10 Best Final Expense and Burial Expense Insurance Companies

The best final expense insurance companies combine easy qualification with real financial strength: Gerber Life (A+ rated, guaranteed acceptance ages 50–80), Corebridge (formerly AIG, guaranteed issue to $25,000), Mutual-structured Assurity, Transamerica (coverage from $1,000), and American Amicable. With the median funeral now costing $8,300, most shoppers need $10,000–$25,000 of coverage.

In this article, we take a look at some of the best final expense insurance and burial insurance companies in the industry and how these companies’ policies can be effectively utilized to help keep your family secure.

The life insurance industry is one that is incredibly expensive, and it has been estimated that more than half of Americans have at least some sort of life insurance coverage. However, within an industry this large, there are naturally many different types of life insurance coverages to choose from. While some individuals look for broad term or universal policies that have multi-million dollar death benefits, others look for a policy that is much more basic and affordable.

The final expense and burial insurance policies are designed to help remove the financial burden that death can have upon a family. By paying just a few dollars each month, the costs of a funeral and burial can be effectively paid for. Some final expense insurance companies will also cover end-of-life medical expenses.

Best Final Expense Insurance and Burial Insurance Companies

Sagicor

Sagicor remains a strong simplified-issue carrier, though its product shelf has turned over: the Sage NLUL policy this entry originally described no longer appears in Sagicor’s marketed lineup, which now centers on term, indexed universal life, and whole life with accelerated underwriting — confirm the current simplified-issue option with the carrier before quoting (AM Best, 2026)^². Sagicor is an excellent choice for people looking for an affordable and best final expense insurance company because of its various health classes. The financial story improved outright: AM Best upgraded Sagicor Life to A (Excellent) from A- in July 2026, following parent Sagicor Financial’s 2023 acquisition of Canadian insurer ivari (AM Best, 2026)^².

Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG)

Corebridge Financial — the company AIG’s life insurance business became after the 2022 spinoff, with policies still issued by American General Life — carries one of the most recognized lineages in the industry, and its direct-to-consumer arm now operates as Corebridge Direct. Its (NerdWallet, 2026)^³ Guaranteed Issue Whole Life policy is available for individuals 50–80 (NerdWallet, 2026)^³ years old and offers between $5,000 and $25,000 in coverage. Having a terminal and chronic illness benefit is one of many reasons this policy is quite popular.

Fidelity Life

Fidelity Life’s RAPIDecision family has been restructured into a menu that maps neatly onto final-expense needs: RAPIDecision Senior Term (ages 50–70), RAPIDecision Senior Whole Life (ages 50–85), RAPIDecision Final Expense (coverage up to $35,000), and a guaranteed-issue option up to $25,000 (Ethos, 2026)^⁵. The company changed hands too — its parent Vericity was acquired by iA Financial Group in June 2024 — and AM Best affirmed its A- (Excellent) rating and revised the outlook to positive in October 2025 (AM Best, 2025)^⁴.

Gerber Life

Gerber’s Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance policy is available for almost all individuals between 50 and 80 years old. It offers between $5,000 and $25,000 in benefits and also features a cash value that grows over time (Gerber Life)^⁷. Two updates strengthen this entry: AM Best upgraded Gerber Life to A+ (Superior) in February 2024 — now the highest-rated guaranteed-acceptance carrier on this list — and its two-year graded benefit pays 110% of premiums if death from natural causes occurs in the first two years. Gerber Life is owned by Western & Southern Financial Group (AM Best, 2024)^⁶ (Gerber Life)^⁷.

Transamerica

Headquartered in Baltimore (the San Francisco Pyramid days are long past), Transamerica offers an incredibly wide range of insurance products. Its final expense coverage now comes as three whole life policies — Immediate Solution and 10-Pay Solution (issue ages 0–85) and the simplified Easy Solution (ages 18–80) — with coverage starting at $1,000 and age-banded maximums: $50,000 through age 55, stepping down to $25,000 at ages 76–85 (New Horizons)^⁸. It is an excellent option for individuals looking for a final expense policy that is somewhat flexible.

