Funeral Insurance
September 25, 2026
Burial Insurance Companies: How the Top Carriers Compare in 2026
Burial insurance companies worth comparing in 2026 include Mutual of Omaha, Gerber Life, Colonial Penn, Corebridge and AARP through New York Life, with no-exam cover of up to $25,000 to $30,000 for ages 45 or 50 to 80 or 85. Compare what each pays for a natural death in the first two years, plus its AM Best rating, before price.
Leading burial insurance companies include Mutual of Omaha, Gerber Life, Colonial Penn, Corebridge, New York Life (AARP) and Globe Life. Here is how their ages, coverage, waiting periods and ratings compare in 2026.
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The best known burial insurance companies in 2026 include Mutual of Omaha, Gerber Life, Colonial Penn, Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG), Globe Life and New York Life, which issues the AARP plan. Most sell small whole life policies of a few thousand dollars up to $25,000 to $50,000, with fixed premiums and no medical exam. The real differences are in who they accept, what they pay in the first two years, and how strong the company is financially. Here is how to compare them without a sales pitch.
This table uses each company's own published details for its no-exam burial or final expense product, checked in September 2026. Terms vary by state, so always confirm on your quote.
| Company and plan | Issue ages | Coverage | Natural death in years 1 and 2 | AM Best rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual of Omaha Guaranteed Whole Life | 45 to 85 | $2,000 to $25,000 | Premiums paid plus 10% | A+ (Superior) |
| Gerber Life Guaranteed Life | 50 to 80 | $5,000 to $25,000 | 110% of premiums paid | A+ (Superior) |
| Colonial Penn Guaranteed Acceptance | 50 to 85 in most states | Sold in units from $9.95 a month | Premiums paid plus 7% interest | A (Excellent) |
| Corebridge Guaranteed Issue Whole Life | 50 to 80 | $5,000 to $25,000 | 110% to 120% of premiums paid | A (American General Life) |
| AARP Guaranteed Acceptance (New York Life) | 50 to 85 for members | Up to $30,000 (some states $25,000) | 110% of premiums paid | A++ (New York Life) |
| Globe Life Adult Whole Life | Varies by state | $5,000 to $50,000 | States no waiting period | A (Excellent) |
Every guaranteed issue plan in this table pays the full benefit for an accidental death from day one. The two-year limit applies to deaths from illness or natural causes, which is the trade you make for skipping health questions. Our guide to guaranteed issue life insurance explains that waiting period in more detail.
Mutual of Omaha offers two routes. Its Guaranteed Whole Life plan accepts ages 45 to 85 (50 to 75 in New York) with no health questions, for $2,000 to $25,000 of cover. If you can answer a few health questions, its Living Promise plan offers a level benefit version up to $50,000 for ages 45 to 85. The company states its premiums never increase, and it holds an A+ (Superior) rating from AM Best, which AM Best affirmed in March 2025.
Most people know Gerber for baby food, but Gerber Life sells a Guaranteed Life Insurance policy for ages 50 to 80 (up to 75 in New York). Coverage runs from $5,000 to $25,000 in $1,000 steps, capped at $15,000 in South Dakota, and the product is not sold in Montana. A natural death in the first two years pays 110% of the premiums paid. Gerber Life says AM Best rated it A+ (Superior), most recently in March 2025.
Colonial Penn is the company from the TV ads promising cover for $9.95 a month. Its Guaranteed Acceptance Whole Life plan takes ages 50 to 85 in most states with no health questions. The catch is that you buy it in units, and Colonial Penn says the dollar value of each unit depends on your age, sex and state. For an older buyer, one unit can buy a surprisingly small benefit, so always ask for the exact face amount in dollars. In the first two years, a natural death returns premiums paid plus 7% interest. Its parent company, CNO Financial Group, lists Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company as rated A (Excellent) by AM Best.
Corebridge Direct sells Guaranteed Issue Whole Life for ages 50 to 80, from $5,000 to $25,000, through American General Life Insurance Company. It asks no health questions. A natural death in the first two years pays 110% to 120% of premiums paid. Corebridge publishes sample rates starting at $22 a month for a 50 year old woman and $32 a month for a 50 year old man with $5,000 of cover. American General Life is rated A by AM Best.
The AARP Guaranteed Acceptance Life plan is issued by New York Life. It is open to AARP members aged 50 to 85 and their spouses or partners aged 45 to 85, with up to $30,000 of cover in most states and $25,000 in a few. There are no health questions, and New York Life says rates are guaranteed never to increase. New York Life holds an A++ rating from AM Best, the top grade on the scale. For the full picture, read our AARP burial insurance review.
Globe Life sells adult whole life in set amounts from $5,000 to $50,000 with a simple application and no medical exam. It advertises no waiting period and rates that are locked for life, and says it is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best. Because it is not a guaranteed issue plan, answer every application question carefully and truthfully. Globe Life also sells term policies whose premiums rise every five years, so check that your quote is for whole life.
Once you strip away the advertising, five things decide whether a carrier is a good fit.
These checks are quick, and they protect your family from the worst surprises.
Burial insurance often pays within a few days once the claim is approved, and some carriers pay in 24 to 72 hours. Deaths in the first two years can take longer, because the insurer may review the application during its contestability or graded period. No insurer guarantees a timeline. Traditional life insurance usually takes 14 to 60 days, as we cover in how long life insurance takes to pay out.
To speed things up, your beneficiary will need the policy number, a certified death certificate and a completed claim form. Keep the policy details somewhere your family can find them, and name a backup beneficiary.
We cover more of these pitfalls in 8 funeral insurance mistakes families make, and you can check typical premiums by age in our 2026 funeral insurance cost guide.
There is no single best burial insurance company, because the right carrier depends on your age, health and budget. Healthy applicants usually get more for their money from a simplified issue plan, while people with serious health conditions may need a guaranteed issue plan from a strongly rated insurer such as Mutual of Omaha, Gerber Life or New York Life.
Mutual of Omaha, Colonial Penn and the AARP plan from New York Life accept guaranteed issue applicants up to age 85 in most states. Gerber Life and Corebridge stop at 80. State rules can lower these limits, for example to 75 in New York.
Guaranteed issue plans pay the full benefit right away only for accidental death. For a natural death in the first two years, they usually refund premiums plus 7% to 20%, depending on the carrier. Simplified issue plans with a level benefit can pay in full from the first day.
Check that the company and agent are licensed with your state insurance department, then look up the insurer on the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search. Also confirm its AM Best rating and complaint record before you pay a first premium.
Burial insurance often pays within a few days once the claim is approved, and some carriers pay in 24 to 72 hours. Claims for deaths in the first two years can take longer while the insurer reviews the policy.
Comparing carriers is hard when you are also worried about a parent or your own health. Titan Concierge can walk you through your options in plain English. Our Titan 360 funeral insurance plan combines final expense or whole life coverage with locked-in casket or urn pricing, 24/7 funeral concierge guidance and planning tools, all in one policy. Call us at (501) 204-6246 to talk it through, with no pressure.