If you want to buy life insurance purely to cover your funeral costs, medical bills and other end-of-life expenses, look into burial insurance. Also known as final expense insurance, these policies are designed for seniors who need only a small amount of coverage, and not all insurers offer them.
To narrow down the list of the best burial insurance policies, our experts analyzed policy features, age and state availability, and added value — such as free life insurance riders. We also looked at payment options and the amount of coverage you can buy, which typically starts at $1,000 and maxes out at $50,000 for this type of life insurance.
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» MORE: Is burial insurance worth it?
The best burial insurance in May 2024
Insurer | NerdWallet rating | Age eligibility |
State Farm | 5.0 NerdWallet rating | Issue age: 45 to 80 (50 to 75 in NY). |
AARP/New York Life | 5.0 NerdWallet rating | Issue age: 50 to 80 (50 to 75 in NY). |
American Family | 4.0 NerdWallet rating | Issue age: 50 to 80. |
Ethos | 3.5 NerdWallet rating | Issue age: 65 to 85. |
Mutual of Omaha | 3.5 NerdWallet rating | Issue age: 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in NY). |
NerdWallet rates insurers at the company level, not the policy level. This means our star rating reflects the company as a whole, and not its burial insurance policy specifically. | ||
How we ranked the top life insurers
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare life insurance quotes from several companies to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews.
How we review life insurance companies
In our life insurance reviews, our editorial team considers the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Policies offered. There are many types of life insurance on the market, and they fall into three key categories:
Term life insurance offers temporary coverage and a guaranteed payout if the policyholder dies during the term.
Permanent life insurance typically lasts a lifetime and builds cash value that can be borrowed against in the future.
No-exam life insurance issues coverage without the need for a medical exam.
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. Here’s the breakdown:
Exceptional: A+, A++.
Strong: A-, A.
Moderate: B, B+.
Complaints. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
Buy online. This indicates whether an insurer allows you to apply for and buy a policy completely online.
Dive deeper: Ratings methodology for life insurance
» MORE: Best life insurance companies in 2024
Best burial life insurance policies for 2024
Learn more about each company in our list by reading the brief summaries below and checking out the NerdWallet review links.
Jump to:
State Farm: Best for customer satisfaction
AARP/New York Life: Best for low consumer complaints
American Family: Best for bundling
Ethos: Best for instant coverage
Mutual of Omaha: Best for accessibility
Best for customer satisfaction 5.0 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: If reliable support is a top priority for you, State Farm has an excellent reputation for customer service. on Nerdwallet Financial strength rating Exceptional Online purchase No NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam Best for customer satisfaction on Nerdwallet 5.0 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: If reliable support is a top priority for you, State Farm has an excellent reputation for customer service. Financial strength rating Exceptional Online purchase No NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam
State Farm
State Farm
Company overview: State Farm consistently ranks No. 1 in J.D. Power’s annual customer satisfaction study for individual life insurance.
State Farm’s burial insurance policy earns cash value over time, and once you’ve accumulated enough, you can take out loans or withdraw money from that fund during your lifetime. Since State Farm is a mutual company, your policy might also pay out dividends based on the insurer’s financial performance.
State Farm burial insurance policy details
Policy name: Guaranteed Issue Final Expense Life Insurance (known as $10,000 Whole Life in New York).
Eligibility age range: 45 to 80 (50 to 75 in New York).
Coverage amount: $10,000 ($15,000 in some states).
Availability: All states. Note: State Farm isn’t offering policies to new customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
» Read the full review: State Farm life insurance review
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Best for low consumer complaints 5.0 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: AARP’s policy is available to its members and their spouses, and the insurer has a relatively low complaint volume for a company of its size. on Nerdwallet Financial strength rating Exceptional Online purchase No NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam Best for low consumer complaints on Nerdwallet 5.0 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: AARP’s policy is available to its members and their spouses, and the insurer has a relatively low complaint volume for a company of its size. Financial strength rating Exceptional Online purchase No NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam
AARP
AARP
Company overview: Open to AARP members as part of a partnership with New York Life, this policy is a type of group life insurance. You’re guaranteed to be accepted as long as you’re an AARP member who meets the age requirements, and coverage typically lasts your entire life. In most states, AARP also allows members’ spouses who are 45 to 80 to apply for a policy. In New York, the age eligibility for spouses is slightly different: 50 to 75.
AARP burial insurance policy details
Policy name: Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 50 to 80 (50 to 75 in NY).
Coverage amount: Up to $25,000. You may be able to request a higher coverage amount by calling New York Life on 1-800-607-6957.
Availability: Not available in all states. Non-members in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oregon may not be eligible.
