Scan to download the Finder app on iOS or Android
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
If you purchase a family policy, you can also get as much as 20% off your premiums when other family members purchase additional policies. Children under 21 can sometimes be bundled onto a policy as well.
The key features of funeral insurance include:
If a family member such as an elderly parent is unable to apply for funeral insurance themselves, it is possible to take out a policy on their behalf. You can even pay their premiums for them if they do not have the means to do so. As long as their name is on the policy as the insured person, they will be the policy owner and the cover will apply to their funeral expenses, regardless of who pays the premiums.
Discussing funeral insurance with a sick or elderly family member can be awkward and how you go about it will depend on your individual situation and how your family normally deals with sensitive issues.
The costs of a funeral can be substantial. The price of a basic cremation is around $4,000 and if you choose to be buried, costs escalate from there including the cost of a funeral director, funeral service, casket, burial plot, grave stone, flowers, transportation, after-service catering, newspaper notices and death certificate.
Yes, you can get funeral insurance for this reason. One of the advantages of funeral insurance is that no medical checks are usually required in order to obtain cover. Once you reach a certain age however, this may not be the case and obtaining cover can become more difficult. The typical eligible age range is 45 to 70 years old, although this varies with insurers and someone up to the age of 80 may still be able to get cover, subject to medical assessment.
If someone has a pre-existing medical condition (one that developed before taking out the policy), most insurers will not pay the benefit if they die from that condition, unless it was disclosed at the time of taking out the policy and the insurer had agreed to cover it.
Most insurers will also not pay a benefit if the insured passes away due to illness or develops a terminal illness from before or within the first 12 months of the policy’s life. A terminal illness is a diagnosed illness where life expectancy is not greater than 12 months, regardless of available treatments.
Nevertheless, many insurers will refund the premiums paid in such circumstances and there are now those who offer an early payment option for terminal illnesses (providing they aren’t pre-existing), so it pays to shop around for the policy that best suits your family member’s circumstances.
The best way to compare funeral insurance policies is to use an online comparison site such as finder.com.au. This will allow you to compare quotes from various insurers, read product reviews, learn the traps to avoid. Some things you should look out for include:
Compare funeral insurance quotes
Picture: Shutterstock
Maurice Thach is a publisher at Finder who covers anything that sounds hard to compare. This includes life insurance policies, side hustle ideas and energy plans. Maurice has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, a Tier 2 General Insurance certification and a Tier 1 Life Insurance certification. Outside of work, you'll probably find Maurice hitting up the nearest basketball court.
Planning for future funeral expenses? Find out what plans are available in Australia.
Find out if you need life insurance or funeral insurance and what the major differences are.
We took a look at a popular brand's funeral insurance product to see how much it might cost.
Find out why online funeral streaming is a reality for people with family scattered throughout the world.
If you're a pensioner and are planning your funeral expenses, then you should consider getting a funeral insurance policy.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money here.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
The estimate amount of income protection you need is
Close
I would like to take out a policy but not for myself for my mother am I able to do so ?
Hi Chaney,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
Yes, it is possible for you to buy a funeral policy for your Mother and you can even pay for the premium of the policy. As long as her name is listed as the insured person, she will be the policy owner and will receive all the benefits covered by the policy.
Before taking any insurance policy, please carefully read through relevant documents like the policy terms and conditions to see if the product best suits your needs.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse