Key takeaways
State Farm is our top pick for customer satisfaction. It has a low rate of customer complaints and exceptional financial strength.
AARP is worth looking into if you’re over 50, while Mutual of Omaha is open to applicants as young as 45. American Family is a good choice if you’re looking to save by bundling insurance policies.
Consider Ethos if you need burial insurance with no waiting period.
Reviewed monthly. Last updated: October 2025.
If you want to buy life insurance as a way to cover your funeral costs, medical bills and other end-of-life expenses, look into burial insurance. Also known as final expense insurance, these policies are designed for seniors who need only a small amount of coverage, and not all insurers offer them.
To narrow down the list of the best burial insurance policies, our experts analyzed policy features, age and state availability, and added value — such as free life insurance riders. We also looked at payment options and the amount of coverage you can buy, which typically starts at $1,000 and maxes out at $50,000 for this type of life insurance.
» MORE: Is burial insurance worth it?
Insurer | NerdWallet rating | Age eligibility | |
Best for customer satisfaction | Issue age: 45 to 80 (50 to 75 in NY). | ||
Best for seniors | Issue age: 50 to 85 in most states (50 to 75 in NY). | ||
Best for bundling | Issue age: 50 to 80. | ||
Best for no waiting periods | Issue age: 45 to 80. | ||
Best for accessibility | Issue age: 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in NY). | ||
NerdWallet rates insurers at the company level, not the policy level. This means our star rating reflects the company as a whole, and not its burial insurance policy specifically. | |||
Best for customer satisfaction: State Farm
Best for customer satisfaction
State Farm
- Low rate of consumer complaints.
- Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.
- Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
- Some app restrictions for Android smartphones.
Pros
- Low number of complaints from consumers.
- Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.
Cons
- Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
- Some app restrictions for Android smartphones.
State Farm consistently ranks No. 1 in J.D. Power’s annual customer satisfaction study for individual life insurance.
State Farm’s burial insurance policy earns cash value over time. Once you’ve amassed enough, you can take out loans or withdraw money from that fund during your lifetime. Since State Farm is a mutual company, your policy might also pay out life insurance dividends based on financial performance.
Policy name: Guaranteed Issue Final Expense Life Insurance (known as $10,000 Whole Life in New York).
Eligibility age range: 45 to 80 (50 to 75 in New York).
Coverage amount: $10,000 ($15,000 in some states).
Availability: All states. Note: State Farm isn’t offering policies to new customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
» Read our State Farm life insurance review
Best for low consumer complaints: AARP
Best for low consumer complaints
AARP
- No medical exams required.
- Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
- Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.
- Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.
Pros
- No medical exams required.
- Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.
- May be available to member spouses as young as 45.
Cons
- Requires you (or your spouse) to have an AARP membership.
Open to AARP members as part of a partnership with New York Life, this policy is a type of group life insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. Even as a senior, you’re guaranteed to be accepted as long as you’re an AARP member who meets the age requirements, and coverage typically lasts your entire life.
In most states, AARP also allows members’ spouses who are 45 to 85 (or 80 in some states) to apply for a policy. In New York, the age eligibility for spouses is slightly different: 50 to 75.
Policy name: Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 50 to 85 (50 to 80 in some states; 50 to 75 in NY)
Coverage amount: Up to $30,000 ($25,000 in some states). You may be able to request a higher coverage amount by calling New York Life on 1-800-607-6957.
Availability: Not available in New Jersey. Non-members in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oregon may not be eligible.
» Read our AARP/New York Life insurance review
Best for bundling: American Family
Best for bundling
American Family Life Insurance
- Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size.
- Offers a variety of term and whole life options.
- Not available in all states.
Pros
- Fewer customer complaints than expected for a company its size.
- Offers a variety of insurance that can make bundling more convenient.
Cons
- Not available in all states.
American Family received fewer complaints for a company of its size, making it a trustworthy choice. The company sells a range of insurance products, including vehicle insurance, property insurance and business insurance.
In some cases, you can bundle your policies and save money but keep in mind that American Family insurance coverage isn’t available in every state.
Policy name: DreamSecure Senior Whole Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 50 to 80.
Coverage amount: $10,000 or $15,000.
Availability: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
» Read our American Family insurance review
Best for no waiting periods: Ethos
Best for no waiting periods
Ethos
- No medical exam required.
- Fully digital application.
- Offers both term and whole life insurance online.
- No live chat feature, which is unusual for insurtechs.
- Can't customize coverage with riders.
Pros
- No medical exam required.
- Fully digital application.
- No waiting periods.
Cons
- No live chat feature, which is unusual for insurtechs.
Ethos’ whole life application takes ten minutes to complete and coverage goes into effect once you pay the first premium, making this policy ideal for those who need coverage quickly. You also don't need to take a life insurance medical exam.
For this type of whole life insurance, Ethos allows you to stop paying premiums at age 100, and the coverage stays intact.
Policy name: Guaranteed Issue Whole Life.
