silver Guard I is the best option for people who are relatively healthy and can pass the health questionnaire.

Silver Guard II and III are options for people with health problems. Under these two policy options, there is a graded death benefit. In year one, you will get 25% coverage. In year two, the coverage goes up to 50%. By year three, the full death benefit is in action.

For more information about Silver Guard products, read our Baltimore Life Insurance Company Review.


Foresters

A.M. Best rating: A-

Regarding final expense policies, Forester’s PlanRight Whole Life policy is a simplified issue final expense policy to consider.

The reason most people choose this policy is for the price – it’s extremely reasonable. Depending on the plan you qualify for, the policy’s face amount ranges from $2,000 to $35,000 up until age 80. It goes down to $15,000 for applicants who are 81-85 years old.

Foresters offers three separate final expense insurance plans:

      • Preferred coverage,
      • Standard Coverage, and
      • Modified Coverage

Read the Foresters Life Insurance Company review to know more.


Gerber Life

A.M. Best rating: A

Yes, it’s the same face as the baby food – they are also a fantastic life insurance company. If you have any major health problems but still want a final expense policy to protect your loved ones, then Gerber’s Guaranteed Life is a great option.

The policy is a guaranteed issue whole-life insurance. That means you will not be required to do any medical tests, offer blood or urine samples, or answer any health questions.

Face amounts are between $5,000 and $25,000, available for ages 50-80.

If you are a senior looking for burial insurance, then Gerber is an excellent choice, as they have some of the most affordable prices for guaranteed life insurance.

Even if you are looking to purchase a life insurance policy to cover someone else (like your parent or grandparent), then Gerber is a reliable way to go.

Check out our Gerber Life review for more.

liberty bankers life

Liberty Bankers

A.M. Best rating: B++

Liberty Bankers Life offers SIMPL, a simplified issue whole life insurance policy. You can choose between SIMPL preferred and SIMPL standard. Face amounts range from $3,000 – $30,000.

The SIMPL Preferred and Standard Plan offers living benefits at no additional cost for both chronic and terminal illnesses.

Liberty Bankers also offers MWL, which is for people who don’t quite meet the requirements for the SIMPL standard policy. Face amounts on the modified plan range from $1,000 to $20,000. 

The Modified Whole Life Policy has a unique death benefit payout. During the first three years, the payout equals premiums paid plus 10% compounded. In year four, the death benefit is 100%. However, the death benefit increases to 105% in the fifth year and up to 110% in the sixth year onward.

Check out our Liberty Bankers review for more.


Mutual of Omaha

A.M. Best rating: A+

Mutual of Omaha (MOO) is a great option for burial insurance with no waiting period.

MOO has a whole-life burial or final expense insurance policy called Living Promise. This policy is available for applicants from 45 to 85 years old.

Living Promise face amounts vary, ranging from $2,000 to $40,000. To qualify for the policy, you must undergo a background check, including medical information, and run your name through the prescription drug database.

One great thing about this whole-life final expense policy is that it comes with an accelerated death benefit rider if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and the doctor gives you less than a year to live. This will help you pay for your final expenses while still alive, such as paying the funeral home in advance and making final arrangements.

Mutual of Omaha also has a Graded Benefit Plan for ages 45-80 with face amounts from $2,000 to $20,000. The policy contains a graded death benefit that pays out a return of premium plus 10% in the first two years, with the full death benefit available in years three and onward.

An Accidental Death Benefit Rider is available for an additional charge.

Read more on our Mutual of Omaha Review.

oxford life logo

Oxford Life

A.M. Best rating: A-

Oxford Life Insurance Company offers its Assurance and Assurance One, a single premium final expense insurance policy.

Assurance is available for ages 50-85, and Assurance One is available for ages 55-80.

You can choose face amounts ranging from $5,000 up to $30,000.

The Oxford Life Assurance final expense insurance policies offer accelerated benefits, including:

      • Terminal Illness Rider
      • Nursing Home Rider
      • Chronic Illness Rider
Check out our Oxford Life review for more.

Prosperity Life Insurance

Prosperity Life

A.M. Best rating: A-

Prosperity Life Insurance offers final expense whole life insurance.

