Cost by Coverage Amount
How much does final expense insurance cost?
There isn't a single price list a reputable source can publish here — final expense insurance is underwritten individually, so the only fully accurate number is the one a carrier gives you after a short application, reviewed against your own answers. What we can offer is a professional breakdown of what actually moves your premium, and what different coverage amounts are typically sized for, so you can walk into that conversation already knowing what to ask for.
Why you won't find a price on this page
A sample rate would have to assume an age, a gender, a health history, and a state — change any one of those and the real number moves. Publishing a figure that doesn't apply to you would be a disservice, not a convenience. If you want to research actual funeral and cremation costs as a starting point, the National Funeral Directors Association publishes national median cost data each year. For what coverage actually costs you specifically, a professional coverage review is the only number that counts.
What actually drives your premium
Every carrier evaluates some version of the same handful of factors. None of them are proprietary, and none of them depend on which company ultimately issues your policy:
Age
The single biggest factor — locking in a rate earlier generally means a lower premium for life.
Gender
Statistically-based pricing differences between carriers, similar to other life insurance.
Tobacco use
Tobacco users typically pay more; some carriers offer better rates the longer you've been tobacco-free.
Health history
Relevant only for simplified-issue policies — the specific questions vary by carrier.
Coverage amount
A $10,000 policy costs less than a $30,000 policy, all else being equal.
State of residence
Insurance is regulated at the state level, so the same policy can price differently by state.
Coverage amount is the one factor you control
Age, health, and gender are fixed by the time you apply. Coverage amount is different — it's a decision you make, with a direct, predictable relationship to your premium: more coverage costs more, all else being equal. The professional question isn't "what's the cheapest policy available," it's "what amount actually accomplishes what I need it to." The sections below break that down by amount.
Explore cost by coverage amount
Each amount below is one of the tiers our own review process is built around. Select the one closest to your target for a closer look at what it's typically used for.
$5,000
The smallest commonly offered amount — usually a supplement to savings or other coverage, not a standalone funeral budget.
$10,000
A common starting point, often sized for a modest cremation or simple service with a little left over.
$15,000
A middle step up — room for a fuller service or a modest burial, without a full traditional funeral budget.
$20,000
One of the most commonly chosen amounts — often enough for a traditional funeral and burial plus a cushion.
$25,000
Beyond the funeral itself, with room for medical bills, debts, or other costs left behind.
$30,000
A comfortable buffer — a full traditional funeral funded without tight choices, plus a meaningful amount left over.
$40,000
Near the top of what's typically called final expense — often meant to leave something behind, not just cover a funeral.