What Final Expense Insurance Costs

Final expense insurance cost depends on five factors: age at purchase, gender, tobacco use, health answers, and coverage amount. Premiums lock in for life at purchase — the tables below show illustrative monthly rates by age band for $10,000 of coverage.

See my rate

By The Secure Final Plan Insurance Team · Reviewed by a licensed insurance agent · how we review

Last updated July 21, 2026

The five factors that set your premium

Age at purchase. The single biggest driver — and the one you control by not waiting. The rate locks at the age you buy.
Gender. Female applicants price lower at every age band.
Tobacco use. Tobacco rates run well above non-tobacco rates.
Health answers. Passing simplified issue questions earns better pricing than guaranteed issue.
Coverage amount. Premiums scale with the face amount you choose.

Reading the rate table

The table below shows illustrative monthly rates by age band for $10,000 of non-tobacco coverage. Two patterns are worth noticing: each five-year age band steps the premium up permanently, and the female column runs below the male column throughout. Your exact quote comes from a licensed agent comparing live carrier rates for your profile.

Line chart of illustrative final expense insurance monthly premiums by purchase age, 50 to 85, for $10,000 of non-tobacco whole life coverage — female and male rates both climb steeply with age

Matching coverage to the real bill

The national median funeral with viewing and burial costs $8,300 — $6,280 with cremation — per the NFDA's 2023 study, itemized on our funeral costs page. A $10,000 policy covers the median funeral with a cushion; families adding medical bills or debts to the plan often choose $15,000–$20,000. The final expense overview covers how the product works, and seniors can find age-specific guidance on our for-seniors page.

If the health questions are the obstacle

Declined applications don't end the search — they reroute it. Guaranteed issue coverage skips health questions entirely at a higher price per dollar. The honest comparison between both paths is exactly what an independent agent is for.

Rates before the form

What it costs by age

Monthly rates for $10,000 of coverage (non-tobacco) Illustrative sample rates

Age	Female	Male
50–54	$24.50/mo	$29.80/mo
55–59	$29.75/mo	$36.20/mo
60–64	$36.40/mo	$44.90/mo
65–69	$45.20/mo	$56.70/mo
70–74	$58.90/mo	$74.30/mo
75–79	$78.60/mo	$99.80/mo
80–85	$106.30/mo	$135.40/mo

Estimates only, based on illustrative sample rates — not a quote or an offer of coverage. Actual premiums are set by the issuing carrier and vary by state, age, health, and tobacco use. Coverage is not bound until confirmed in writing by the carrier.

No obligation

Check your rate in 30 seconds

See your estimated rate

Takes about 30 seconds. No obligation.

Estimates only, based on illustrative sample rates — not a quote or an offer of coverage. Actual premiums are set by the issuing carrier and vary by state, age, health, and tobacco use. Coverage is not bound until confirmed in writing by the carrier.

Frequently asked questions

What determines the cost of final expense insurance?

Five factors: your age at purchase, gender, tobacco use, health answers, and the coverage amount you choose. Age matters most — and the premium locks in permanently at whatever age you buy.

Why do women pay less than men?

Carriers price by life expectancy, and women statistically live longer. The same age, coverage, and health profile prices lower for female applicants across nearly every carrier.

Does tobacco use raise the price?

Yes, meaningfully. Tobacco rates run substantially higher than non-tobacco rates at every age. Some carriers re-rate you as non-tobacco after a set number of years quit — worth asking about.

Is guaranteed issue more expensive?

Yes. Skipping health questions costs more per dollar of coverage than simplified issue. If you can pass a short health questionnaire, you usually pay less — which is why comparing both paths matters.

How do I keep the premium affordable?

Buy sooner rather than later (the rate locks at your purchase age), choose a face amount matched to real costs rather than a round number, and compare carriers — the same profile can price differently across companies.

Talk to a licensed agent

Tell us how to reach you — we compare carriers and call with real numbers.