Final expense calculator
Add up funeral, cemetery and leftover bills to see how much final expense cover would spare your family.
Final Expense
Final Expense and Burial Insurance in Brighton, CO
Final expense insurance, also called burial insurance, is a small whole life policy meant to pay for a funeral, burial or cremation and the bills that arrive afterward. It is simple, it lasts for life as long as premiums are paid, and the benefit goes to the person you name.
Final expense, annuity and supplemental products are subject to underwriting and carrier approval. Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Nothing on this site is tax, legal or investment advice.
What to know before you choose
Most final expense policies are whole life insurance. The Colorado Division of Insurance describes whole life as coverage with a premium that stays the same for life and a cash value that builds over time, paying a death benefit to your beneficiary. Final expense policies are simply smaller, easier to qualify for versions of that idea.
There are two common ways to qualify. A simplified issue policy asks a short list of health questions, with no exam, and if you qualify the full benefit is usually payable from the start. A guaranteed issue policy asks no health questions, but typically pays only a return of premiums plus interest if death from natural causes happens in the first two or three years. For most people in reasonable health, simplified issue is better value.
The benefit is paid to your beneficiary, who can use it for anything: the funeral home, a headstone, a final medical bill, or travel for family. If you prefer, you can name a trusted person and tell them what it is for. Benefits are generally paid quickly once the claim is filed with a death certificate.
Prices depend on age, health, tobacco use and the benefit amount. I compare simplified and guaranteed issue options from the companies I work with, and I tell you plainly when a guaranteed issue policy is the only route, so you know what the waiting period means for your family.
Your needs and situation are unique, and I am committed to spending the time to get to know you so you get coverage and support that fits your lifestyle.
Colorado rules to know
Before buying, the Colorado Division of Insurance suggests understanding how a policy works and what it costs over time; you can also confirm an agent's Colorado licence with the Division.
A prepaid funeral contract with a funeral home is a different product from final expense insurance. If you already have one, I help you decide whether you still need a policy, and how much.
How and when to enroll
- Decide what you want covered: a funeral, burial or cremation, plus any final bills.
- Answer the health questions honestly; I explain which ones matter for each company before you apply.
- Name a beneficiary and a backup, and tell them where the policy is kept.
- Review the beneficiary after any marriage, divorce or death in the family.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a guaranteed issue policy when you would have qualified for full coverage from day one.
- Choosing a benefit that does not cover the funeral you actually want.
- Letting the policy lapse by missing premiums, which ends the coverage.
- Not telling anyone the policy exists.
How Lisa helps
- Simplified issue and guaranteed issue options compared honestly
- A benefit amount based on the arrangements you want
- Health questions explained before you apply
- Beneficiary choices and paperwork made simple
- A plain answer on waiting periods for your family
- Help for your family with the claim when the time comes
Who it fits
You are in your fifties to eighties, you want your family protected from funeral and final costs, and you want a small, permanent policy that is straightforward to qualify for.
What is the difference between final expense and burial insurance?
There is no real difference: both names describe a small whole life policy meant for funeral, burial or cremation and final bills. The benefit goes to your beneficiary, who can use it however it is needed. The bigger choice is simplified issue versus guaranteed issue.
Next steps
Sources: Colorado Division of Insurance: Life Insurance and Annuities (Colorado Division of Insurance, 2026) . Reviewed 2026-10-14.
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FAQ
Final Expense & Burial Insurance: common questions
What is the difference between final expense and burial insurance?
There is no real difference: both names describe a small whole life policy meant for funeral, burial or cremation and final bills. The benefit goes to your beneficiary, who can use it however it is needed. The bigger choice is simplified issue versus guaranteed issue.
Can I get final expense insurance without a medical exam?
Yes. Simplified issue policies ask health questions but no exam, and guaranteed issue policies ask no health questions at all, usually with a waiting period before the full benefit is paid for natural causes.
How much final expense insurance do I need?
Enough to cover the arrangements you want, burial or cremation, plus any final bills. Price your wishes with a local funeral home and I will match the benefit to them.
Does the premium go up as I get older?
For a whole life final expense policy the premium usually stays level for life, as long as you pay it. Buying younger generally means a lower premium.
Who receives the money from a final expense policy?
The beneficiary you name. They can use it for the funeral or anything else, so choose someone you trust and tell them about the policy.
We speak insurance, so you don't have to.
Final Expense & Burial Insurance in Brighton, the northeast Denver metro and across Colorado: no pressure, plain answers, and a review every year.
992 South Fourth Avenue, Brighton, CO 80601 · (303) 887-8584
Content reviewed by Lisa Asmussen, Medicare Broker and Licensed Insurance Agent at Headwaters Health and Wealth in Brighton, Colorado, certified to sell Medicare plans since 2018 (8 years). Last updated .