The prospect of thinking about death and what happens after it is daunting; to relieve some stress it is wise to take out burial insurance. An alternative name you may find for this kind of insurance includes preneed insurance and funeral insurance. Essentially, it is designed to provide money to pay for a range of items after your death. This policy type should not be confused with burial protection insurance, which is solely for paying funeral costs.
It may surprise you, but funerals are not cheap; indeed, they are becoming more expensive each year. It is estimated that a funeral and the final expense that is associated with it, can cost as much as $10,000. Not only are there considerations such as purchasing a plot or choosing a casket, there are legal fees and outstanding debts to creditors to be paid for. By taking out burial insurance, you can receive a cash lump sum to help towards the costs of all the final expense involved when a life comes to an end.
It is usually the case that applicants for a burial insurance policy will range from the ages of 50 to 80. Interested parties will find that there are two kinds of burial insurance to opt for, namely guaranteed insurance and simplified insurance. The guaranteed policy tends to apply to those who already have a serious or potentially fatal health condition. It is common for people in these positions to struggle to qualify for the simplified policy option. Although the premiums that you are likely to pay for a guaranteed policy will be small, you may be tied in to a specified waiting period. This means that if you die before the waiting period has ended, the premiums are refunded in full. If you die outwith the waiting period, your policy will pay out the cash sum in full.
A simplified policy is for those who are in good health and want to start planning for their death before it is too late. Again, you will make regular payments, but they may not be as much as those of a guaranteed policy as you have a predicted longer life span. In any case, whatever happens after the policy is taken, you will receive the funds.
Applying for burial insurance is generally an easy and speedy affair which requires you to fill in a small application form. Some of the insurers may wish to follow up the application with a telephone call but it is unlikely that you will have to answer too many health related questions unless a waiting period is likely to be enforced.
Once you have taken out burial insurance an in the event of your death, the insurer will release a lump sum payment to any surviving spouse or children. Tax may become an issue if the payment is to go to your children; it may be worthwhile thinking about putting the policy in trust to avoid such issues. Joint burial insurance policies are available but it is worth remembering that the insurer will only make a payment for the first death and none for the second.
The regular premiums that you pay for burial insurance are unlikely to be changed through the course of having the plan. It is also highly likely that the amount you will receive upon death will remain the same and will not decrease. A policy can only be cancelled by an insurer if the premiums are not met or if they have a reason to believe that the policy is fraudulent.
You can find out more information or set up a burial insurance policy from a financial expert who will lead you through the process. If you prefer, there are many insurers that specialize in this kind of final expense preparation on the internet.
