Funeral and Burial Insurance
How to find the type of protection necessary for a final resting place.
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Paul Martin is the Director of Education and Development for Myron Steves, one of the largest, most respected insurance wholesalers in the southern U.S.
Funerals and burial services can be just as expensive as they are emotional. Further, there needs to be protection in place for the actual gravesite itself after the service is complete. Damage and destruction due to theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and more can occur, causing the need for not only upsetting but costly replacements without the proper coverage.
Though caring for the memorial of a loved one’s death can be emotionally difficult, the good news is that homeowners insurance can provide coverage for grave markers, urns, and other funerary items. And for the actual service, an independent insurance agent can help you find funeral and burial insurance. To begin with, we'll examine all of these coverages in more depth.
What Is Headstone and Funerary Items Coverage?
Out of respect for the deceased, headstones and other funerary items deserve to stay intact. Headstone and funerary item coverage can help pay for repair or replacement costs for damaged or stolen items due to a covered peril.
The Following Funerary Items May Be Covered Under Your Homeowners Insurance Policy:
- Headstones
- Memorials
- Urns
- Mausoleums
- Creative urn alternatives
More and more people are eschewing traditional cremation methods and opting to have their ashes converted into diamonds, trees, coral reefs, fireworks, vinyl records, balloons, pieces of jewelry, etc. From headstones to commemorative benches and beyond, homeowners insurance can help cover costs for the upkeep of your loved ones’ memorials.
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Who's Responsible for the Upkeep of Headstones and Other Grave Markers?
Headstones and other grave markers are an interesting kind of property because it’s not immediately clear who owns them. Ownership of funerary items is typically passed to living spouses or other next-of-kin and will keep being handed down through the generations as time passes. If you’re next in line to inherit any kind of memorial, you’ll want to review your homeowners insurance policy with the help of your independent insurance agent.
Why Would I Need Funeral and Burial Insurance?
Having funeral and burial insurance can provide the certainty of financial coverage for your loved ones’ final resting places. It can provide the funds necessary to carry out the funeral, burial, or cremation service. Funeral and burial insurance is a separate life insurance policy that provides funds to pay for the funeral and to buy a plot with a maintenance plan.
Does My Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover Headstones and Funerary Items?
Most likely, yes. Most homeowners policies provide coverage for headstones and funerary items, at least up to a certain amount. Coverage limits would apply to the contents coverage section of your policy, but you can always increase these limits.
You’ll need to review your specific home insurance policy to be sure funerary item coverage is included and what exactly falls into that category. Make sure to specifically list any headstones or other related items you want your policy to cover, and get clear about your plan’s exact limits and coverage stipulations.
The average funeral costs more than $11,000, and the average headstone costs between $1,000 and $3,000. Cremation services can range from $4,000 to $7,000, and new urns can cost anywhere from $70 to $2,250. Mausoleums can range from $15,000 for a single crypt to well over $23,000 for a two-person crypt.
Funerals and funerary items are expensive to start with, and thinking about needing to repair/replace them can be upsetting, to say the least. Fortunately, funeral and burial coverage under home insurance can help protect against the following:
- Theft: Funerary item coverage can help pay to replace stolen grave markers such as headstones.
- Vandalism: Funerary item coverage can pay for the restoration of memorials after incidents of vandalism.
- Storm damage: Lightning and other harsh storm elements can cause severe damage or destruction to grave markers, but fortunately, funerary item coverage can help provide reimbursement.
You put a lot of thought and care into your loved one’s memorial, and understandably you want to keep it in good condition. Coverage can help keep these memorials in pristine condition. Though tragedies like theft, vandalism, and storm damage can be heartbreaking, it’s good to know that homeowners insurance can also provide coverage should disaster strike.
The Best Funeral and Burial Insurance Companies of 2024
Funeral and burial insurance is a separate product that's offered by many different insurance companies. We've compiled a list of some of the top funeral and burial insurance companies this year so you know exactly where to look for quality coverage at affordable rates.
- Best for coverage limits: Mutual of Omaha
- Best for fast coverage: Ethos
- Best for bundling coverage: American Family
- Best for customer satisfaction: AARP/New York Life
The Best Funeral and Burial Insurance Company for Coverage Limits: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha offers funeral and burial insurance at higher limits than those available from many other insurance companies. Death benefit amounts of up to $40,000 are available. Coverage is also offered for 85-year-olds, another perk not offered by many carriers.
Coverage highlights:
- Up to $40,000 death benefits available
- Terminal illness riders available
- Coverage for 85-year-olds available
- "A+" financial strength rating by AM Best
The Best Funeral and Burial Insurance Company for Fast Coverage: Ethos
Ethos not only offers guaranteed-issue whole life insurance with no medical exam, but customers can walk away with coverage after a fast 10-minute application process. Coverage kicks in immediately upon paying your first premium. If you live past age 100, premiums are no longer required to continue your coverage.
Coverage highlights:
- Get coverage in as little as 10 minutes
- Available for seniors aged 66 to 85
- Coverage limits between $1,000 and $30,000 available
- No more premiums required after age 100
The Best Funeral and Burial Insurance Company for Bundling Coverage: American Family
American Family's funeral and burial coverage is called DreamSecure senior whole life insurance. Coverage is available for seniors aged 50 to 80. Coverage is available in limits ranging from $10,000 to $15,000. But while the amount of coverage offered by American Family is lower than many carriers', bundling options are available to help customers save even more money. Customers can bundle their policies with other coverage from American Family, such as auto insurance.
Coverage highlights:
- Bundling discounts available
- Offered to seniors aged 50 to 80
- Coverage limits range from $10,000 to $15,000
- "A" financial strength rating by AM Best
The Best Funeral and Burial Insurance Company for Customer Satisfaction: AARP/New York Life
New York Life partnered with AARP to offer guaranteed acceptance life insurance only for AARP members. With no medical exam required, customers are guaranteed coverage upon application and paying the first premium. While coverage is offered in most states for seniors aged 50 to 80 (75 in New York), in many cases, spouses aged 45 and older can also apply for coverage. Very few customer complaints have been reported.
Coverage highlights:
- Coverage available for seniors aged 50 to 80 (75 in New York)
- Younger spouses (45 and older) can apply for coverage
- Coverage limits of up to $25,000
- No medical exam required
An independent insurance agent can help you find the right funeral and burial insurance from one of these top-rated carriers.
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Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?
Independent insurance agents are experts in finding you the right kind of funeral and burial insurance and any other type of coverage you need. They can shop and compare policies from tons of different insurance companies for you, then present you with only the best quotes together in one place. Also, they're available down the road to help you file claims if you ever need to.