Virginia not only offers a great place for lovers and tourists to spend their time. Needless to say, there’s a lot to love about the “Mother of States”, from its rich history dating back to colonial settlement to beautiful scenery like Shenandoah National Park. Seniors can also look forward to cheaper funeral costs compared to the rest of the country—and the same goes for burial insurance rates—in the state.
Also known as funeral or final expense insurance, burial insurance is an affordable type of whole life insurance policy designed to cover end-of-life costs.
Here at Final Expense Benefits, we’ve partnered up with over 20 of the best burial insurance companies and can help you find a quality policy under any condition, at any price range, in any state in the country.
Take a look at the options available in your state, call us at (866) 786-0725, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and get your burning questions about final expense coverage answered today.
Key takeaways
- In Virginia, the average funeral cost is $8,321 (excluding VA’s average burial plot cost)—a price that burial insurance can cover.
- Final expense insurance from some of the top-rated providers—Mutual of Omaha, Transamerica, American Amicable—match national average rates.
- Life insurance companies Aetna Accendo and Americo can offer Virginia residents burial rates lower than the national average.
- For final expense coverage in Virginia, there are no state laws that affect applicants’ ability to apply for or use burial insurance.
Average Cost of a Funeral in Virginia
The average cost of a funeral in the state of Virginia varies. Direct burials and cremations are significantly higher than the national average, while arrangements involving burial services and amenities are slightly cheaper on average.
According to Funeralocity, average funeral costs in Virginia will vary by the type of memorial you or your loved one wants:
- Traditional funeral with burial service: $8,321 + $2,673 state-average burial plot cost
- Direct burial (burial with no funeral service): $3,295
- Full Service Cremation: $6,128
- Direct cremation (cremation with no funeral service): $2,515
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 Virginia
Take a look at some of the cost-accessible funeral homes in Virginia (call or visit the websites below for total cost estimates):
| Funeral Home | Location | Phone Number | Average Customer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alexandria, VA |
5.0 / 5.0 |
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Virginia Beach, VA |
5.0 / 5.0 |
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Richmond, VA |
4.7 / 5.0 |
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Norfolk, VA |
4.2 / 5.0 |
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Portsmouth, VA |
4.1 / 5.0 |
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Virginia Funeral Cost Breakdown
The total average cost for funerals, state by state, relies on several factors, such as the type of service you or your loved ones want. On average, traditional burials are regarded as one of the most expensive options due to the cost of caskets and land plots. With all of that said, here are some of the additions that will affect your total funeral cost in Virginia:
- Basic Services: includes licensing, funeral director fees, and more. This averages around $2,076 in Virginia.
- Transportation: includes costs for driving caskets in a hearse to the cemetery, as well as general transport to your local morgue. The state average service is about $839 in Old Dominion.
- Service Preparation: includes embalming, a typical process for traditional funerals. However, in the state of Virginia, if a burial or cremation isn’t scheduled to take place within 48 hours of death, bodies are required to be refrigerated or embalmed. Such service costs are around $945.
- Funeral Service: includes memorial service officiants, flower arrangements, decoration, and funeral home rental fees. Costs average $961, but can increase with additional accommodations and amenities (I.e., hosting a large gathering, including funeral catering, etc.).
- Casket: the median cost for a wooden casket is about $3,500. No state laws in Virginia mandate the purchase of a casket for burials or cremations, but cemeteries may have different rules. Check with your cemetery regarding their requirements as a best practice when deciding whether a casket is necessary for your funeral arrangements.
- Burial Plot: the average burial plot cost in Virginia is around $2,673 and can vary depending on plot location and type, usually increasing in urban areas compared to rural ones.
Final expense insurance can be used to cover funerals, cremations, and many other end-of-life costs. Typical burial insurance policies don’t require medical exams and accept most applicants regardless of health, with average benefits payouts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. Do note that insurers in the state of Virginia offer burial insurance and do not have any state-specific rules/laws affecting the accessibility to this kind of coverage.
Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Laws in Virginia
Funeral, burial, and cremation processes are similar throughout the US. However, several matters are managed at the state level, including funeral requirements, burial type restrictions, death notifications, and more.
For example, Virginians can care for their own dead as a licensed funeral director isn’t required to make or carry out final arrangements, such as filing death certificates. Anyone can perform the functions of a funeral director in the state for family and community members as long as the service is unpaid.
Preparation services such as embalming are not required in the state. Additionally, the usage of vaults and caskets for burials and cremation is unregulated. However, check with your cemetery or crematorium for their on-site rules and regulations.
Ultimately, there are no major state-level requirements, rules, or laws in Virginia that will affect any aspect of final expense insurance. However, alternative burial methods such as water cremation are considered illegal.
Virginia’s Free Look Period & FTC Funeral Rules
In Virginia, you have a standard 10-day free look period. The free look period refers to the required time during which a new life insurance policy owner can terminate an insurance policy without any penalties, such as surrender charges, and receive a refund if a payment was made during that time.
Aside from the free look period for funeral plans, keep note of the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule. The federal regulation in question requires funeral homes to provide consumers with written prices for their products and services upfront. Additionally, the rule allows you to select only what products and services you want from providers and grants you the right to reject any prepackaged options presented to you.
Comparing Rates: Virginia vs. National Averages
In Virginia, final expense insurance can be found and purchased through many providers, available for all ages and all budgets. Take a look at some sample burial insurance rates for anyone between 50 and 80 years old in the state:
Sample Burial Rates in Virginia
| 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 Virginia.
Why Choose Final Expense Benefits?
Whether it be Virginia or any other state, Final Expense Benefits is here to help you and your loved ones plan accordingly and provide people with top-rated, trusted burial insurance solutions that best fit their needs and budget.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can cover end-of-life costs, 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 Virginia
All of Final Expense Benefits’ trusted partners are available in Virginia. We can get you connected with these insurance providers to help you find a great burial coverage policy that meets your preferences and needs.
Consider these companies if you’re looking for quality coverage in Old Dominion:
- Mutual of Omaha
If you’re looking for quality burial coverage with exemplary customer service, Mutual of Omaha can offer you or your loved ones incredibly competitive insurance rates.
- Aetna Accendo
With rates lower than the national average in Virginia, Aetna Accendo offers burial coverage backed by CVS Health and provides simplified medical underwriting guidelines, making them an ideal choice for applicants with pre-existing conditions.
- American Amicable
With a time-tested history, American Amicable has proven itself as not just a strong choice for seniors but also one of the most smoker-friendly life insurance providers. - Americo
Americo offers a wide range of life insurance riders. People seeking coverage with a smaller budget should look here for affordable 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
Thankfully, there aren’t any major state-specific rules affecting the cost of a burial, how you can apply for final expense coverage, or how you can use your policy. Unfortunately, while burials and cremations with full service have a minimal difference in comparison to national averages, you should expect significantly higher costs for direct burial methods.
However, all of those types of memorials can be covered with
a solid burial insurance plan. Many companies, like Mutual of Omaha, Americo, and Aetna Accendo, offer affordable options that can account for seniors’ health and budget. So, if Virginia really is for lovers, then you and your loved ones will love what final expense insurance can do for you in the state.
To learn more about your options for burial insurance in Virginia 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 Virginia?
Compared to the national average, the average cost of a traditional funeral with standard burial services in Virginia is about 3% lower than the national average (VA average: ~$8,321). As for affordable burial averages in the state, that type of funeral arrangement is about 14% higher than the national average (VA average: ~$3,295).
What does the average cremation cost in Virginia?
Full service cremations in Virginia are only about 2% cheaper than the national average (VA average: ~$6,128), while direct cremations are about 12% more expensive in the state (VA average: ~$2,515).
What’s the best burial insurance provider in Virginia?
Final Expense Benefits recommends burial insurance providers such as Aetna Accendo, Americo, American Amicable, Mutual of Omaha, and Transamerica for their top-rated policies and quality customer support. For personalized estimates, check out our free online quoting tool here.
Are green burials allowed in Virginia?
Yes, green burials (also known as natural, conservation, or eco-burials) are legal in Virginia. Despite this fact, not all cemeteries allow green burials, and not every type of green burial is allowed, such as water cremation. As a general best practice, you should inquire before deciding to bury your loved ones to see what is and what isn’t permitted.