Whether you’re seeking a beachside view along the Jersey Shore or looking for an exciting night in Atlantic City, there’s plenty to look forward to in the Garden State. However, if you’re a senior looking to settle in the state of New Jersey, then beware of the higher costs for burials. But don’t worry, there’s a solution to tackle such significant costs: final expense insurance.
Also known as funeral or burial insurance, final expense insurance is an affordable type of whole life insurance policy designed to cover end-of-life costs. Final Expense Benefits works with over 20 of the best burial insurance companies and can help you find a quality policy under any condition and at any price range.
With all that said, questions might still remain: which whole life insurance companies provide the best coverage for funeral costs in New Jersey, and how do those providers’ rates in NJ compare to the rest of the country?
Get familiar with the options available in your state and call us at (866) 786-0725, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and get your burning questions about burial insurance in the Garden State answered.
Key takeaways
- The average funeral cost in New Jersey is $9,443 (not including burial plot costs), a high price that burial insurance can cover.
- Funeral insurance from the best providers in the state—Mutual of Omaha, American Amicable, Transamerica—is the same as the national average.
- Meanwhile, providers such as Aetna Accendo and Americo offer coverage at lower rates compared to the rest of the country.
- Even though there are state-specific processes, there are no state laws that affect your ability to apply for or use burial insurance.
Average Cost of a Funeral in New Jersey
The prices for any kind of burial in New Jersey are significantly more expensive than the rest of the US, ranging from around 9-13% higher than the average national cost.
According to Funeralocity, average funeral costs in New Jersey will vary by the type of memorial you or your loved one wants:
- Traditional funeral with burial service: $9,443 + $2,903 state-average burial plot cost
- Direct burial (burial with no funeral service): $3,250
- Full Service Cremation: $6,858
- Direct cremation (cremation with no funeral service): $2,511
Prices for basic services may vary depending on location, desired funeral amenities, and more. Check out Final Expense Benefits’ funeral cost calculator for more information.
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Top Funeral Homes in New Jersey
Here are some of the highest-rated funeral homes in New Jersey (contact each for more information on total cost estimates):
| Funeral Home | Location | Phone Number | Average Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rutherford, NJ |
5.0 / 5.0 |
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Hightstown, NJ |
5.0 / 5.0 |
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Hamilton Square, NJ |
4.9 / 5.0 |
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Highland Park, NJ |
4.8 / 5.0 |
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Cranbury, NJ |
4.6 / 5.0 |
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New Jersey Funeral Cost Breakdown
The total average cost for funerals in the state of New Jersey is going to vary based on the type of memorial service you want for you or your loved one. For instance, on average, traditional burials are regarded as one of the most expensive options due to the cost of caskets and land plots. Here are some of the amenities that will affect your total funeral cost:
- Basic Services: includes licensing, funeral director fees, and more. This averages around $2,158 in New Jersey.
- Transportation: includes transportation costs from the morgue and for driving caskets in a hearse to the cemetery. Average service costs here are about $1,160.
- Service Preparation: includes embalming, an expensive body preparation procedure, necessary for traditional funerals. Such costs average around $1,372.
- Funeral Service: includes costs for memorial service officiants, flower arrangements, decoration, and funeral home rental fees. Costs are about $1,253 but can increase if you choose to host a large gathering or choose funeral catering.
- Casket: will vary widely in price; the median cost average for a wooden casket is about $3,500. Funeral homes in New Jersey can’t require a certain type of casket or vault, but cemeteries may have different rules. Check with your cemetery of choice regarding their preferences for more information.
- Burial Plot: the average cost in New Jersey is around $2,903. Burial plot costs will vary by location and plot type, typically increasing in urban areas compared to rural ones.
Burial insurance can be used to cover funeral, cremation, and many other final expenses in the state. Typical burial insurance policies don’t require medical exams, accept most applicants regardless of health, and average benefits payouts range from $5,000 to $50,000. Insurers in New Jersey do offer burial insurance and do not have any state-specific rules/laws affecting the accessibility to this kind of coverage.
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Green Burial in New Jersey
Green burials, also known as eco- or natural burials, are a type of burial method that allows the deceased to decompose naturally. The body is prepared to minimize environmental impact and aid in the conservation of natural resources. They typically require fewer resources and steps compared to traditional burials and can be a great, cost-accessible option.
Examples of green burial include donating your body to science, tree pod burials, and burial at sea.
Green burials are legal across all 50 US states. Funeral and burial rules vary across individual states, with California, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington being the only regulated states. With that being said, not all cemeteries allow for green burial. In general, it is always best to contact funeral homes/cemeteries and ask about their policies regarding green burial permissions.
Here are some cemeteries in the state of New Jersey that permit green burials:
| Funeral Home | Location | Phone Number | Average Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Upper Township, NJ |
5.0 / 5.0 |
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Mays Landing, NJ |
5.0 / 5.0 |
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Delaware Township, NJ |
4.7 / 5.0 |
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Mahwah, NJ |
4.5 / 5.0 |
Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Laws in New Jersey
Funeral, burial, and cremation processes are similar throughout the US. However, in the Garden State, several matters are managed at the state level, including burial requirements, certain services, death notifications, and more. If you want to learn more about final expense insurance, talk to our team of experts at Final Expense Benefits and call (866) 786-0725.