» Read the full review: AARP/New York Life insurance review
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Best for bundling 4.0 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: American Family allows you to bundle life insurance with other insurance products and possibly save money on the latter. on Nerdwallet Financial strength rating Strong Online purchase No NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam Best for bundling on Nerdwallet 4.0 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: American Family allows you to bundle life insurance with other insurance products and possibly save money on the latter. Financial strength rating Strong Online purchase No NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam
American Family Life Insurance
American Family Life Insurance
Company overview: American Family received fewer complaints to state regulators for a company of its size, making it a trustworthy choice. The company sells a range of insurance products, including vehicle insurance, property insurance and business insurance. In some cases, you can bundle your policies and save money.
American Family burial insurance policy details
Policy name: DreamSecure Senior Whole Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 50 to 80.
Coverage amount: $10,000 or $15,000.
Availability: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
» Read the full review: American Family insurance review
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Best for instant coverage 3.5 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: You can be approved within minutes of applying and coverage starts as soon as you make your first payment. on Nerdwallet Financial strength rating Strong Online purchase Yes NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam Best for instant coverage on Nerdwallet 3.5 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: You can be approved within minutes of applying and coverage starts as soon as you make your first payment. Financial strength rating Strong Online purchase Yes NAIC complaints Fewer than expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam
Ethos
Ethos
Company overview: Ethos’ whole life application takes five minutes to complete and coverage goes into effect once you pay the first premium, making this policy ideal for those who need a policy quickly. You don't need to take a life insurance medical exam. You stop paying premiums at age 100, and the coverage stays intact.
Ethos burial insurance policy details
Policy name: Guaranteed Issue Whole Life.
Eligibility age range: 65 to 85.
Coverage amount: $10,000 to $25,000.
Availability: Not available in New York.
» Read the full review: Ethos life insurance review
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Best for accessibility 3.5 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: Most burial insurance policies are open only to seniors 50 and older, but Mutual of Omaha allows 45-year-olds to buy coverage in all states but New York. on Nerdwallet Financial strength rating Exceptional Online purchase No NAIC complaints Close to expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam Best for accessibility on Nerdwallet 3.5 NerdWallet rating Bottom line: Most burial insurance policies are open only to seniors 50 and older, but Mutual of Omaha allows 45-year-olds to buy coverage in all states but New York. Financial strength rating Exceptional Online purchase No NAIC complaints Close to expected Policies offered Term, permanent & no-exam
Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
Company overview: Mutual of Omaha’s broad issue age range means people can get a policy at a younger age, when rates are likely to be cheaper. You can buy as little as $2,000 in coverage — making this option good for those who don’t need too much life insurance.
The insurer says it pays roughly 80% of claims within 24 hours, which can help your loved ones cover your funeral costs and any other immediate expenses when you die.
Mutual of Omaha burial insurance policy details
Policy name: Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in New York).
Coverage amount: $2,000 to $25,000 ($5,000 to $25,000 in Washington).
Availability: All states.
» Read the full review: Mutual of Omaha life insurance review
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Alternatives to the best burial insurance
Final expense policies are designed to help you cover the costs of your own funeral and burial, but they’re expensive and capped at small amounts so they don’t suit everyone. If you crunch the numbers and decide you need more life insurance, you can apply for a traditional term life insurance or permanent life insurance policy.
» MORE: Best life insurance companies for seniors
More about top-rated life insurance companies
Looking for a specific type of life insurance policy? Check out NerdWallet’s top picks across these categories:
Best life insurance companies.
Best term life insurance companies.
Best whole life insurance companies.
Best burial life insurance companies.
Best life insurance for seniors.
Best instant life insurance.
Best no-medical exam life insurance.
Best return-of-premium life insurance.
Best life insurance for children.
Best accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsem*nt of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is a burial insurance policy?
Burial policies cover end-of-life expenses, like funerals or lingering medical bills. These policies are relatively small, usually in the $1,000 to $50,000 range, which means they have limited application beyond those final expense needs.
How much is burial insurance?
Burial insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam can be more expensive per dollar of coverage than many other life insurance policies. For instance, a healthy 50-year-old woman might pay about $360 a year for $10,000 in guaranteed issue life insurance, according to data from Choice Mutual, a brokerage specializing in burial insurance coverage. To compare, a $250,000 whole life policy would cost her about $4,740 — over ten times as much per year but for 25 times as much coverage.
What is the cheapest burial insurance?
The cheapest burial insurance will depend on your needs and health. While many policies can be issued with no medical questions or exams, they're usually much more expensive. The best way to get cheap life insurance coverage for any type of policy is to shop around.
Methodology
