The short answer
This guide answers the most common questions about burial insurance with high blood pressure.
Planning ahead for final costs is a gift to your family. There are two common ways to do it.
Here is a side-by-side look at final expense insurance and prepaid funeral plans.
Part of our complete guide: Final Expense Insurance: The Complete Guide.
Quick answer
Prepaid plans pay a funeral home for chosen services. Final expense insurance pays your beneficiary flexible cash. Some families use a prepaid plan plus a small policy for bills.
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On this page
Burial insurance with high blood pressure: what does final expense cover?
The benefit is paid to your beneficiary, not to a funeral home, so it can be used for anything. Families commonly use it for:
- Funeral home services, a viewing or a memorial service
- Burial or cremation, a cemetery plot and a headstone or marker
- Flowers, an obituary notice and travel for family
- Final medical bills not covered by other insurance
- Credit card balances or other small debts
- Everyday bills while the family gets settled
Costs vary a lot by region and by the choices a family makes. A local funeral home can give you a price list to help you pick an amount.
Burial insurance after a stroke: do you need an exam for burial insurance?
Most final expense policies do not require a medical exam. Approval is based on a short set of health questions and a check of prescription records. That is why applications are quick, often finished on a single call.
If you can answer the health questions favorably, you may qualify for a level benefit from day one. If not, graded or guaranteed acceptance options may be available.
Compare rates from several carriers in about two minutes. Free, no obligation.
Final expense insurance after cancer: what is final expense insurance?
Final expense insurance is a small whole life policy meant to cover end-of-life costs, such as funeral services, burial or cremation, and leftover bills. It is sometimes called burial insurance or funeral insurance.
Coverage amounts are smaller than most life policies, and the application is simpler. Many plans ask a few health questions and skip the medical exam. Because it is whole life coverage, it does not expire as long as premiums are paid, and the premium typically stays level.
Your beneficiary receives the death benefit, generally income-tax-free, and can use it for any purpose.
A worked example
Say you're 34 with a $150,000 mortgage balance and 16 years left, $19,000 in other debts, and an income of $55,000. Here's one simple way to size coverage:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Mortgage balance | $150,000 |
| Other debts | $19,000 |
| 4 years of income | $220,000 |
| Total to consider | $389,000 |
In this example, a 20-year term would outlast the loan (it ends around age 54). Your own numbers will differ; use this as a starting point and adjust for savings, other coverage and future costs like school.
Who final expense insurance is for
Often a good fit
- People who want their family to have cash for final costs right away, who don't have savings set aside for it, and who prefer a simple application with lifelong coverage.
Maybe not the right fit
- People with enough savings or existing life insurance earmarked for final costs, or who need a large amount to replace income, where term life usually fits better.
How to get covered in 3 steps
- Check your rate. Pick your state and answer a few quick questions about the coverage you want.
- Compare carriers. A licensed agent compares final expense insurance options from several insurers and explains the trade-offs.
- Apply and get covered. Many applications take one phone call. Coverage starts once the policy is issued and the first premium is paid.
