Final expense life insurance is a type of coverage that is typically sold to seniors seeking life insurance. The primary focus of this insurance is the payment of items such as one’s funeral, burial, burial plot, and other related costs. Because the average funeral can cost as much as $10,000 or more, it’s important to plan ahead for these costs. On top of a mortgage, car payment, or credit card debt, you could be leaving behind a lot of unpaid expenses that could be difficult for your family to pay for if anything tragic were to happen to you.

A final expense policy can come in many different forms. It can be either term or permanent. For example, just as with regular term coverage, a term life policy will provide a death benefit only, with no cash value build up.

Conversely, a policy that is a permanent plan will offer insurance coverage along with a cash value component. Just as with other types of permanent policies, the cash that is in the policy is allowed to grow on a tax-deferred basis.

This means that there will be no tax due on the growth of the funds until the time of withdrawal. And, the policyholder is allowed to either borrow or withdraw the funds if he or she needs cash for whatever reason they see fit. (It is important to note, though, that any unpaid loan balance at the time of the insured’s death will go against the amount of the death benefit that is paid out to the policy’s beneficiary).

In most instances, the death benefit will range between $10,000 and $25,000. The reason for this is because these policies are not being used for large debt payoff or the payment of estate taxes, but rather just primarily for costs. Also, as with other types of death benefits, the proceeds from a policy are received income tax free.

Many policies will cover an insured individual up to age 100. Typically, applicants for this type of coverage will not need to go through the traditional underwriting requirements.

In some cases, final expense insurance policies are guaranteed issue. This means that the applicant will not be asked any medical questions in order to be approved for coverage and are not required to take a medical exam for coverage approval. In some cases, however, a policy may be what is referred to as simplified issue. This means that the applicant will be required to answer some health questions on the application. However, they will still not need to take a medical exam.

Because of this, and in order to offset the cost of covering more risky insureds, many insurers may use graded benefits. This means that if the insured passes away within the first two or three years that the policy is in force, the named beneficiary will only receive a portion of the death benefit rather than the entire stated amount. It’s important to note if the policy you are buying is a graded benefit.

However, once the plan has been in force for a certain number of years, the beneficiary will be eligible to receive the entire amount of the death benefit when the insured passes away.

Final expense life insurance can provide many seniors who have been denied for traditional coverage with the opportunity to obtain financial protection. It is important to note, though, that because of its guaranteed issue or simplified issue status, the premiums for these policies can be quite a bit more than for other types of policies with comparable coverage.

The final expense policies that go through the traditional underwriting channels can be less expensive than regular life insurance. However, those that are considered to be guaranteed issue and do not require medical underwriting can typically cost more. This is because these particular policies are considered to be covering more risky insureds to the company.

There are many reasons that an individual should consider final expense life insurance. Just some of these include the following:

1. Proceeds for Paying Off Final Expense Debt – Certainly, one of the primary reasons to consider the purchase of a final expense life insurance policy is so that there will be funds available for paying off the insured’s funeral and other related expenses. In some cases, an individual will even purchase an additional amount of final expense coverage so that their loved ones can also pay off any additional debt, such as uninsured final medical bills and / or the cost of hospice care.
2. Supplement to Other Life Insurance Coverage – Even if a person already has other life insurance in force, these policies may be earmarked for other needs, such as paying off a mortgage or providing a surviving spouse with ongoing retirement income. Having an additional policy that is dedicated solely to paying off final expenses, then, can be smart financial planning. Oftentimes, due to its lower face amount of coverage, final expense insurance will be very affordable.
3. Qualification, Even With Adverse Health Conditions – Due to its no medical exam feature, a final expense life insurance policy may allow someone who has certain health issues to still qualify for coverage – even if they have been turned down in the past for a life insurance policy. Therefore, in some cases, final expense insurance can offer people a “backup plan” for obtaining life insurance protection, such as with a guaranteed issue policy as well.
4. No Medical Exam – Having no medical exam can also provide other individuals the opportunity to obtain life insurance coverage, too. For example, there are some people who have a fear of needles. For these individuals, final expense coverage can allow them to obtain life insurance protection, yet without having to go through a needle stick for the blood test that is often required with traditionally underwritten policies.
5. Coverage is Issued Quickly – For those who need coverage quickly, final expense life insurance can also fit that requirement. In many cases, these policies can be approved and issued within just a few days – or even sooner.

While people of all ages can usually purchase final expense insurance, this type of coverage is typically sold to seniors. Age is one of the biggest factors in determining rates for traditional life insurance. The older that we get, the more expensive that it becomes. As a lot of people get older, their need for life insurance decreases, they no longer have children that are dependent on their salary. They no longer have a huge mortgage or car payment. With little need, and expensive life insurance premiums, the majority of seniors then turn to final expense insurance instead. Because of this, a final expense policy can be a great alternative for more traditional forms of coverage – especially if a senior has already been turned down for coverage elsewhere.

In addition to purchasing final expense life insurance, some people may also make pre-arranged funeral plans with a particular funeral home. In doing so, the funeral home could be named as the beneficiary. That way, the payment from the final expense insurance could go directly towards paying for the individual’s service.