Requirements and Regulations for Embalming, Burial, and Cremation
Much like many other states, New Jersey does not require the bodies of the deceased to be embalmed. If the deceased won’t be buried or cremated within 48 hours, it must be embalmed or refrigerated. Additionally, if a body is shipped by common carriers and won’t reach its destination for at least 24 hours, the body must be embalmed.
New Jersey does not require you to bury your loved one in a casket. Choosing to skip purchasing a casket for burial does mean that you’ll have to select the following alternative options:
- Burial on private property
- Locating a cemetery that doesn’t require caskets for the deceased
In the case of burying a body on private property, state law does require you to use the services of a licensed funeral director.
No law in New Jersey requires a casket for cremation. Federal law requires that funeral homes and crematories inform you that you may use alternative containers for the deceased. Alternative containers may be made of unfinished wood, pressed wood, fiberboard, or cardboard.
Additionally, only cemeteries and funeral homes that performed cremations before the New Jersey Cemetery Act of 1971 passed are allowed to cremate the remains of a body.
The Free Look Period & FTC Funeral Rules in New Jersey
The free look period is the required time during which a new life insurance policy owner can terminate the policy without any penalties, such as surrender charges, and even receive a refund if a payment was made during that time. A free look period typically lasts at least 10 days but can be longer depending on insurers’ policies and state laws. This law exists in all states. In New Jersey, annuity consumers have a standard 10-day free look period.
Aside from being wary of the free look period for funeral planning, it’s important to keep note of the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule. The law in question requires funeral homes to provide you with written prices for their products and services upfront. Additionally, the rule allows you to select only what products and services you want from them and grants you the right to reject any prepackaged options presented to you.
How Does New Jersey Compare to National Rates?
Burial insurance in New Jersey is available for all ages and affordable for most seniors’ budgets. Thanks to secure policy rates, final expense coverage is a bargain not just in NJ but across the US as well.
Take a look at some sample rates of the best burial insurance providers nationwide for seniors in New Jersey.
Sample Burial Rates in New Jersey
| Age | Monthly Rate (Male) | Monthly Rate (Female) |
|---|---|---|
|
50 |
$31 |
$24 |
|
55 |
$36 |
$28 |
|
60 |
$44 |
$33 |
|
65 |
$54 |
$41 |
|
70 |
$75 |
$53 |
|
75 |
$100 |
$72 |
|
80 |
$140 |
$98 |
For $10K policies from Mutual of Omaha with non-smoking applicants and no pre-existing conditions in the state of New Jersey.
Why Choose Final Expense Benefits?
Final Expense Benefits is dedicated to helping seniors across the US by guiding them through the life insurance process and providing applicants with trusted burial policy solutions catering to their needs.
If you’re interested in learning more about burial insurance, check out our online quoting tool or call us at (866) 786-0725, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
Best Burial Insurance Companies in New Jersey
All of Final Expense Benefits’ top-rated providers are available in the state of New Jersey and we can get you connected with our insurance partners to help you find a great burial coverage policy.
Consider these companies if you’re looking for quality coverage in the Garden State:
- Mutual of Omaha
If you’re looking for top-rated, reliable burial coverage with exemplary customer service to help you through the application process, Mutual of Omaha can offer you or your loved ones incredibly competitive insurance rates.
- Aetna Accendo
Aetna Accendo offers simple final expense insurance coverage, strong and stable financial backing, and boasts a history of reliable service. Additionally, policies under Aetna Accendo are backed by CVS Health and offer simplified medical underwriting guidelines, making them an ideal choice for applicants with pre-existing conditions.
- Americo
Americo can not only offer rates lower than the state average but their burial insurance policies can also offer a wide library of life insurance riders. People seeking coverage at a more constrained budget should look here for cheap rates for great benefits. - Transamerica
As one of the largest burial insurance providers in the US and a Final Expense Benefits partner, Transamerica’s policies offer reliable options for seniors seeking coverage.
Final Thoughts
If you live in New Jersey, you don’t have to worry about any major state-specific rules affecting the cost of a burial or how you use your burial insurance. However, it’s important to note that the general prices that you’ll pay for a funeral will be higher than the national average. Many final expense companies offer affordable options that can accommodate both Garden State seniors’ health and budget.
To learn more about your options for burial insurance in New Jersey or how you can start applying for a policy today, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
FAQ
What does the average funeral cost in New Jersey?
Prices for traditional and direct burials in New Jersey are generally higher, roughly 9-13% more expensive compared to the US national average.
What does the average cremation cost in New Jersey?
Prices for full service and direct cremations in New Jersey, much like the average funeral costs in the state, are higher than the national average at about 9-12% more expensive than the national average costs.
What’s the best burial insurance provider in New Jersey?
Final Expense Benefits recommends companies such as Aetna Accendo, Americo, Mutual of Omaha, and Transamerica as top-rated burial insurance providers in New Jersey. For personalized estimates, check out our free online quoting tool.
Are green burials allowed in New Jersey?
Yes. Green burials—also known as a natural burial, conservation burial, or eco-burial—are legal in the state of New Jersey and can be covered by final expense insurance. However, not all cemeteries will allow green burials, so it’s important to inquire before deciding to bury your loved ones if those types of burials are allowed.