Begin with the kind of service you want
The simplest way to pick a face amount is to start with the service you or your family would want. Burial and cremation cost different amounts, and so do choices like a viewing, a casket or a memorial gathering. Write down your wishes first, then put rough numbers next to them.
For reference, the National Funeral Directors Association's 2023 General Price List Study found a national median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial, and $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation. Those medians don't include cemetery, plot, monument or marker costs. They are national figures, not Arkansas prices.
Add the costs a funeral bill leaves out
A funeral home's bill is only part of what a family pays. When you build your number, think about costs that often come later or from other places.
- A cemetery plot, opening and closing of the grave, or a niche for cremated remains.
- A headstone, monument or grave marker.
- Flowers, an obituary, and a meal or gathering after the service.
- Travel for family members coming from out of town.
- Final bills such as a last medical bill, utilities or a credit card balance.
Talk to a licensed agent: (949) 807-3995
Match the amount to a premium you can keep
Final expense face amounts usually run from a few thousand dollars up to about $50,000, depending on the insurer, your age and your state. A larger amount means a larger premium, so the right number is one that covers what matters most and that you can keep paying. Coverage stays in force only as long as premiums are paid.
Premiums are usually level, so what you agree to at the start is what you keep paying. Your age, health and tobacco use matter most. Many insurers also check prescription history and ask about conditions in the last 2 to 5 years, and those answers decide whether a level, graded or guaranteed issue plan fits. Graded plans reduce the benefit for natural death in the first two or three years, and guaranteed issue plans usually pay a limited benefit for natural death in the first two years.
Getting quotes for different amounts
A helpful way to use the call is to ask for two or three amounts at once. The agent asks your age, tobacco use and health questions, then compares quotes from several insurers so you can hear how the price changes between a smaller and a larger face amount. If one feels right, you can apply by phone. The quote is free, and there is no obligation to buy anything.
Because Eterna is an independent insurance agency, its licensed agents can show Arkansas residents how the same face amount is priced by several insurers. Plans, prices and availability vary by state, insurer, age and health, and whichever insurer you choose issues the policy. Agents take calls Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Central time.
If you want to confirm an agent is licensed, the Arkansas Insurance Department at https://insurance.arkansas.gov/ is the place to check. It licenses agents, regulates insurers and answers consumer questions.
