Life Insurance Vs Burial Insurance Policy? 10 Fact Check

How Burial Insurance Is Different from Life Insurance? 10 Reasons

Last Updated December 3, 2024

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Two women having a conversation. The woman on the left has a clipboard and looks to be explaining something to the woman on the right. The Final Expense Benefits logo is on the top right of the image with the words "How Burial Insurance is Different From Life Insurance" under the logo.

When it comes to life insurance, there are two main types: life insurance and burial insurance. Many people don’t know the difference between the two and end up buying the wrong policy. In this blog post, we will discuss the 10 key differences between life insurance and burial insurance. We will also explain which policy is right for you. So, let’s get started!

#1: Financial Protection for Life vs Funeral Cost Coverage

The first difference between life insurance and burial insurance is the purpose of the policy. Life insurance is meant to provide financial protection for your loved ones in the event of your death. On the other hand, burial insurance is specifically designed to cover funeral costs.

#2: Multiple Coverage Options in Life Insurance vs Burial Insurance Policy

Life insurance also has different coverage options than burial insurance. For example, you can choose to have term life insurance or whole life insurance. With term life insurance, you are only covered for a set period (usually 20 or 30 years). With whole life insurance, you are covered for your entire life.

Burial insurance, on the other hand, is only offered as whole life insurance. This means that you are covered for your entire life and do not have to worry about the policy lapsing.

#3: Medical Exam Vs. No Medical Exam

Another difference is that life insurance usually requires a medical exam, while burial insurance does not. This is because life insurance pays out a death benefit, which is based on your life expectancy. Burial insurance, on the other hand, only pays out a funeral benefit and does not take into account your life expectancy.

#4: Cancellation Options

Life insurance policies can be canceled at any time, whereas funeral insurance policies cannot be canceled. This is because burial insurance is designed to cover funeral costs, which are typically incurred shortly after death.

#5: Coverage Amount

The coverage amount is another key difference. Life insurance policies typically have much higher coverage amounts than burial insurance policies. This is because life insurance pays out a death benefit, which can be used for anything, whereas burial insurance only pays out a funeral benefit.

#6: Higher Premiums vs Lower Premiums

Another key difference is that life insurance policies can be more expensive than burial insurance policies. This is because life insurance provides more coverage and protection than funeral insurance.

However, it is important to remember that the cost of life insurance varies depending on several factors, such as your age, health, and smoking status. So, while life insurance may be more expensive overall, there are ways to get cheaper life insurance rates.

Burial insurance, on the other hand, is a non-renewable policy. This means that once you purchase the policy, it cannot be renewed.

#7: Renewable Policy Vs Non-Renewable Policy

Life insurance policies are renewable, which means that you can renew your policy at the end of the term. This is not the case with burial insurance, which is a non-renewable policy.

#8: Cash Value vs No Cash Value

Another difference between life insurance and funeral insurance is that life insurance policies typically have a cash value, while burial insurance policies do not. Cash value life insurance policies have an investment component that grows over time. This money can be accessed through loans or withdrawals.

Burial insurance policies do not have a cash value because they are designed to cover funeral costs, which are typically incurred shortly after death.

#9: Exclusions in Both Policies

It’s also important to note that both life insurance and funeral insurance have exclusions. For example, life insurance will not cover you if you die of a pre-existing medical condition or if you commit suicide. Burial insurance will not cover you if you die of a pre-existing medical condition or if your death is caused by an act of war.

#10: Riders in Life Insurance vs No Riders in Burial Insurance

Riders are additional coverage that can be added to life insurance policies. Riders can provide coverage for things like accidents, critical illnesses, and long-term care.

Burial insurance policies do not typically have riders because they are designed to cover funeral costs, which are typically incurred shortly after death.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! These are the ten key differences between life insurance and burial insurance. Now that you know the difference, you can make an informed decision about which policy is right for you. Thanks for reading!