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// BURIAL INSURANCE
Burial Insurance in Baton Rouge
The average funeral in Louisiana costs $8,000-$12,000, and most families aren't ready for that expense. Burial insurance covers final costs with affordable monthly premiums and no medical exam for most applicants. We compare rates from multiple carriers to find the best price for your situation.
What Is Burial Insurance?
Burial insurance (also called final expense insurance) is a small whole life policy designed to cover the costs that come at the end of life. Funeral expenses, outstanding medical bills, credit card balances, legal fees. The coverage amount is typically between $5,000 and $25,000, and the death benefit goes straight to your beneficiary with no restrictions on how they use it.
The biggest difference between burial insurance and traditional life insurance is how easy it is to qualify. Most burial insurance policies use simplified underwriting, which means a short health questionnaire instead of a medical exam. Even people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease can often qualify. Premiums typically run $30-$80 a month and are locked in for life.
For people who can't qualify through simplified underwriting, guaranteed acceptance policies are available with no health questions at all. Those come with a 2-year graded benefit period and higher premiums, but they guarantee approval regardless of health.
// WHAT'S COVERED
What Burial Insurance Covers
Funeral & Burial Costs
Covers funeral home services, casket or cremation, burial plot, headstone, flowers, and everything else that comes with final arrangements. The average funeral in Louisiana runs $8,000-$12,000.
Outstanding Medical Bills
End-of-life medical care can leave behind thousands in unpaid bills. Burial insurance gives your family money to settle these debts without dipping into savings or selling assets.
Legal Fees & Probate
Even small estates can have legal costs. Burial insurance provides funds to cover probate fees, attorney costs, and other administrative expenses that come with settling affairs.
Credit Card & Small Debts
Unpaid credit card balances don't just disappear. If there's a surviving spouse or co-signer, they may be responsible. Burial insurance can cover these remaining debts.
Cash to Your Family
The death benefit is paid directly to your beneficiary with no restrictions on how they use it. They can cover expenses, take time off work, or use it however they need.
Guaranteed Acceptance Options
Some carriers offer guaranteed issue policies with no health questions at all. Premiums are higher and there's typically a 2-year waiting period, but approval is guaranteed regardless of health.
Why Get Burial Insurance Through Chabert
If you've looked into burial insurance online, you've probably been hit with ads from companies selling direct. The problem is you're only seeing one company's rates and one company's underwriting. A health condition that gets you declined by one carrier might be perfectly fine with another. Rates for the same coverage amount can vary by 30-40% between companies.
We're an independent agency in Baton Rouge, and we work with multiple life insurance carriers. When you call us, we can compare burial insurance options from several companies at once. If your health situation is complicated, we know which carriers are more lenient on specific conditions and which ones to avoid. That's the advantage of working with an independent agent instead of going direct.
We also help you figure out the right coverage amount. Most people have a general idea that funerals are expensive, but they haven't added up the actual numbers. Funeral home services, casket, burial plot, headstone, flowers, outstanding medical bills, credit card balances. We walk through it with you so you're not guessing, and you're not overpaying for coverage you don't need.
The whole process is done over the phone. No office visit, no medical exam for most applicants. Call us at (225) 395-4000 and we can usually get you a quote the same day.
Get Your Burial Insurance Quote
Or call (225) 395-4000 to talk to a local agent.
// HOW TO QUALIFY
Two Ways to Qualify for Burial Insurance
Burial insurance is designed to be easy to get, even if your health isn't perfect. There are two underwriting paths:
Simplified Issue
You answer a short health questionnaire (usually 10-15 questions) and no medical exam is required. If you qualify, your coverage starts immediately with no waiting period. This is the most common path, and many people with conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of cancer that's been in remission for several years can qualify through simplified issue.
Guaranteed Issue
No health questions at all. If you're within the carrier's age range (typically 50-85), you're approved. The trade-off is a 2-year graded benefit period. If you pass away in the first two years from natural causes, your beneficiary gets back the premiums paid plus interest instead of the full death benefit. After two years, the full benefit kicks in. Premiums are higher than simplified issue, but it's a guaranteed option for people who can't qualify any other way.
Burial Insurance FAQ
Burial insurance, also called final expense insurance, is a small whole life policy with a death benefit typically between $5,000 and $25,000. It's designed to cover funeral costs, end-of-life medical bills, and other small debts so your family doesn't have to pay out of pocket. Unlike traditional life insurance, burial insurance uses simplified underwriting, which means it's easier to qualify for.
Most people pay between $30 and $80 per month for burial insurance. Your exact rate depends on your age, health, coverage amount, and the carrier. A 60-year-old in decent health might pay $50-$60 a month for $15,000 in coverage. Premiums are fixed and never increase. We compare rates from multiple carriers to find the best price for the coverage you want. For a broader look at life insurance pricing, see our guide on how much life insurance costs in Louisiana.
In most cases, no. Simplified issue burial insurance requires you to answer a short health questionnaire but no medical exam, blood work, or doctor visits. If you have serious health conditions that prevent approval through simplified issue, guaranteed acceptance policies are available with no health questions at all. Those typically include a 2-year graded benefit period.
Burial insurance pays a lump sum to your beneficiary that can be used for anything. Most families use it for funeral and burial expenses (which average $8,000-$12,000 in Louisiana), outstanding medical bills, credit card debt, and other small financial obligations. The money goes directly to your beneficiary with no restrictions on how they spend it.
Burial insurance is a type of life insurance, specifically a small whole life policy. The difference is in size and purpose. Traditional term life and whole life policies are typically $100K-$1M+ and are meant to replace income and cover large financial obligations. Burial insurance is $5K-$25K and is designed specifically to cover final expenses. It's also much easier to qualify for because of simplified or guaranteed underwriting.
The average funeral in Louisiana costs $8,000-$12,000. Add any outstanding medical bills, credit card debt, or other small obligations you'd want covered, and that gives you a good target. Most people choose between $10,000 and $20,000 in coverage. If you want to leave a little extra for your family on top of covering expenses, $20,000-$25,000 is a reasonable range.
Still have questions? Call (225) 395-4000 or get your free quote.
Life Insurance Guides & Resources
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Related Coverage
Burial insurance is a smaller whole life policy focused on final expenses. If you're looking for larger coverage that also builds cash value over time, see whole life insurance. If you want the most affordable way to protect your family's income for a set number of years, term life insurance is worth a look. And if your main concern is keeping your family in their home, our mortgage protection insurance page explains how that works.
Give Your Family One Less Thing to Worry About
Or call us directly: (225) 395-4000