Best Burial Insurance Companies of 2026: Ratings, Waiting Periods, and How to Choose

Burial insurance, also called final expense insurance, is a small whole life policy designed to pay for a funeral, burial or cremation, and final bills. Dozens of companies sell it, and their policies can look nearly identical in a TV ad. In practice, they differ in three ways that matter a lot: financial strength, how they treat your health, and whether your family gets the full benefit from day one.

Below, we compare five well-known burial insurance companies on their current AM Best ratings and key product features, then explain how to choose the right one for your health and budget.

Disclosure: AccuQuote is an independent life insurance agency. We may receive compensation from some of the companies listed when you buy a policy through us, and we may not represent every company on this list in every state. Companies are listed for informational purposes and are not ranked by compensation. AM Best financial strength ratings are as of November 2026 and can change at any time; verify current ratings at AM Best. Product names, ages, and features vary by state and are subject to change.

Best burial insurance companies at a glance

How we evaluated burial insurance companies

• Financial strength. We focused on companies rated A or better by AM Best and noted 2026 rating actions.
• Underwriting options. Companies that offer both simplified issue (health questions) and guaranteed issue (no questions) can serve more seniors.
• Waiting periods. Day-one coverage for qualified applicants is a major advantage. We noted graded benefit periods where they apply.
• Coverage range and ages. Most seniors want $5,000 to $25,000 and may apply anywhere from their 50s to mid-80s.
• Extras. Accelerated death benefits for terminal illness, accidental death riders, and children’s or grandchildren’s riders.

We didn’t rank by price because burial insurance rates vary widely by age, sex, tobacco use, state, and health. Comparing quotes is the only reliable way to find your lowest price.

Mutual of Omaha

AM Best rating: A+ (Superior), affirmed April 2026.

Mutual of Omaha, founded in 1909, is one of the most recognized names in senior insurance. Its final expense lineup includes a simplified issue whole life policy that uses health questions rather than an exam, with full coverage from day one for applicants who qualify, and a guaranteed whole life option for adults roughly 45 to 85 that asks no health questions but includes a graded benefit period. AM Best affirmed the A+ rating in April 2026, citing a very strong balance sheet. Policies are issued by United of Omaha Life Insurance Company outside New York.

Best for: Seniors who want a strong, familiar brand with both health-question and guaranteed options.

Gerber Life

AM Best rating: A+ (Superior).

Gerber Life, part of Western & Southern Financial Group, is best known for children’s coverage, but its Guaranteed Life policy is a common choice for seniors. It’s available to adults 50 to 80 (75 in New York), with coverage from $5,000 to $25,000 and no medical exam or health questions. During the first two years, if death is from natural causes, the policy pays 110% of premiums paid rather than the full benefit. Accidental deaths are covered in full. AM Best upgraded Gerber Life to A+ in 2024, and in 2026 revised the outlook for Western & Southern and its subsidiaries to positive. The product is not available in every state.

Best for: Seniors who can’t qualify for coverage with health questions and want a guaranteed policy from a highly rated insurer.

Transamerica

AM Best rating: A (Excellent).

Transamerica, in business since 1904 and owned by Aegon, offers three final expense tiers. Its Immediate Solution pays the full death benefit from day one for qualified applicants and includes accelerated death benefits for terminal illness and nursing home confinement, where available. A 10-Pay Solution lets you finish paying in 10 years while coverage continues for life. Its Easy Solution is a graded benefit option for people with more serious health histories, paying a return of premiums plus interest for natural-cause deaths in the first two years. Some independent reviews note a higher-than-average complaint record, so it’s worth checking the latest NAIC data.

Best for: Seniors who want day-one coverage or a shorter payment period.

Americo

AM Best rating: A (Excellent).

Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company, based in Kansas City and founded in 1946, is one of the larger privately held insurers in the U.S. and a major player in final expense sold through independent agents. Its simplified issue whole life products use health questions and an electronic application, with a full death benefit for applicants who qualify and graded tiers for those with certain conditions. Some policies include an accelerated death benefit rider at no added cost. Americo doesn’t sell life insurance in New York.

Best for: Seniors with some health conditions who want several underwriting tiers to try before guaranteed issue.

Corebridge Financial (American General)

AM Best rating: A (Excellent), under review with developing implications since March 2026.

Corebridge Financial, formerly AIG’s life and retirement business, issues policies through American General Life Insurance Company. Its guaranteed issue whole life policy offers $5,000 to $25,000 with no health questions. If death from natural causes occurs in the first two years, it pays 110% of premiums paid. Corebridge publishes sample pricing for its guaranteed issue product, which makes comparison easier. AM Best placed its ratings under review in 2026 because of its pending merger with Equitable Holdings. Existing policy terms don’t change because of a merger.

Best for: Seniors who need guaranteed acceptance and want transparent pricing.

Simplified issue vs. guaranteed issue burial insurance

The most common mistake in burial insurance is buying a guaranteed issue policy when you could qualify for simplified issue. You’ll pay more and wait years for full coverage. Always try for simplified issue first. Learn more in simplified issue life insurance.

How much burial insurance do you need?

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the 2023 median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial was about $8,300, and about $6,280 with cremation, before cemetery costs, a headstone, or flowers. Many seniors choose $10,000 to $25,000 to cover the funeral plus final medical bills and small debts. Under the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, funeral homes must provide itemized prices, which can help you estimate the cost of the services you want.

What does burial insurance cost?

For more on pricing, coverage, and policy types, see our final expense insurance guide for seniors.

How to choose the best burial insurance company for you

1. Start with your health. Make a list of your conditions, medications, and dates of treatment. This determines which companies are likely to offer you day-one coverage.

2. Compare simplified issue options first. Each company asks different health questions. A condition that leads to a graded policy with one carrier may qualify for full coverage with another.

3. Check the waiting period. If a policy has a graded benefit, find out how long it lasts and what it pays during that time.

4. Confirm financial strength. Look for an AM Best rating of A or better, and check for recent rating actions.

5. Look at riders. Accelerated death benefits, accidental death coverage, and grandchildren’s riders can add value.

6. Compare quotes side by side. An independent agency can compare several companies at once and match your health history to the carriers most likely to approve you.

Red flags when shopping for burial insurance

• Coverage sold in “units” without a clear dollar amount. Make sure you know exactly how much coverage you’re buying.
• Being steered straight to guaranteed issue without checking whether you qualify for day-one coverage.
• A rating below A-, or a company you can’t verify with your state insurance department.
• Pressure to buy on the first call. A good agent gives you time to compare.
• Premiums that aren’t guaranteed. Final expense whole life premiums should stay level for life.

The NAIC offers tools to confirm a company is licensed in your state and to look up its complaint history.

How a graded benefit works: an example

Here’s a hypothetical example. Ruth, 72, buys a $10,000 guaranteed issue policy for $60 a month. Eighteen months later, she dies of a heart condition. Because the death was from natural causes during the two-year graded period, her beneficiary receives a refund of premiums paid, plus the policy’s stated percentage or interest, rather than $10,000. If Ruth had died in a car accident instead, the full $10,000 would typically be paid. After the two-year period ends, the full $10,000 is paid for any covered cause of death.

Now imagine Ruth had qualified for a simplified issue policy instead. She might have paid less each month, and her beneficiary would have received the full $10,000 from day one. That’s why checking simplified issue options first matters so much.

Burial insurance and common health conditions

Every company has its own health questions, and the right carrier depends on the details of your history. These general patterns can help you know what to expect:

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol. Usually no problem for simplified issue coverage when controlled with medication.
• Type 2 diabetes. Often eligible for day-one coverage, especially without complications like neuropathy or kidney disease. Insulin use is treated differently by different companies.
• COPD. Some carriers accept mild COPD for level coverage, while oxygen use often leads to a graded or guaranteed policy.
• Heart disease. A heart attack, stent, or bypass more than a year or two ago may still qualify for level coverage with some carriers. Recent events usually mean a graded benefit.
• Cancer. Many carriers ask about cancer treatment in the past two to four years. Once you’re beyond that window, day-one coverage may be possible.
• Serious conditions such as current dialysis, a terminal diagnosis, or nursing home residence often limit you to guaranteed issue.

Because the questions differ, a licensed agent who knows each carrier’s application can often place you with a company that gives full coverage when another would only offer a graded policy.

Burial insurance vs. other ways to pay for a funeral

Burial insurance is the most flexible option for many seniors because the beneficiary can use the money for anything, not just funeral services, and the benefit is available even if you die soon after buying a simplified issue policy.

Buying burial insurance as a couple

Most burial insurance is sold as individual policies, so each spouse typically needs their own. Some carriers offer a household or spousal discount. Because each policy is underwritten separately, one spouse may qualify for day-one coverage while the other qualifies only for a graded policy. Applying for both through an independent agent can help each spouse land with the carrier that treats their health history best.

What to expect when you apply

Most burial insurance applications take 15 to 30 minutes by phone or online. You’ll answer questions about your health and medications, and the insurer will usually check prescription history and other databases. Many simplified issue applications get a decision the same day or within a few days. Guaranteed issue policies are typically approved as soon as you meet the age and residency rules. You’ll choose a payment date, and many carriers let you align it with your Social Security deposit.

What happens when your family files a claim

Your beneficiary contacts the insurer, submits a claim form and a certified death certificate, and the insurer reviews the claim. Many final expense claims are paid within a few weeks once paperwork is complete. Claims within the first two years can take longer, because insurers may review the application during the contestability period. To make the process easier, tell your beneficiary which company issued your policy, where the documents are kept, and the policy number.

Should you buy from a TV ad or through an agent?