Three different burial insurance options are available: level, graded, and modified benefit for ages 50-80. Face amounts available range from $1,500 – $35,000.

Prosperity Life also offers a 20-year graded death benefit term. The policy has a reduced death benefit for the first three years, after which time the full death benefit is paid for the remaining term length.

The premiums remain the same at the end of the 20 years, but the death benefit decreases annually.

Check out our Prosperity Life review for more.

royal neighbors simplified issue whole life

Royal Neighbors

A.M. Best rating: A-

Royal Neighbors final expense insurance products include Simplified Issue Whole Life (SIWL) and Graded Death Benefit Whole Life (GDB).

For ages 50-85, you can get as little as $5,000 in coverage or up to $25,000 in coverage for the SIWL product and $10,000 in coverage for the GDB product.

The SIWL plan is immediate coverage, paying 100% of the death benefit from day one.

The GDB plan has a graded death benefit, paying 30% of the face amount in year one, 70% of the face amount in year two, and the full face amount in year three and beyond.

An Accelerated Living Benefit (ALB) Terminal Condition and Permanent Confinement rider is available at no additional cost in certain states.

Non-tobacco and tobacco rates are available.

Check out our Royal Neighbors review for more.


Sagicor

A.M. Best rating: A

Another great final expense life insurance company is Sagicor.

They offer health class rates that make it affordable for healthy people and even those with health issues.

To qualify for the Sagicor Sage NLUL Standard, you should be between 18 and 65. Sagicor also offers fully underwritten policies if you are between 66 and 85.

Another good thing about  Sagicor is that they have an accelerated benefit insurance rider for terminal illness or chronic illness- for free!

Find out more from our Sagicor Life Insurance Review.

sons of norway review

Sons of Norway

A.M. Best rating: N/A

Sons of Norway provides guaranteed issue whole life insurance that is competitive with Gerber and AIG mentioned above.

As with all guaranteed issue burial insurance policies, there are no health questions or exams to take.

The product comes with a 2-year graded death benefit. During the first two years of the policy, the owner will receive a return of premium plus 4.5% interest.

The Sons of Norway burial insurance policy covers ages 50-80, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 in Coverage.

Find out more from our Sons of Norway Review.


Transamerica

A.M. Best rating: A

Transamerica has a final expense or burial insurance product called Immediate Solution Preferred or Standard and Easy Solution.

This has a face amount between $1,000 and $50,000 for applicants under 55.

If you are 55-65 years old, you can qualify for up to $40,000 of coverage, 66-75 up to $30,000 and 76-85 up to $25,000.

The Easy Solution Plan offers a 2-year graded death benefit, with face amounts ranging from $1,000 – $25,000. Payout in the first two years of this plan varies by state and is either 110% of premiums paid or 30% of the face amount in year one and 60% of the face amount in year two.

An Accelerated Death Benefit Rider with Nursing Home Benefit is available in most states, excluding New York.

Additional riders include an accidental death benefit rider and a children’s and grandchildren’s benefit rider.

Read the full Transamerica Life Insurance Review

trinity life insurance company

Trinity Life

A.M. Best rating: A

Trinity Life Insurance Company offers whole life insurance for final expenses.

Golden Eagle Final Expense is available as either a simplified issue or a graded death benefit.

Simplified issue whole life insurance is available for ages 50-85, with death benefits ranging from $2,500 to $25,000.

Graded benefit whole life insurance is available for ages 50-80, with death benefits ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

Both products offer an Accelerated Living Benefit Rider for Terminal Illness or Nursing Home Confinement.

Check out our Family Benefit Trinity Life review for more.


United Home Life

A.M. Best rating: A-

United Home Life offers a simplified issue permanent life insurance product for applicants from 20-80 years old. There are three plans to choose from.

      • Express Issue Premier
      • Express Issue Deluxe
      • Express Issue WL Graded Benefit

Express Issue Premier offers some of the largest final expense insurance face amounts. You can get a face amount from $5,000 to $100,000 until age 60. If you are 61-80, you can qualify for up to $50,000.

