Funeral and Burial Insurance

Funerals and burial services can be just as expensive as they are emotional. Further, protection needs to be in place for the gravesite itself after the service is complete. Damage and destruction due to theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and more can occur, causing the need for not only upsetting but costly replacements without the proper coverage.

Though caring for the memorial of a loved one’s death can be emotionally difficult, the good news is that homeowners insurance can provide coverage for grave markers, urns, and other funerary items. And for the actual service, an independent insurance agent can help you find funeral and burial insurance. To begin with, we'll examine all of these coverages in more depth.

What Is Burial Insurance?

Burial insurance is a special type of life insurance policy designed to cover various end-of-life expenses, including services like funerals. Funeral and burial insurance can help cover many of the expenses associated with funerals, burial services, and more. 

This coverage goes by many different names, depending on the insurance company, and may be referred to as any of the following:

An independent insurance agent can help you find the right funeral and burial insurance from a trusted carrier in your area.

What Does Funeral Insurance Cover?

Funeral and burial insurance can cover many of the costs associated with funerals and other end-of-life ceremonies. These policies can cover the following:

Having burial insurance can prevent your loved ones from having to cover major expenses, such as outstanding debts, out of their own pockets after you pass away.

How Does Burial Insurance Work?

Burial insurance provides a death benefit payout to a chosen beneficiary after you pass away. This payout can be used by the beneficiary to cover final expenses such as funeral and burial services. Additionally, this coverage can also be used to pay off any outstanding debts of the deceased, including credit card bills, medical bills, and mortgage loans. 

Is Funeral Insurance Worth It?

Funeral insurance may at least be worth considering, given the expenses that can accompany a death. Consider the following:

• The average cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial service is $8,300. 
• A funeral service with cremation is slightly less expensive, averaging $6,280. 
• Urns cost an average of $295. 
• Private mausoleums start at $15,000.
• Two-person crypts start at $26,000.

Having funeral and burial insurance can certainly be worth it for many people, considering that the alternative would be to pay for these expenses out of pocket following a loved one's passing. 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Funerary Items?

Headstones and other funerary items deserve to stay intact out of respect for the deceased. One component of many homeowners policies is headstone and funerary item coverage, which can help pay for repair or replacement costs for damaged or stolen items due to a covered peril.

Your homeowners insurance policy likely includes coverage for headstones and other funerary items, including the following:

More and more people are eschewing traditional cremation methods and opting to have their ashes converted into diamonds, trees, coral reefs, fireworks, vinyl records, balloons, pieces of jewelry, etc. From headstones to commemorative benches and beyond, homeowners insurance can help cover costs for the upkeep of your loved ones’ memorials.

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Who's Responsible for the Upkeep of Headstones and Other Grave Markers?

Headstones and other grave markers are an interesting kind of property because it’s not immediately clear who owns them. Ownership of funerary items is typically passed to living spouses or other next-of-kin and will keep being handed down through the generations as time passes. If you’re next in line to inherit any kind of memorial, you’ll want to review your homeowners insurance policy with the help of your independent insurance agent.

Why Would I Need Funeral and Burial Insurance?

Having funeral and burial insurance can provide the certainty of financial coverage for your loved ones’ final resting places. It can provide the funds necessary to carry out the funeral, burial, or cremation service. Funeral and burial insurance is a separate life insurance policy that provides funds to pay for the funeral and to buy a plot with a maintenance plan.

Does My Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover Headstones and Funerary Items?

Most likely, yes. Most homeowners policies provide coverage for headstones and funerary items, at least up to a certain amount. Coverage limits would apply to the contents coverage section of your policy, but you can always increase these limits. 

You’ll need to review your specific home insurance policy to ensure funerary item coverage is included and what exactly falls into that category. Make sure to specifically list any headstones or other related items you want your policy to cover, and get clear about your plan’s exact limits and coverage stipulations.

Funerals and funerary items are expensive to start with, and thinking about needing to repair or replace them can be unsettling. Fortunately, funeral and burial coverage under home insurance can help protect against the following:

You put a lot of thought and care into your loved one’s memorial, and understandably, you want to keep it in good condition. Coverage can help keep these memorials in pristine condition. Though tragedies like theft, vandalism, and storm damage can be heartbreaking, it’s good to know that homeowners insurance can also provide coverage should disaster strike.

Burial Insurance vs. Life Insurance

So, what is the difference between burial and life insurance? Burial insurance is just a special form of life insurance that provides a smaller death benefit payout than other traditional life policies. 

Many burial insurance policies cap coverage at $50,000. This payout is intended to be used for funerals, burial services, and other end-of-life expenses.

Life insurance policies often come with larger death benefit payouts. The death benefit can be used to cover funerals and other associated expenses, but can also be used for other purposes, such as to donate a large sum of money to a charity or alma mater, or to set aside savings for a surviving spouse or dependent. An independent insurance agent can help you choose the right kind of life insurance policy for you.

The Best Funeral and Burial Insurance Companies of 2025

Funeral and burial insurance is a separate product that's offered by many different insurance companies. We've compiled a list of some of the top funeral and burial insurance companies this year so you know exactly where to look for quality coverage at affordable rates.

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Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?

Independent insurance agents are experts in finding you the right kind of funeral and burial insurance and any other type of coverage you need. They can shop and compare policies from many different insurance companies for you, then present you with only the best quotes together in one place. Also, they're available down the road to help you file claims if you ever need to.