Final Expense Insurance
Jo Gallo
Licensed Life and
Health Insurance Broker
Written 5/12/2023
Final Expense
Intro | Should I Take Medicare Now?
|How To Signup For Medicare | Medicare Secondary Options |
I'm Turning 65 But My Spouse Is Not |
Medicare Disability | Medicaid
"She explained the options so that anyone could understand them and make a sensible decision."
What is Final Expense?
Final Expense is a type of Whole Life Insurance that is designed to help a policy owner's family and loved one's help pay for the cost of their funeral at the time of their passing.
Why Final Expense?
Final Expense can have a relatively low premium which grants access to many who want to pay for their funeral costs but don’t have the necessary cash or assets to do so.
It is also great for people who have the cash to pay for their funeral costs, but don’t want the funds tied up with their estate for many months while their family foots the bill.
Enrollment Process
The enrollment process starts by deciding what you would like the benefit to be for your beneficiaries. We then fill out an application form with the insurance company of your choice. They will ask for your basic information as well as ask a series of health questions. The insurance company asks these health questions to see if they can accept you for coverage and what your monthly premium should be. As a rule of thumb, the less health issues you have the lower your monthly premium will be. If you have a few health issues, your premium may be higher or in certain cases your application may be denied.
After filling out the application, the insurance company will decide what your rate and enrollment status will be. You can then choose to go forward with the policy or continue searching.
What To Expect Upon Your Passing
When you set up your Final Expense policy, you will choose a Primary and Secondary beneficiary to receive the benefit upon your passing. These are the designated people you trust to go forward with your funeral. If everything stays up to date, they should receive your benefit within a week or two of your passing.
If your beneficiary changes their address or phone number, you must notify your insurance company Immediately. Any changes to the beneficiary must be noted, otherwise your beneficiaries will run into issues receiving the benefit.
I Have More Than Enough Money To Pay For My Funeral, Should I Still Get Final Expense?
We still recommend getting Final Expense even if you have the cash and assets to cover your funeral expenses. Even the best planned estates can take many months to process, and this could lead to your loved ones fighting over who pays the funeral expenses in the meantime. It can also lead to those who paid for the funeral expenses to say they should get a bigger share of the estate.
Final Expense insurance allows you to set aside the amount you would like for your loved ones and leave the drama to a minimum.