When considering a final expense life insurance policy with other financial planning needs, these plans can serve as good alternatives for individuals who simply need a way to pay for their funeral and other related costs without disrupting estate assets and other savings or inheritance that is earmarked for their loved ones.

Prior to purchasing final expense insurance, there are several things to consider. First, it is important to decide on the type of coverage to obtain. For instance, should the policy be term coverage that offers only death benefit protection, or alternatively, should it be permanent coverage that offers both a death benefit as well as a cash value component?

Once the type of policy has been determined, the appropriate amount of death benefit should be considered. In doing so, an approximation of potential final expenses should be added up – including the potential cost of a funeral, headstone, and burial plot, or alternatively the price of cremation and related costs thereof. Making some calls to local funeral homes in the area can help to narrow down these figures.

In addition, once the above determinations have been made, it is also important to review the financial strength and claims paying reputation of the insurance company that will be underwriting the final expense life insurance. Information on potential insurers can be obtained by checking their ratings from agencies such as A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. It is usually best to stick with insurers that have ratings of at least an A or better.

Getting the best rates can depend on many different factors. The best ways to keeping your rates low are:

1. Shop Many Different Companies.
   When shopping for insurance, it is best to work through a company that has access to more than just one life insurer. This way, you can obtain policy information and premium quotes from several different life insurance companies, and you can see what exactly is available to you. You will also see that the rates for this type of coverage can vary a great deal from one life insurance company to another – even on similar types and amounts of life insurance coverage.
2. Find The Right Payment Plan.
   Most plans are paid monthly. However, you can pay them on a yearly basis and get a smal discount. Most carriers do not offer credit card payments, but , if they do, they will probably charge and additional fee.
3. Look For Reviews.
   Many companies will have reviews that were posted by previous customers. By reading these reviews, you can choose a company that has experience and reputation, which will make decisions less stressful. Make sure your carriers is an AM Best A Rated carrier, at a minimum. This will let you know that they can pay their policy holders.
4. Plan Your Own Funeral.
   This is a tip for saving funeral and burial money. Our loved ones want to honor us in a grand way even if they cannot afford it. By planning your own burial and funeral, you can choose how much to spend and purchase insurance accordingly.
5. How Is Your Health?
   Make sure you have a clear understanding of your current and past health. Most carriers will look back to about 5 years. If you have a severe health condition you only option may be a guaranteed issue life insurance plan.

As an Independent Agent, Gil Lillard works with many insurance companies and can find the best plan for you.  Here are a few of the companies that we work with.

Mutual of Omaha

One of the biggest names on our list of best final expense insurance companies is Mutual of Omaha. The have two different options for final expenses life insurance plans. Their most popular plan is the Living Promise Whole Life insurance policy.

If you purchase a plan through Mutual of Omaha, you can get burial insurance coverage anywhere from $2,000 – $40,000 worth of protection. It’s important that you purchase a plan large enough to give your family the money that they need if something tragic were to happen to you, and Mutual of Omaha is an excellent choice to do that.

To learn more about this company check out our Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Company Review!

Liberty Bankers Life

While you might not have heard of them before, Liberty Bankers Life is a great choice for getting your final expense life insurance. They were established in 1958 and they are headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Currently, they have a B+ rating from A.M. Best.

One common type of plan that they sell is the “Simplified Issue Whole Life,” which will allow you to have permanent coverage that will never expire. As long as you are between the ages of 18 and 80, you qualify for one of these plans and you can get coverage.  Not only is it easy to qualify for one of these plans, but they also have several riders that you can add to the to the insurance policy.

To learn more about this company check out our Liberty Bankers Life Insurance Company Review!

Senior Life

Senior Life Insurance Company is one of the smaller companies that we have on our list, but that doesn’t mean that you should automatically count them out. They have several different products that you can choose from, and none of them require a medical exam.

They have about a dozen different insurance policies that you can choose from. A Super Preferred Whole Life Insurance Policy, a Standard Whole Life Insurance Policy, a Graded Whole Life Insurance policy, and much more. All of their plans will protect applicants up to age 85 and you can purchase coverage up to $50,000, which is more than most other companies.

To learn more about this company check out our Senior Life Insurance Company Review!

Foresters

Foresters has several advantages compared to some of the other companies on the market. They have great customer support, an A Rating from A.M. Best, but they also have several unique benefits that other companies don’t offer. As long as you’re in between the ages of 50 – 85, then you can get insurance protection and you can purchase as much as $35,000 worth of coverage.

Their PlanRight series allows you to get whole life insurance that will cover all of your funeral expenses and any other final expenses that your family would be left with. They have three different plans available, a level, graded, and modified. With a level plan, the death benefit is the face value of the plan, with a graded plan on the other hand, you only have 30% of protection in the first year and then 70% in the second year.

To learn more about this company check out our Foresters Life Insurance Company Review!

If you’re ready to shop for this important insurance protection, we can help. We work with the top life insurance companies in the market place today, and we can get you all of the information that you need quickly and easily – right from your computer. No need to meet with a life insurance agent. Just answer a few questions online, and you’ll have the policy and premium details that you need. In order to get started, just simply use the form on this page.