Final Expense Insurance
Final expense (burial) insurance is a small whole life policy, usually $5,000 to $25,000, sold without a medical exam to cover funeral costs and small debts.
- Brand
- Policy type
- Category
- Life Insurance Types
- Released
- Price
- Not published
- VersusAnything Score
- 67/100
Key features
- No medical exam
- Small, affordable face amounts
- Fast approval for seniors
Best for older adults who want to cover funeral costs without an exam.
final expense insurance specifications
| Coverage length | Lifetime, as long as premiums are paid |
|---|---|
| Builds cash value | Yes, small |
| Premium structure | Level (fixed) for life |
| Typical monthly cost (healthy 35-year-old, approx.) | Roughly $50-$100 for $10,000-$20,000 of cover |
| Cost tier (1 = cheapest) | 2 |
| Medical exam | No; health questions only |
| Flexibility | Low |
| Main drawback | Very high cost per dollar of benefit; some policies have a two-year waiting period |
Score breakdown
- Overall (100%)
Scored against every life insurance policy in our database using the life insurance types weighting.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No medical exam
- Small, affordable face amounts
- Fast approval for seniors
- Strong overall score (67/100 within life insurance types)
Cons
- No weak scoring group in its category
Compare final expense insurance against
Alternatives to final expense insurance
- Term Life Insurance 100/100
- Whole Life Insurance 0/100
- Universal Life Insurance 33/100
Sources
- final expense insurance: Policy type official (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.