Did you know that the average cost of a cremation in the United States is around $3,000 to $5,000?
You might think burning someone (cremation) is cheaper than burying them (traditional burial). But that’s only sometimes true! It might surprise you, but cremation can sometimes cost more.
But what happens when it comes to covering these cremation costs? Does burial insurance provide the necessary financial safety net?
Key Takeaways:
- Ensure burial insurance covers cremation costs to protect your loved ones financially.
- Funeral costs can be a drag on your family, so burial insurance can help. This type of insurance provides funds for your loved ones to cover funeral expenses, whether you choose burial or cremation.
- Burial insurance policies aren’t identical, so read the details carefully. Some might not cover cremation costs, while others have limits on how much they’ll pay.
- Picking the right plan is like choosing a phone plan – consider all the features! Consider how much coverage you need, what kind of insurance, and the company you’re getting it from. It’s best to ask your parents or a life insurance company for advice on planning for the future. You can also seek advice from the National Funeral Directors Association.
- The right plan will give your family peace of mind when you’re gone. They won’t have to worry about affording your funeral on top of everything else.
Burial Insurance and its Coverage
When planning for the future, it’s important to consider burial insurance.
Regular life insurance gives you a big chunk of money when you die. Funeral insurance provides a smaller coverage amount, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, to pay for funeral expenses. Think of it like a smaller gift card to pay for your goodbyes!
This type of insurance provides your loved ones with a death benefit upon your passing. It can help ease the financial strain of arranging a funeral.
The amount of this death benefit can vary depending on how much coverage you choose.
Typically, this is determined based on the expected funeral and burial costs.
Farewell rituals have become more costly in recent times. Funerals, cremations, and burials all involve significant expenses. That’s why having enough coverage is important! It’s like having enough allowance to buy what you need—in this case, to cover your final wishes.
One of the main benefits of burial or funeral insurance is its flexibility. You can buy it as a standalone policy or as part of your financial strategy.
It reassures your family that they will be looked after when needed.
“Funeral costs can add up fast, whether buried or cremated (burned). Funeral insurance acts as a safety net to cover costs, so your family won’t have to worry about them later on.”
Let’s review a comparison table outlining features and benefits of burial insurance policies.
This table shows how burial insurance stands out about coverage, cost, and ease of getting.
How Does Burial Insurance Work?
When you apply for burial insurance, choose the coverage amount you want.
Signing up for burial insurance is easy – no need for a doctor’s visit! They’ll ask you a few quick health questions (or none) to get you approved.
Insurance rates rely on age and gender.
There are two ways to get burial insurance:
- Easy-peasy approval: No doctor is needed, but they might ask a few health questions to ensure you’re a good fit (like for other types of insurance).
- Guaranteed approval: No questions asked, but you won’t get the total payout immediately if something happens early on. Think of it like a gift card that takes a little time to be worth the total amount.
If you choose guaranteed approval and something happens early on, your family won’t get the total amount immediately. It’s like a gift card that takes a little time to be worth its total value. They’ll get what you paid in plus a little extra, but only part of it.
The policy typically covers accidental deaths in full from the start.
What Is Covered By Burial Insurance?
Burial insurance covers the cost of funeral services for your beneficiaries.
Specifically, it can cover:
- Funeral services, such as the casket, vault, and viewing
- Burial plot
- Cremation cost
- Medical bills
- Legal services
- Headstone
- Cemetery fees
- Memorial services
- Flowers
- Grave opening and closing
Considerations
Burial insurance pays for the costs of your final possessions instead of giving a lot of money to the people you choose to receive it.
If you have big money things like a mortgage or college fees, you might want to think about other types of life insurance.
Companies usually try to sell burial insurance to older folks who don’t have much money and might not be too healthy. These people might not have a lot of savings or other insurance.
In short, burial insurance helps make sure your family can handle the costs when you’re gone. It even covers cremation if that’s what you want.
If you need advice about burial insurance, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is a great place to go.
Ready to feel better about things? Ask for a price today to make sure your last wishes are taken care of without any extra worries.