Companies that advertise on TV often sell directly, which is convenient but means you see only that company’s policy and price. An independent agent can compare several carriers at once, which is especially valuable for burial insurance because health questions and pricing vary so much. Either way, compare the coverage amount, the waiting period, and the AM Best rating before you buy.

Burial insurance by age

In your 50s

Buying burial insurance in your 50s locks in the lowest rates you’ll ever get on a final expense policy. That said, many people in their 50s still have mortgages or dependents, so a term policy may be a better primary choice, with burial coverage added later. If you’re healthy, compare a small whole life policy against a term policy that covers your remaining working years.

In your 60s

This is when most people buy burial insurance. Rates are still moderate, and many applicants with managed conditions qualify for simplified issue coverage. Locking in a policy in your 60s also protects you if your health changes later.

In your 70s

Premiums rise noticeably each year in your 70s, so it pays to apply sooner rather than later. Simplified issue is still widely available. If you’re declined, guaranteed issue options remain open at most companies through about age 80 or 85.

In your 80s

Options narrow, but several companies still issue final expense coverage into the mid-80s. Smaller policies, such as $5,000 to $10,000, are common at this age to keep premiums affordable. See life insurance for seniors over 75 for more options.

Questions to ask before you buy

• Will this policy pay the full benefit from day one, or is there a waiting period?
• If there’s a waiting period, what exactly does it pay during that time?
• Is the premium guaranteed never to increase?
• Does the coverage ever decrease as I age?
• What riders are included, such as an accelerated death benefit for terminal illness?
• Can I choose a payment date that matches my Social Security deposit?
• What is the company’s current AM Best rating?
• How long does the company typically take to pay a claim?

Why compare more than one company?

Burial insurance looks simple, but the same senior can get very different results from different companies. One carrier may count a condition as disqualifying for day-one coverage while another accepts it. Prices for the same coverage and age can also vary meaningfully. Comparing at least three companies, either on your own or through an independent agency, is the single most effective way to get the most coverage for your money and avoid an unnecessary waiting period.

Burial insurance riders explained

• Accelerated death benefit. Lets you receive part of the death benefit early if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. Some policies also cover nursing home confinement. Often included at no extra cost.
• Accidental death benefit. Pays an additional amount if death results from a covered accident. Useful for adding coverage cheaply, but don’t count on it as your main protection.
• Children’s or grandchildren’s rider. Adds a small amount of coverage for young family members under your policy.
• Waiver of premium. Available with some policies, it can keep coverage in force without payments if you become disabled or confined to a nursing home, depending on the terms.

Riders vary by company and state, so ask which ones are built in and which cost extra. A rider you’ll never use isn’t worth paying for, but an accelerated death benefit included at no cost is a valuable feature to look for.

Keeping your burial policy working for your family

Once your policy is in force, a few simple habits help make sure it pays as intended. Set up automatic payments so the policy never lapses by accident, and keep your bank information current with the insurer. Review your beneficiary whenever your family situation changes, and name a contingent beneficiary in case your first choice dies before you. Keep a copy of the policy with your important papers, and write down your funeral wishes so your family knows how you want the money used. Finally, if your health improves or you quit smoking, ask whether a better-priced policy is available, but never cancel existing coverage until a new policy is approved and in force.

The bottom line

The best burial insurance company is the one that gives you the most coverage from day one at a price you can comfortably pay for life, backed by a financially strong insurer. For most seniors, that means trying simplified issue policies first and turning to guaranteed issue only if needed. Compare at least three quotes, confirm the waiting period, and make sure your family knows the policy exists. A licensed AccuQuote agent can compare companies for you in one call.

Best burial insurance company FAQs

What is the best burial insurance company?

There’s no single best company for everyone. Strong options in 2026 include Mutual of Omaha and Gerber Life, rated A+ by AM Best, and Transamerica, Americo, and Corebridge Financial, rated A. The best one for you depends on your health, age, and budget.

Which burial insurance has no waiting period?

Simplified issue policies typically provide full coverage from day one if you qualify based on health questions. Guaranteed issue policies usually have a two- to three-year waiting period for natural-cause deaths.

What is the best burial insurance for seniors over 80?

Several companies issue final expense coverage into the mid-80s. If you can answer health questions, a simplified issue policy usually costs less and covers you sooner than guaranteed issue.

Is burial insurance worth it?

It can be if your family would struggle to pay for a funeral and final bills. If you have enough savings set aside, or a larger life insurance policy, you may not need it.

What happens if I die during the waiting period?

Most guaranteed issue policies refund the premiums you paid, often with interest or at 110%, for natural-cause deaths during the waiting period. Accidental deaths are usually covered in full.

Disclosure: AccuQuote is an independent life insurance agency. We may receive compensation from some of the companies listed when you buy a policy through us, and we may not represent every company on this list in every state. Companies are listed for informational purposes and are not ranked by compensation. AM Best financial strength ratings are as of November 2026 and can change at any time; verify current ratings at AM Best. Product names, ages, and features vary by state and are subject to change.