Riders available at no additional cost include:

      • Extended Hospital Stay Waiver
      • Identity Theft Waiver
      • Common Carrier ADB

Check out the United Home Life Review to know more.

How Much Final Expense Insurance Do I Need?

The coverage amount you get will be influenced by how much you want to spend on a policy, but it is important to consider end-of-life expenses such as medical bills, funeral costs, burial costs, and debt obligations. In truth, most people dread being a financial burden on their family members, so carefully considering how much coverage is needed is prudent.

Final Expense Life Insurance Quotes

So, how much does final expense insurance cost? That is one of the most important factors folks want to know, and your coverage amount largely determines it. We put together some handy tables below that will give you an idea of how much final expense insurance will cost based on your age and health status.

The following are sample $25,000 final expense insurance rates for a male. All rates are for informational purposes, are subject to change, and must be qualified for.

$25,000 Burial Life Insurance Rates for ages 50-59

All whole life rates shown below are fixed and will stay the same for your lifetime.

AgeLevelGradedGuaranteed Issue
5064.8082.09108.85
5167.8384.41117.10
5271.0689.02124.67
5374.4893.65131.77
5478.0598.28137.96
5581.55102.91143.46
5685.36107.55147.58
5789.33112.16151.25
5893.07119.11154.46
5996.97126.06156.75

$25,000 Final Expense Life Insurance Rates for ages 60-69

All whole-life quotes shown below are guaranteed to stay the same for your lifetime.

AgeLevelGradedGuaranteed Issue
60101.54132.98158.35
61106.15139.93170.04
62111.28146.88181.04
63117.09156.12191.58
64123.56165.39201.67
65130.03176.97211.52
66137.54188.53220.23
67144.40200.11227.79
68152.17213.99234.89
69159.55230.18241.08

$25,000 Burial Insurance Rates for ages 70-79

All whole life insurance quotes shown below are guaranteed to stay the same for your lifetime.

AgeLevelGradedGuaranteed Issue
60169.94246.58246.58
61180.33267.26269.04
62191.72288.64291.04
63204.11310.64311.67
64217.56333.74330.92
65232.07357.39347.42
66262.79386.10405.85
67280.53422.84462.00
68300.53462.44515.85
69319.00501.25567.41

$25,000 Final Expense Insurance Quotes for ages 80-85

All whole life insurance rates shown below are fixed for life and will not increase.

AgeLevelGradedGuaranteed Issue
80344.52534.58616.91
81370.06579.04691.74
82395.61608.96711.84
83422.75636.24788.61
84449.90660.44826.87
85477.04669.79865.38
Please call us for personalized final expense insurance rates, or enter your information in our final expense insurance quoter below.

Best Final Expense Insurance Companies

It is important to mention something at the outset that we will cover more in depth below. When we say Final Expense Insurance, we also mean Burial Insurance and Funeral Insurance.

No matter what you choose to call this product, we are referring to smaller permanent life insurance policies that are used to pay final expenses, funeral costs, and medical bills.

The Most Common Question We Get

Now, before we discuss each company in detail, it is important that we answer a frequently asked question.

How do I decide which company will be the best choice for me?

Here are a few things to consider when deciding which final expense insurance company is best for you.

What is the Company’s Financial Strength?

You should pay attention to a company’s financial strength. We provide the A.M. Best rating of each company below.

A.M. Best is the premier third-party ratings agency, and the higher the rating, the stronger the company’s finances will be.

And the stronger the company’s financials, the better equipped they are to pay future death benefits.

How Much Coverage Can I Get?

Consider how much coverage you need because some companies limit the maximum amount of burial insurance coverage you can get to $10,000, while others offer up to $50,000 or even $100,000.

Obviously, price matters, so you will also want to consider how much coverage makes sense based on your present and future budget.

What Type of Coverage Is This?

Do you want a term life or a permanent life? Term is going to be cheaper initially, but you may outlive it.

Permanent life might have a higher initial price tag, but it will grow cash value that you can borrow against, and you don’t have to worry about outliving it.

Generally, we recommend permanent life insurance, more specifically, whole life. That is because most people get these policies to cover end-of-life costs, such as funeral costs and medical bills.

