While the thought of burial insurance may not excite you very much, it is something important that you should probably plan to have if you are worried about the exorbitant costs of your funeral. If your life insurance policy does not include burial expenses, then you really should see about getting burial coverage. A simple Web search will lead you to many companies offering different burial plans with various levels of insurance coverage. Make sure you review the ones with the best rates and get some free quotes online before you settle on a particular insurer.
First, here are some basic tips regarding funeral insurance:
- If you’re going to get this insurance, get it now – premiums rise as you age.
- Don’t overdo it: only buy as much insurance as you need to cover the costs of your burial.
- If you are sure that you have enough cash already to pay for your funeral, it might be cheaper to foot the bill yourself rather than to pay for insurance.
Unfortunately, you must meet certain conditions to qualify for this type of coverage. Here are some of the possible qualifications you may be required to have:
- You must not have had heart or organ transplant surgery.
- You must not have been diagnosed with cancer, liver disease, emphysema, kidney failure, or certain other serious health conditions.
- You must not have received treatment for substance abuse.
- You must not have been diagnosed with AIDS.
Now that you’ve learned a little about the nuts and bolts of getting insurance for your burial, take a look at the following expenses that you will want to have covered:
- Medical bills
- Legal fees or probate
- Outstanding debts
- Funeral home expenses
- Embalming and preparation
- Headstone
- Coffin / casket
- Flower arrangements
- Viewing arrangements
- Minister
- Burial plot
- Hearse
- Music