Burial insurance, often called final expense insurance, is typically a small face-amount whole life policy designed to cover funeral, burial, and related end-of-life costs. Face amounts commonly range from $5,000 to $25,000 and underwriting is simplified, using a few health questions or graded death benefits instead of full exams and labs. Premiums are usually level for life, and policies may build modest cash values. Burial insurance is marketed heavily to older adults who want to avoid leaving final expenses as a burden to family members and who may not qualify for larger, fully underwritten policies due to age or health issues.

Advisors position burial insurance for clients who have limited savings but clear preferences about how funeral costs will be handled. They compare immediate-issue, graded-benefit, and guaranteed-issue options, explaining waiting periods and contestability provisions. When working with seniors, advisors carefully assess affordability to avoid policies that strain fixed incomes. Carriers selling burial insurance often provide simple application tools, phone interviews, and quick decisions. Understanding burial insurance enables advisors to provide a dignified, practical solution for end-of-life expenses while being honest about premium cost relative to benefit size.