Quick reference
- Rates roughly double between age 60 and 75 for the same cover.
- Women pay 20 to 25 percent less than men at every age.
- Tobacco adds 40 to 80 percent.
- Your premium is locked at issue and can never rise.
Female rates, non-tobacco
| Age | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | $16 | $26 | $37 | $60 |
| 50 | $18 | $31 | $44 | $71 |
| 55 | $21 | $38 | $54 | $88 |
| 60 | $25 | $46 | $66 | $108 |
| 65 | $33 | $61 | $89 | $146 |
| 70 | $44 | $84 | $123 | $202 |
| 75 | $61 | $118 | $174 | $286 |
| 80 | $87 | $168 | $249 | $410 |
| 85 | $126 | $246 | $365 | $602 |
Male rates, non-tobacco
| Age | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | $20 | $33 | $47 | $76 |
| 50 | $23 | $40 | $57 | $92 |
| 55 | $27 | $48 | $70 | $114 |
| 60 | $33 | $60 | $88 | $144 |
| 65 | $43 | $80 | $117 | $192 |
| 70 | $58 | $110 | $162 | $266 |
| 75 | $80 | $154 | $228 | $375 |
| 80 | $115 | $222 | $330 | $544 |
| 85 | $166 | $325 | $484 | $799 |
Read the tables this way
Find your age, then look at the row five years down. That is what the identical policy costs if you think about it and come back later. For a 65-year-old man at $10,000, waiting to 70 costs about $30 a month more, every month, forever.
What moves you off the table
Tobacco: add 40 to 80 percent
Most carriers ask about the last 12 months, some 24. Cigars and vaping are treated differently by different insurers, which is one of the few places shopping around genuinely pays.
Health tier: level, graded or guaranteed
The tables above are level benefit - the best tier, full payout from day one. Graded runs roughly 20 to 40 percent higher with a partial payout for two to three years. Guaranteed issue can be double, with premiums-only refunded in the waiting period.
State: usually 5 to 15 percent
Carriers file rates state by state, but the bigger effect is which insurers sell where. Fewer competing carriers in your state generally means slightly worse pricing.
Payment method
Monthly bank draft is normally cheapest. Paying by card or direct-billed quarterly often carries a small surcharge.
Common questions
What are average burial insurance rates?+
For $10,000 of cover, a non-smoking woman aged 60 commonly pays $40 to $55 a month, a man of the same age $50 to $70. Rates roughly double between 60 and 75.
Do rates vary by state?+
Yes, but less than people expect - typically 5 to 15 percent. The bigger difference is which carriers sell in your state, since that changes your options.
Can my rate go up after I buy?+
No. Burial insurance is whole life, so the premium is locked at issue for the life of the policy. Only the cost of buying new rises with age.