However, we work with many of the top final expense insurance companies, some of which also offer term life policies.

In rare instances, a term policy might make more sense. It really comes down to a case-by-case basis on what will best meet your needs.

Is the Burial Insurance Policy Level, Modified, or Graded Benefit?

Finally, consider if the policy is burial insurance with no waiting period or if there is a waiting period.

We cover this topic more in depth below but know that three different final expense insurance policies are out there.

  • The three different types of final expense insurance are:
    • Level Benefit
    • Graded Benefit
    • Modified Benefit

Depending on your health history will determine which type of coverage is going to be best for you.

Get The Help You Need to Find the Best Policy…for you!

We at IBUSA invite anyone thinking about purchasing final expense insurance, burial insurance, or funeral insurance to call us so we can help align you with the company that best fits your specific needs, goals, and budget.

Since we work with so many companies, our experts can help you locate the company best suited to what you are trying to do. When we recommend a company, we look at how much coverage you need, whether you want term or whole-life coverage or a blend of the two, and what health issues you may have.

And this is how we help place you with the right company: by gathering the correct information so we know how to help you.

So, with this in mind, here are our top picks with a description of the best final expense and burial policies they offer.

Final Expense Life Insurance Companies We Didn’t Choose

The primary reason we did not include these burial insurance companies in our “best of” list is because the pricing is too high compared to the competition. We believe there are better alternatives to these companies.

Globe Life, Colonial Penn, and Lincoln Heritage have great marketing campaigns (and budgets), so people tend to choose them over less-known companies, such as those we list above.

You can click on the link of each company above to be taken to the corresponding review, where we go deeper into why we do not recommend these final expense insurance companies.

Which Final Expense Company is Best for Me?

It can be challenging to determine which final expense company is the best fit for you, as there are many factors to consider, and different companies may offer additional benefits and terms. Some things to consider when shopping for a final expense policy include:

  1. Financial stability: It is important to choose a financially stable insurer that has a strong track record and is likely to be able to pay out your claim when the time comes. You can check the financial ratings of different insurers through agencies like A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s.
  2. Coverage options: Look for a policy that offers the level of coverage you need to cover your final expenses. Be sure to read the policy terms carefully to understand what is and is not covered.
  3. Premiums: Compare the premiums and other costs of different policies to find one that fits your budget. Keep in mind that premiums may vary based on your age, health, and other factors.
  4. Customer service: Consider the reputation of the insurer for customer service. You may want to choose a company with a good track record of handling claims efficiently and fairly.

Here are a few more important things to know when shopping for final expense or burial insurance.

Whole Life vs Term Life

Term life insurance and whole life insurance are two types of life insurance that differ in how they work and the benefits they offer.

Term life insurance is a type of policy that provides coverage for a specific period, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. If the insured person dies during the term of the policy, the beneficiary will receive the death benefit. If the insured person does not die during the term, the policy will expire, and there is no payout.

Term life insurance is generally less expensive than whole life insurance. It is often used to cover a specific need, such as a mortgage or income for a family.

Whole life insurance, also known as permanent life insurance, provides coverage for the entire lifetime of the insured person. In addition to a death benefit, whole life insurance includes a savings component, allowing policyholders to build cash value over time.

A whole-life policy’s cash value can be accessed through loans or withdrawals while the policyholder is alive. Whole life insurance is generally more expensive than term life insurance, but it offers the added benefit of a savings component and the ability to build cash value.

When deciding between term life insurance and whole life insurance, it is important to consider your long-term financial goals and needs. If you need coverage that will last for a set period, term life insurance may be a good option.

If you are looking for a policy that will provide lifetime coverage and has a savings component, whole life insurance may be a better choice.

Simplified Issue vs. Guaranteed Issue

Simplified-issue life insurance and guaranteed-issue life insurance are types of life insurance policies designed to be more easily accessible to individuals who may have difficulty obtaining coverage through a traditional policy.

Simplified issue life insurance is a type of policy that requires only a minimal amount of medical information from the applicant. This may include a short medical questionnaire or a limited medical exam.

Simplified issue policies are generally more affordable than traditional policies. They may be issued more quickly but may not provide as much coverage as a conventional policy and may have exclusions or limitations on coverage.

Guaranteed-issue life insurance is a type of policy that does not require any medical information or exams from the applicant. These policies are generally more expensive than traditional policies and may have higher premiums and lower coverage limits.

These guaranteed acceptance policies are often used by individuals who cannot qualify for a traditional policy due to serious health issues or advanced age.

Both simplified issue and guaranteed issue policies may be good options for individuals who have difficulty obtaining coverage through a traditional policy. Still, it is important to carefully review the terms and conditions of these policies to understand any exclusions or limitations on coverage.

It may also be a good idea to compare the premiums and coverage limits of these policies with those of traditional policies to determine which option best fits your needs.

Here are some additional terms to know…

Level Benefit, Graded Benefit, and Modified Benefit

LEVEL Benefit

Level benefit coverage is your standard burial insurance with no waiting period. This type of final expense policy requires you to pass a health questionnaire to qualify for the final expense insurance policy.

Different companies have varying degrees of questions. Some contain only three health questions, while others may ask many.

Just know that if you want a level benefit plan, underwriters will consider your application and may also look at the Medical Information Bureau (MIB), run a prescription drug check, and perform a Personal History Interview.

The point is that the more questions they ask, the lower your premium will probably be, but the higher the likelihood you may be denied coverage if you have a pre-existing condition.

GRADED Benefit

The graded benefit is in between level and modified. It is somewhat of a hybrid between the two types of final expense insurance plans. Getting a simplified issue is not as challenging but not as easy as a guaranteed issue.

As a result, there are some health questions to navigate. Plus, a graded benefit burial insurance policy will have some provisions that limit the total death benefit paid out in the first 2-3 years for non-accidental death.

For example, in year one, maybe only 30% of the death benefit would be paid for natural causes. In year 2, perhaps 70% of the death benefit would be paid for natural causes, with the full death benefit paid in year three and onward.

MODIFIED Benefit

Modified benefit final expense plans are the easiest to qualify for. This is typically the umbrella under which your guaranteed issue life insurance will fall.

The modified benefit coverage is life insurance without health questions. Often, modified benefit burial insurance plans require a two or 3-year waiting period before the full death benefit will be paid. Generally, if death occurs due to natural causes in the first 2 or 3 years, the policy will pay a return of premium plus 10%.

This modified death benefit provision covers the company if the insured already has a terminal illness. However, if death occurs due to an accident, the policy will pay the full death benefit face amount.

How We Can Help

Here is what we do…

First, we start off by talking with you. We get to know you, your objectives, any health or lifestyle issues, and anything else that may affect your life insurance application.

Next, we use the information you provide us to come up with a handful of different options for you. You may qualify for ordinary term life or whole life insurance.

Then again, you may have some reason to prefer simplified issue no exam life insurance. The reasons can be anything from a fear of needles, not being sure of your health status, or having an existing health condition that makes a simplified issue policy superior.

Finally, we may discover that you are best suited for a smaller simplified issue or guaranteed issue life insurance policy, where there are no exams and few to none, health questions asked. The bottom line is we are here for you. That is what sets us apart.

About Us

At InsuranceBrokersUSA, we are a life insurance agency representing many companies. These are our top ten best whole-life final expense or burial life insurance policy companies.

Each of these companies may or may not be suitable for you. To know which whole life final expense and burial insurance company is right for you and your situation, please call us today!

2 comments… add one
  • _ ROBERT November 26, 2022, 6:10 pm

    Final expense ins for me n wife I’m 72 / she is 71 would like to talk about obtaining ins for both
    I’ll be available without interruptions on 11/30/22 all day at: 763 327 4495
    interested in final expense as a svc connected Veteran, we have burial provided by VA. i have been approved for the benefit. In process for wife’s app.

    Thank You
    R Santiago Jr

    • IBUSA November 29, 2022, 1:25 pm

      Robert

      We believe, we’ve already had an agent reach out to you, if not, feel free to give us a call.

      Thanks,

      IBUSA.

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