Final Expense Insurance Rates

Most final expense rate pages give you a single number and a quote button. This one gives you the full picture — real monthly premiums broken down by age, gender, and coverage amount so you can see exactly what a policy costs before you ever talk to an agent. We built these tables from our own carrier data because the rates you qualify for today and the rates you'll qualify for in two years are not the same number, and that difference is worth understanding before your next birthday moves you into a higher pricing bracket.

Key Takeaways

• Final expense insurance rates range from $13.92 to $102.87 per month for standard coverage amounts between $5,000 and $15,000.
• Age is the biggest factor in your monthly premium, with rates roughly doubling between age 50 and age 70.
• Women pay significantly lower final expense insurance rates than men because of a longer average life expectancy.
• Most final expense policies are simplified issue, meaning approval is based on a health questionnaire rather than a medical exam.
• The premium you lock in when you buy the policy is contractually guaranteed never to increase.

These figures are illustrative, not a quote or an offer to insure. Actual final expense insurance rates depend on underwriting, state approval, carrier guidelines, and whether you qualify as tobacco or non-tobacco. This is general education, not tax or legal advice; talk with a licensed agent about your situation.

Sample final expense insurance rates by age

These sample final expense insurance rates are monthly premiums for simplified issue, non-tobacco applicants from TransAmerica as of April 2026. Use the Female and Male tabs to compare premiums by gender. Actual premiums vary by health history, state, and carrier underwriting guidelines.

Simplified issue means you answer a short health questionnaire — no medical exam, no blood draw. If you cannot pass those health questions, guaranteed issue policies are available at higher rates with a waiting period.

Final expense insurance — also called burial insurance — is a small whole life policy that covers end-of-life costs like funeral expenses, remaining medical bills, or small debts. A 50-year-old male pays $30.55 per month for $10,000 of simplified issue coverage through TransAmerica at non-tobacco rates, while a 50-year-old female pays $24.24 for the same policy. The death benefit is modest — typically $5,000 to $25,000 — but the premiums are manageable on a fixed income, and the rate you lock in never increases. As an independent agency working with 30+ A-rated carriers, we compare simplified issue policies across the market so you get the lowest available rate for your health profile.

What are typical final expense insurance rates?

Typical final expense insurance rates for non-tobacco applicants start in the teens per month for smaller coverage amounts at younger ages, then climb steadily after 60. A male buying $10,000 in coverage pays $30.55 at age 50, but that same policy costs $69.78 if he waits until age 70 — a 128% increase over 20 years of delay. Because this is permanent coverage, the rate you secure today is locked in for life. The full rate tables above use simplified issue, non-tobacco rates so you can compare apples to apples.

What affects final expense insurance rates?

Your final expense insurance rates are determined by a combination of your personal profile and the policy details. Insurance companies use these factors to calculate your risk and set your monthly premium.

• Age is the most significant factor. The older you are when you apply, the higher your monthly premium will be.
• Gender plays a major role because women live longer than men on average, so they pay lower rates for the same amount of coverage.
• The coverage amount directly impacts cost, as policies typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. Higher death benefits require higher monthly premiums.
• Health history influences your rate class, because while there is no medical exam, your answers to health questions and your prescription history will affect your eligibility.
• Tobacco use is heavily penalized, with smokers and tobacco users paying significantly higher rates than non-tobacco users.
• The policy type matters, as simplified issue policies cost less than guaranteed issue policies because the insurance company takes on less risk.

Simplified issue vs guaranteed issue

Final expense insurance is generally sold as either simplified issue or guaranteed issue. The type you qualify for has a major impact on your monthly premium.

Simplified issue policies require you to answer a few health questions but do not require a medical exam. Because the insurance company can screen out the highest-risk applicants, these policies offer the best final expense insurance rates and immediate full coverage from day one. Guaranteed issue policies ask no health questions and cannot turn you down, but they cost more and typically have a waiting period of two to three years before the full death benefit pays out. You can compare these on our guaranteed issue rates page.

Male vs female final expense rates

Female final expense insurance rates are consistently lower than male rates at every age and coverage amount. Life insurance premiums are based on life expectancy, and women statistically live several years longer than men.

At age 50, a woman pays about 20% less than a man for a $10,000 policy ($24.24 vs $30.55). This gap remains relatively consistent as you age, meaning women will always secure a more affordable monthly premium for the same death benefit.

How to get an accurate final expense rate

The only way to get a perfectly accurate final expense rate is to apply for a policy and go through the carrier's specific underwriting process. Every insurance company weighs health conditions and prescription histories differently.

Because underwriting guidelines vary so much between carriers, a condition that might increase your rate with one company might be accepted at a standard rate by another. We compare your specific health profile across 30+ carriers to find the company that views your situation most favorably, ensuring you get the lowest possible rate.

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About the authors

About Brad Cummins

Brad Cummins is the founder of Insurance Geek and primary author of its educational content. Licensed since 2004, he brings over 21 years of experience structuring life insurance and IUL strategies for clients nationwide.

Fact checked by Ryan Wood

Ryan Wood is a licensed insurance professional and contributing advisor at Insurance Geek, serving as a fact checker and technical reviewer for life insurance and annuity content. First licensed in 2013, he brings more than 12 years of experience and holds licenses in over 40 U.S. states.