The best burial insurance companies at a glance
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.
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.
» MORE: Is burial insurance worth it?
Why trust NerdWallet
1,413 life insurance rates sets collected.
441 life insurers analyzed by our team of experts.
185 policies assessed.
Dive deeper: Ratings methodology for life insurance.
NerdWallet's life insurance content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in life insurance. We follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure the content on our site is accurate and fair so you can make financial decisions with confidence and choose the products that work best for you.
Insurer | NerdWallet rating | Age eligibility |
Issue age: 45 to 80 (50 to 75 in NY). | ||
Issue age: 50 to 85 in most states (50 to 75 in NY). | ||
Issue age: 50 to 80. | ||
Issue age: 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in NY). | ||
Issue age: 45 to 80. | ||
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. | ||
Best for customer satisfaction: State Farm
Best for customer satisfaction
State Farm
- Low rate of consumer complaints.
- Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.
- Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
- Some app restrictions for Android smartphones.
Pros
- Low number of complaints from consumers.
- Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.
Cons
- Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
- Some app restrictions for Android smartphones.
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 life insurance dividends based on 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
Best for low consumer complaints: AARP
Best for low consumer complaints
AARP
- No medical exams required.
- Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
- Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
- Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
Pros
- No medical exams required.
- Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
- Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
Cons
- Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
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 85 (or 80 in some states) 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 85 (50 to 80 in some states; 50 to 75 in NY)
Coverage amount: Up to $30,000 ($25,000 in some states). You may be able to request a higher coverage amount by calling New York Life on 1-800-607-6957.
Availability: Not available in New Jersey. Non-members in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oregon may not be eligible.
» Read the full review: AARP/New York Life insurance review
Best for bundling: American Family
Best for bundling
American Family Life Insurance
- Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size.
- Offers a variety of term and whole life options.
- Not available in all states.
Pros
- Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size.
- Offers a variety of term and whole life options.
Cons
- Not available in all states.
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
Best for instant coverage: Ethos
Best for instant coverage
Ethos
- No medical exam required.
- Fully digital application.
- Offers both term and whole life insurance online.
- No live chat feature, which is unusual for insurtechs.
- Can't customize coverage with riders.
Pros
- No medical exam required.
- Fully digital application.
- Offers both term and whole life insurance online.
Cons
- No live chat feature, which is unusual for insurtechs.
- Can't customize coverage with riders.
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: 45 to 80.
Coverage amount: $2,000 to $25,000.
Availability: Not available in New York.
» Read the full review: Ethos life insurance review
Best for accessibility: Mutual of Omaha
Best for accessibility
Mutual of Omaha
- Whole life insurance available without a medical exam.
- Ranks highly in J.D. Power’s latest consumer satisfaction study.
- No online quotes for term life insurance.
Pros
- Whole life insurance available without a medical exam.
- Ranks highly in J.D. Power’s latest consumer satisfaction study.
Cons
- No online quotes for term life insurance.
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 most 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
✏️ How NerdWallet rates life insurance companies
When NerdWallet evaluates life insurance companies, our editorial team considers the insurer's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the things that matter most to customers buying a long-term financial product. Our ratings take into account the following details about each insurer:
Financial strength (40%). We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s financial stability and ability to pay claims far into the future. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends insurers with ratings of A- (Excellent) or higher. The top life insurance companies have an exceptional financial strength rating of A+ or A++ (Superior).
Consumer complaints (40%). 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. Our top-rated life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints, so you can expect a smoother customer experience.
Policy detail availability (10%). Ideally, a consumer should be able to find basic policy details on an insurer’s website. Our methodology gives higher scores to transparent insurers who include information about their policy options, coverage amounts and term lengths (if applicable) and clearly display these details in easily accessible places on their site.
Ease of communication (10%). Insurers who allow consumers to contact them by email, phone and live chat earn the highest scores.
We regularly reassess insurers and adjust scores as needed. Our star ratings are a guide to help you shop for a life insurance policy, and we encourage you to compare companies to find the best fit for your needs.
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 about top-rated life insurance companies
Looking for a specific type of life insurance policy? Check out NerdWallet’s top picks across these categories:
Frequently asked questions
What is a burial insurance policy?
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?
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 — more than 10 times as much per year but for 25 times as much coverage.
What is the cheapest burial insurance?
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.
Life insurance ratings methodology
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 several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. 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 endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