United Home Life

United Home Life’s final expense lineup now runs through its Express Issue simplified-issue whole life series plus a guaranteed-issue whole life option, sold in 45 states — the old $5,000–$100,000 banding no longer matches published materials, so confirm current limits with the carrier. The stronger update is financial: AM Best upgraded United Home Life to A (Excellent) from A- in May 2023 (AM Best, 2023)^⁹. Combined with accelerated benefits, this policy → lineup is one that can be very useful for individuals whose late in life expenses are expected to be above average.

Liberty Bankers Life

One of the best features of  Liberty Bankers’ Modified Whole Life policy is that the cash value portion of the policy grows at a relatively high rate. The lineup has grown well past the old description: the SIMPL Final Expense plan now anchors the shelf alongside Modified Whole Life, with issue ages 18–80 and face amounts from $3,000 up to $40,000 — double the cap this entry originally cited. The modified policy still uses a three-year structure (return of premiums plus 10% in years one through three, full benefit from year four). AM Best rates Liberty Bankers A- (Excellent) (Choice Mutual)^¹⁰.

American Amicable

Though the long name of American Amicable is the American Amicable Life Insurance Company of Texas, its policies are available to individuals living in every state. The Golden Solution Whole Life Insurance policy features a cash value, accelerated rider benefit, and is available in either an “immediate” or a “graded” form. While the immediate payout is good for up to $35,000, the graded payout is good for up to $20,000 (Empower Brokerage)^¹¹. In general, this policy is considered to be quite flexible. This is the one entry on the original list that survives verification essentially intact — same product, same tiers (immediate to $35,000 through age 75; $20,000 at 76–85), with the carrier rated A (Excellent) and owned by iA Financial Group since 2010 (Empower Brokerage)^¹¹.

Assurity

Assurity retired the LifeScape simplified whole life this entry described and replaced it in April 2025 with a redesigned participating Whole Life (Protect+ and Perform+), with face amounts starting at $10,000 and issue ages from 15 days to 85 — a broader product that still fills the final-expense role at its lower face amounts (Assurity, 2025)^¹². For people with moderate health conditions, Assurity is a great option when buying a permanent final expense policy or burial insurance policy — and as a mutual insurer and Certified B Corporation rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best, it brings an ownership structure the rest of this list mostly lacks.

Phoenix (Removed — brand retired; no final expense products sold)

The Phoenix Companies were acquired by Nassau Re in 2016 and the Phoenix brand was retired in the rebrand to Nassau Financial Group. Nassau today sells annuities and Medicare Supplement coverage — not final expense life insurance — and services in-force Phoenix life policies; its insurance subsidiaries carry a B++ (Good) rating from AM Best, below the standard for a best-of list. Remembrance Life is not sold under any brand today (AM Best, 2025)^¹³.

The Bottom Line

Different variables such as your age, health, and the amount of coverage you are applying for effect the monthly premiums you pay for a given end of the life insurance policy. Comparing different final expense insurance companies and identifying which policies can cater to your specific need will help you plan for the future and provide your family with the financial protection they deserve.

Talk to an Independent Life Insurance Agent

There is no one best final expense insurance company. Every individual has a different set of preferences. A company that is best for one is not necessarily best for the other. Discussing your options with an independent life insurance agent really helps. They will give you an unbiased opinion, one that is best for you and your family.

At LifeQuote, our goal is to help you secure the coverage that is necessary for your family so that you continue living your life with peace of mind

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does final expense insurance cover?

Typically $2,000 to $50,000, with most policies sold between $10,000 and $25,000 — sized to the real cost of dying: the median funeral with viewing and burial runs $8,300, plus cemetery, medical, and legal costs that commonly push the total well past $10,000 (NFDA, 2023)^¹.

What’s the difference between guaranteed issue and simplified issue?

Simplified issue asks health questions but requires no exam, and pays the full benefit from day one if you qualify. Guaranteed issue asks nothing — acceptance is automatic within the age band — but costs more per dollar of coverage and carries a graded period, typically two years, during which natural-cause death pays a refund of premiums plus interest rather than the face amount.

Who has the best guaranteed acceptance life insurance?

Gerber Life is the strongest-rated option on this list — A+ (Superior) from AM Best since February 2024, guaranteed acceptance at ages 50–80 for $5,000–$25,000 — with Corebridge’s guaranteed issue whole life (ages 50–80, also to $25,000) the closest comparable (AM Best, 2024)^⁶ (NerdWallet, 2026)^³.