Eligibility age range: 45 to 80.
Coverage amount: $2,000 to $25,000.
Availability: Not available in New York.
» Read our Ethos life insurance review
Best for accessibility: Mutual of Omaha
Best for accessibility
Mutual of Omaha
- Whole life insurance available without a medical exam.
- Ranks highly in J.D. Power’s latest consumer satisfaction study.
- No online quotes for term life insurance.
Pros
- Whole life insurance available without a medical exam.
- Ranks highly in J.D. Power’s latest consumer satisfaction study.
Cons
- Not available in New York.
Mutual of Omaha’s broad issue age range means you can get a “Living Promise” policy when you’re younger and rates are likely to be cheaper. You can buy as little as $2,000 in coverage — making this option good for those who don’t need too much life insurance.
The insurer says it pays most claims within 24 hours, which can help your loved ones cover funeral costs and any other immediate expenses when you die. However, Mutual of Omaha life insurance policies aren’t available to New Yorkers.
Policy name: Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance.
Eligibility age range: 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in New York).
Coverage amount: $2,000 to $25,000 ($5,000 to $25,000 in Washington).
Availability: All states.
» Read our Mutual of Omaha life insurance review
How we rate the best life insurance companies
✅ 441 life insurers reviewed
📝 185 policies assessed
🔢 1,315 data points analyzed
📊 Star rating categories
When NerdWallet evaluates life insurance companies, our editorial team considers the insurer's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the things that matter most to customers buying a long-term financial product. We then weigh these factors carefully:
💰 Financial strength (40%). We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s financial stability and ability to pay claims far into the future. The top life insurance companies have an exceptional financial strength rating of A+ or A++ (Superior).
🗣️ Consumer complaints (40%). Our top-rated life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators over a three-year period, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners — so you can expect a smoother customer experience.
👀 Policy detail availability (10%). Our methodology gives higher scores to transparent insurers who clearly display information about their policy options, coverage amounts and term lengths (if applicable) on their site.
☎️ Ease of communication (10%). Insurers who allow consumers to contact them by email, phone and live chat earn the highest scores.
⭐ What our star ratings mean
Companies with 5 stars are exceptional, with strong financials, diverse policy lineups and great reputations for customer service.
Companies with 4.5 stars are excellent, with solid financials and policy offerings, and good customer service track records.
Companies with 4.0 stars are good, and potentially great for people looking for niche coverage options.
Companies with 3.5 stars or fewer could do better in certain categories, like financial strength and customer complaints.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for our star ratings or our reviews. Read more about our life insurance ratings methodology and editorial guidelines.
What is a burial insurance policy?
Burial policies cover end-of-life expenses, like funerals or pending medical bills. These policies are relatively small, usually in the $1,000 to $50,000 range, which means they have limited use beyond final expense needs.
Advantages of burial insurance
No medical exams.
Most policies are guaranteed acceptance.
Affordable premiums.
Disadvantages of burial insurance
Lower coverage amounts.
Long waiting periods are common.
May not be necessary if you already have life insurance.
Is burial insurance worth it?
Burial insurance can be worth it if you’re looking for a way to cover funeral and other final expenses through life insurance. Because life insurance payouts don’t generally get held up in probate court as part of an estate, they can be quickly available to your beneficiaries to pay burial or funeral costs and outstanding medical bills.
However these burial life insurance policies usually offer $50,000 of coverage or less which means they aren’t intended to replace income or address any long-term financial needs of your loved ones.
Alternatives to the best burial insurance
Final expense policies are designed to help you cover the costs of your own funeral and burial, but they’re expensive and capped at small amounts so they don’t suit everyone. If you crunch the numbers and decide you need more life insurance, you can apply for a traditional term life insurance or permanent life insurance policy.
More about top-rated life insurance companies
Looking for a specific type of life insurance policy? Check out NerdWallet’s top picks across these categories:
Frequently asked questions
How much is burial insurance?
How much is burial insurance?
Burial insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam can be more expensive per dollar of coverage than many other life insurance policies. For instance, a healthy 50-year-old woman might pay about $360 a year for $10,000 in guaranteed issue life insurance, according to data from Choice Mutual, a brokerage specializing in burial insurance coverage. To compare, a $250,000 whole life policy would cost her about $4,740 — more than 10 times as much per year but for 25 times as much coverage.
What is the cheapest burial insurance?
What is the cheapest burial insurance?
The cheapest burial insurance will depend on your needs and health. While many policies can be issued with no medical questions or exams, they're usually much more expensive. The best way to get cheap life insurance coverage for any type of policy is to shop around.
Is funeral expense insurance the same as burial insurance?
Is funeral expense insurance the same as burial insurance?
Funeral expense insurance is not the same as burial or final expense insurance. Funeral expense insurance is sold by funeral homes to cover the cost of pre-selected funeral arrangements. This means when you die, the money goes to the funeral home as the sole beneficiary.
