Burial insurance with no medical exam also goes by final expense insurance. It’s a policy for seniors, usually aged 50 – 75, but sometimes older. It’s an excellent policy to protect your loved ones in your back pocket, and it’s usually easy to get since there’s no required medical exam.
Did You Try Out Our Life Insurance Quote Comparison Tool? Save BIG!
Please read our guide to learn how it works.
Table of Content
What is Burial Insurance with No Medical Exam?
Any life insurance without a health checkup sounds impossible, right? Life insurance companies always need to know about your medical conditions and history – so how can a no-medical exam insurance policy work?
A burial insurance policy covers only your burial costs and any final expenses, such as hospital bills, hospice, or even leftover debts you didn’t get before you died. It’s not a policy that leaves your loved ones a legacy or money they can live off of, so it’s a smaller policy, usually up to $25,000, versus standard life insurance policies, which go up to $1 million or more.
How Does it Work?
Burial insurance lasts your entire life, unlike term life insurance. As long as you pay the premiums, it remains active.
FREE Quotes, No Obligations!
You choose the coverage amount, and as long as your premiums are paid up when you die, your loved ones receive a lump sum payment. They can use the funds to pay for your funeral, burial, medical expenses, or any other estate expenses they incur.
Because it’s burial insurance with no medical questions, you can expect the premiums to be high, but you have a few ways to pay for it:
- Level premiums – You pay the same premium for the rest of your life. It never changes even as you age or become ill. You choose a policy size that also remains the same.
- Stepped premiums – You start with lower premiums when you remove the policy, but your premiums increase as you age and renew the policy each year.
- Capped premiums – You have a monetary limit you must pay for the policy. Once you reach it, you don’t have to pay premiums any longer, but you keep the coverage for life.
Who Should get Burial Insurance with no Medical Exam?
Even though the premiums are higher on funeral insurance with no health questions or medical exam, certain seniors benefit from it:
- If you don’t have money set aside for your loved ones to pay for your final expenses
- If you know you’ll have high medical expenses before you die due to a severe illness
- You know you won’t pass a medical exam, but you want to protect your loved ones financially
- If you leave behind debt, you don’t want your loved ones to have to manage
Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
You don’t have to pass a medical exam to qualify. No matter your health conditions, you can secure life insurance. | Since it’s guaranteed issue insurance, there is a 2-year waiting period. If you die within the first 2 years, your loved ones receive only the premiums you’ve paid plus a small percentage. |
You don’t have to answer health questions. Burial insurance policies are significant for people who value their privacy. | The premiums are much higher. Since there’s no health checkup, insurance companies take a significant risk of insuring you, which means higher premiums. |
You can die with peace of mind that your loved ones can afford your final expenses. | The coverage amounts are much lower than a typical insurance plan. |
Alternatives to Burial Insurance with No Health Checkup
- Term life insurance
If you are in decent health, you can secure term life insurance for a specified period. If you outlive the policy, the insurance policy expires. You may be able to renew it, but typically at much higher premiums that may be unaffordable if you’re in your senior years.
- Guaranteed issue whole life insurance
You can take out a guaranteed issue whole-life policy if you want a more comprehensive policy. It works much the same way with no medical exam burial insurance. The only difference is you get more coverage at higher premiums, and your policy may accrue a cash value if you have it long enough.
Compare life insurance quotes and save!
Simplified issue life insurance is like funeral insurance, but it requires you to answer some health questions. You can get coverage without a medical exam if you respond to those favorably. Simplified issue life insurance is also a whole life policy with higher premiums and a potential cash value.
FAQs
What life insurance has no waiting period?
Guaranteed issue life insurance may not have a waiting period. This means if you died a week after taking out a policy, your loved ones would receive the full death benefit. The downside is the cost–guaranteed issue life insurance with immediate coverage has high premiums often unaffordable for seniors.
Does final expense insurance have a waiting period?
Final expense insurance has a 2-year waiting period. If you die within the first 2 years, your loved ones receive only the premiums you paid plus a small percentage (8 to 10 percent).
Can burial insurance be denied?
Burial insurance without a medical exam is guaranteed. Unless you commit insurance fraud, you cannot be denied coverage. But it would be best to keep up with the premiums, or it can be canceled.
Bottom Line
Burial insurance without a medical checkup is a good option for seniors without reserves to help their loved ones pay their final expenses. It can get costly, so it is essential to shop around and ensure you’re getting the best policy at the best price.
If you don’t have coverage and no money set aside for your loved ones, consider burial insurance without health questions to give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind.