Smoking may make life insurance more expensive, but it does not mean you have to leave your family unprotected. Funeral insurance for smokers can provide a practical way to prepare for burial, cremation, and other final expenses without requiring the large coverage amounts associated with traditional life insurance.
The cost of a funeral can be a significant financial burden. The National Funeral Directors Association reported that the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial reached $8,300 in 2023. The median cost for a funeral with viewing and cremation was $6,280. Those figures can increase when cemetery expenses, flowers, memorial services, transportation, or other charges are added.
For smokers, shopping for coverage requires a little more attention because tobacco use can affect underwriting and premiums. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that cigarette smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause more than 480,000 deaths in the United States each year. Because smoking is associated with numerous health risks, insurers generally consider tobacco use when determining eligibility and pricing.
What Is Funeral Insurance for Smokers?
Funeral insurance is commonly sold as final expense or burial insurance. It is typically a smaller permanent life insurance policy designed to provide money to beneficiaries after the insured person dies.
The proceeds can potentially be used for funeral and burial costs, cremation, medical bills, credit card balances, or other final expenses. The money is generally paid to the policy's beneficiary, giving the family flexibility over how it is spent.
One major advantage for smokers is that some final expense policies have simplified underwriting. Depending on the insurer and policy, applicants may not need a traditional medical exam. Instead, the application may focus on age, tobacco use, medications, and health history.
Some insurers also offer guaranteed-issue life insurance, which may not require medical questions or an exam. However, guaranteed-issue policies generally cost more and may have a waiting period or graded death benefit, so it is important to understand the policy before buying.
Why Smokers May Consider Funeral Insurance
Funeral insurance can offer several important benefits:
- Helps cover funeral and burial expenses
- Can reduce the financial burden on loved ones
- May be available to people who have difficulty qualifying for traditional coverage
- Often requires less underwriting than fully underwritten life insurance
- Can provide permanent coverage when premiums are paid
- May help cover cremation, cemetery, medical, or other final expenses
- Provides families with a dedicated source of funds when they need it most
Consider someone like Robert, a 64-year-old smoker who has modest savings but does not want his children paying for his funeral. A properly selected final expense policy could give his family a source of funds specifically intended to help handle those expenses.
Being a smoker does not mean you have to go without protection. Request a free life insurance quote today to compare funeral insurance options for smokers and find coverage that fits your budget and your family's needs.
