Final expense guides
Final expense questions, answered.
Small policies for funeral costs, and the help you may already have. Every guide lists its sources and the date it was last reviewed.
Final expense insurance
9 guidesFinal expense insurance companies: who sells it, and where
Ten insurers that sell final expense or burial insurance: product names, issue ages, coverage amounts, waiting periods and states, from their own sites.
Updated November 2026Final expense insurance: how burial insurance works, plain and simple
Final expense insurance (also called burial or funeral insurance) is a small whole life policy. How it works, waiting periods, costs, ages and the traps to avoid.
Updated November 2026Burial insurance for seniors over 80: what you can still get
Can you get burial insurance after 80? Often yes, up to about 85, but amounts are smaller and most plans have a two-year wait. See real insurer age limits.
Updated November 2026Burial insurance with no waiting period: how it really works
Burial insurance with no waiting period exists, but only if you answer health questions and qualify. See how level, graded and guaranteed issue plans pay.
Updated November 2026The "final expense program": is it a government benefit?
Ads for a "$25,000 final expense program" sell private insurance, not a government benefit. See what the government really pays and how to spot a misleading ad.
Updated November 2026How much does a funeral cost? Line by line, with your rights
The NFDA 2023 study puts the median funeral with burial at $8,300 and with cremation at $6,280. See each line item, what is left out and your FTC rights.
Updated November 2026Life insurance for parents: how to buy a policy on mom or dad
You can buy life insurance on a parent, but your parent must know and agree in writing. See the insurable interest and consent rules, and who owns and pays.
Updated November 2026Social Security death benefit: the $255 payment and who gets it
Social Security pays a one-time $255 when a worker dies. See who can get it, the 2-year deadline, monthly survivor benefits, and other burial help.
Updated November 2026VA burial benefits: what the VA pays and what it does not
VA burial benefits can pay up to $2,000 toward a veteran's burial, plus free burial in a national cemetery. See who qualifies, how to apply, and the gaps.
Updated November 2026