The 10-second version
Most people end up paying $30 to $120 a month. If you are a healthy non-smoker in your sixties buying $10,000 of cover, expect somewhere around $46 to $80. Everything below is how to narrow that to your own number.
Step 1 - decide how much cover you need
Do not pick a round number. Price the funeral you actually want:
| Plan | Typical cost | Cover to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cremation | $1,500 - $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Cremation with service | $4,000 - $7,000 | $10,000 |
| Traditional burial | $8,000 - $12,000 | $15,000 |
| Burial plus small debts | $12,000 - $20,000 | $25,000 |
Buying more than you need is the most common way people overspend here.
Step 2 - find your base rate
Monthly premium, healthy non-smoker, level benefit:
| Age | $10,000 (F) | $10,000 (M) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $31 | $40 |
| 55 | $38 | $48 |
| 60 | $46 | $60 |
| 65 | $61 | $80 |
| 70 | $84 | $110 |
| 75 | $118 | $154 |
| 80 | $168 | $222 |
Scale it: $5,000 is roughly half, $25,000 roughly two and a half times. Full tables are on the rates page.
Step 3 - adjust for you
- Tobacco in the last 12 months? Multiply by 1.4 to 1.8.
- Several managed conditions, or recent hospital stay? Expect graded - multiply by 1.2 to 1.4.
- Oxygen, dialysis, terminal diagnosis, or recently declined? Expect guaranteed issue - roughly double, with a 2 to 3 year waiting period.
- Nothing but well-controlled blood pressure or cholesterol? Use the table as-is. This is most people.
Worked example
A 68-year-old woman, non-smoker, blood pressure controlled on medication, wants cremation with a service. Cover: $10,000. Base at 68 sits between the 65 and 70 rows, so about $72. No tobacco, level tier, no adjustment. Estimate: roughly $70 to $80 a month.
Two things that make estimates wrong
Being sold the wrong tier. Many people are placed in guaranteed issue when they would have qualified for level benefit. That costs more and delays the full payout by years. Always apply for level first.
Carrier spread. For the same person, the gap between the best and worst carrier is routinely 30 percent or more, because each insurer weighs conditions differently. Estimating gets you the ballpark; shopping gets you the price.
Common questions
How much for a 65 year old?+
A healthy non-smoking 65-year-old woman typically pays about $61 a month for $10,000, a man about $80. Tobacco or a graded tier pushes either figure considerably higher.
What is the cheapest burial insurance?+
Level benefit whole life, bought as young and healthy as possible, at the smallest amount that covers your actual plan. Be wary of anything advertised as unusually cheap - it is often guaranteed issue with a waiting period.
Can I get cover for $20 a month?+
Yes, at modest coverage or younger ages - roughly $5,000 to $7,000 for a healthy woman in her forties or early fifties. In your seventies, $20 buys very little.