Cost, Underwriting & Eligibility
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward
What you pay for final expense insurance depends on your age, health, tobacco use, the coverage amount, and the policy type. This hub covers pricing, medical-exam vs no-exam options, guaranteed and simplified issue, graded death benefits, and whether you can be denied.
What drives the price
Premiums rise with age and coverage amount; tobacco use and health history also affect the rate. Whole-life final expense premiums are typically level and do not increase once the policy is in force.
No-exam options
Guaranteed issue and simplified issue policies skip the medical exam, which helps applicants with health conditions qualify, usually in exchange for a graded death benefit in the first two years.
Answers in this topic
- What is a graded death benefit and how does the 2-year waiting period work?
- What is guaranteed issue final expense insurance and how does it work?
- What is simplified issue final expense insurance?
- Can I be denied final expense insurance?
- Do final expense insurance premiums ever go up?
- Does final expense insurance require a medical exam?
- How much does final expense insurance cost by age?
Questions
- Can my premium go up later?
- With level whole-life final expense insurance the premium is fixed for life; only certain term or graded products change over time.
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Last verified: 2026-07-24