How long is funeral cover in place?

Key takeaways

  • Funeral cover can be in place only for a period, such as until your retirement, or for life.
  • Taking out new cover at a higher age is expensive.
  • If your cover is in place for life, but your premiums are only paid to a certain age, your premiums will be higher than if you did not enjoy this benefit.


When you compare funeral policies, check for how long the cover is in place.

Some life companies insure you for your whole lifetime as long as you keep paying your premiums. Other companies offer a limited-term policy that may last, for example, 15 years. Such a policy should cost less because your cover will end if you survive the term.

If you still want cover when the term expires, you will have to take out a new policy, which is likely to be much more expensive because you will be older.

Some insurers offer you cover for the whole of your life, but stop charging you premiums at age 65 or 85. This could be a valuable benefit when you are older and living on a pension lower than what you earned while you were working. Remember that this valuable benefit will mean a higher premium when you are younger.