Does AARP offer final expense insurance?

Effectively yes — the AARP program, issued exclusively by New York Life, includes a guaranteed-acceptance whole life policy up to $30,000 for members, which functions as final expense coverage. It’s worth comparing against the carriers above, since guaranteed acceptance usually costs more than simplified issue for anyone healthy enough to answer a few questions.

What happened to Phoenix life insurance?

Phoenix was acquired by Nassau Re in 2016 and the brand was retired under Nassau Financial Group. Existing Phoenix policies are still serviced by Nassau, but no Phoenix-branded or Remembrance Life final expense product is sold today (AM Best, 2025)^¹³.

References

1. National Funeral Directors Association. Media Center statistics — 2023 General Price List Study ($8,300 median funeral with viewing and burial; $6,280 with cremation). https://www.nfda.org/media-center/

2. AM Best. “AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. and Most of Its Subsidiaries” — Sagicor Life to A (Excellent). July 16, 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260716708555/en/AM-Best-Upgrades-Credit-Ratings-of-Sagicor-Financial-Company-Ltd.-and-Most-of-Its-Subsidiaries

3. NerdWallet. “AIG Life Insurance Review” — Corebridge guaranteed issue whole life: ages 50–80, $5,000–$25,000; AIG Direct renamed Corebridge Direct. February 2026. https://www.nerdwallet.com/p/reviews/insurance/aig-life-insurance

4. AM Best. “AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for Fidelity Life Association” — A- (Excellent); parent Vericity acquired by iA Financial June 2024. October 10, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251010916181/en/AM-Best-Revises-Outlooks-to-Positive-for-Fidelity-Life-Association-A-Legal-Reserve-Life-Insurance-Company

5. Ethos. “Fidelity Life Insurance Review” — current RAPIDecision lineup. November 2026. https://www.ethos.com/life-insurance/fidelity-life-insurance-review/

6. AM Best. “AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Gerber Life Insurance Company” — to A+ (Superior). February 7, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240207101787/en/AM-Best-Upgrades-Credit-Ratings-of-Gerber-Life-Insurance-Company-Affirms-Credit-Ratings-of-Certain-Western-Southern-Financial-Group-Inc.%E2%80%99s-Subsidiaries

7. Gerber Life. “Guaranteed Life Insurance” product page — ages 50–80, $5,000–$25,000, two-year graded benefit. https://www.gerberlife.com/gl/view/guide_products/guar_life/index.jsp

8. New Horizons Insurance Marketing. “Transamerica Final Expense” — Immediate Solution, 10-Pay Solution, and Easy Solution product specifications. https://www.newhorizonsmktg.com/final-expense/transamerica

9. AM Best. “AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of United Home Life Insurance Company” — to A (Excellent). May 19, 2023. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230519005355/en/AM-Best-Upgrades-Credit-Ratings-of-United-Home-Life-Insurance-Company-Affirms-Credit-Ratings-of-United-Farm-Family-Life-Insurance-Company

10. Choice Mutual. Liberty Bankers Life final expense review — issue ages 18–80, face amounts $3,000–$40,000; AM Best A- (Excellent). https://choicemutual.com/?p=261

11. Empower Brokerage. “American Amicable Products at a Glance” — Golden Solution issue ages and face-amount tiers. https://www.empowerbrokerage.com/downloads/Carriers/American-Amicable/American-Amicable-Products-at-a-Glance.pdf

12. Assurity. “Assurity Releases Innovative New Whole Life” — Protect+ and Perform+ replace the prior whole life lineup; face amounts from $10,000. April 23, 2025. https://assurity.com/news/assurity-releases-innovative-new-whole-life-with-robust-customizable-coverage

13. AM Best. “AM Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Ratings of Nassau Financial Group L.P. Operating Insurance Subsidiaries” — FSR B++ (Good); Nassau acquired and retired the Phoenix brand. February 13, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250213676470/en/AM-Best-Upgrades-Issuer-Credit-Ratings-of-Nassau-Financial-Group-L.P.-Operating-Insurance-Subsidiaries