Final expense insurance is a whole life policy that pays medical bills and funeral expenses when you die. It’s also known as burial or funeral insurance. It’s a popular choice among seniors.

Most final expense plans have these features:

• Whole life insurance – no expiration if premiums are paid
• Cash value – insured may be able to take out a policy loan
• Fixed premiums as long as they’re paid
• Simplified issue – usually no medical exam (also called a life insurance exam) is required, just health questions on the application
• Easy application process
• Fast approvals – coverage can often be issued in days
• Affordable rates

Final expense life insurance is popular with seniors because of its affordable price, smaller benefit amounts, and emphasis on covering funeral costs.

Traditional life insurance policies such as term insurance are primarily intended to replace any income lost when a loved one dies. These policies are most important to families during the earlier years when we’re working, paying a mortgage, making car payments, and raising our kids.

Once we’ve retired, paid off the mortgage, and the kids are out of the house, traditional life insurance policies aren’t needed as much. What we do need is a way to pay for any expenses we leave behind when we pass.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a funeral can be over $9,000. With no way to pay for these expenses, surviving loved ones often experience a financial burden during a time of intense grief.

Many of us have experienced the death of a loved one and remember how stressful it was to juggle our grief, the funeral planning, and the financial obligations we had. The thought of our spouse or children going through the same experience is unbearable.

So how can final expense life insurance help? What can we do to protect our families from this financial burden? How can we make sure they aren’t left with a pile of bills when we pass?

Burial insurance for seniors is a smart and compassionate insurance solution for seniors looking to protect their loved ones from rising funeral costs. It’s typically easy to qualify because it’s issued based on answers to health questions. In many cases, you don’t need to take a medical exam.

Qualifying for a final expense policy is often easier than qualifying for other types of life insurance (such as term insurance). But there are still important questions to ask, such as:

• Does the policy expire?
• Do I have to take a medical exam?
• What features are included in the policy?
• How can the death benefit be used?
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Final expense policies don’t expire like term policies because they are a type of whole life insurance. Your coverage won’t expire as long as you pay your premiums.