Final Expense and Burial Insurance in Mississippi
In 2021, the national median cost of a funeral with a burial was $9,420, including the price of a vault. The cost of cremation was $6,971. The figures come from a study conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). While funeral costs are not matching inflation rates, they are nonetheless increasing: Over the last five years, the price for a funeral with burial has risen by 6.6%, while the price for a funeral with cremation has risen by 11.3%.
The NFDA also reports the average price of funerals in each state.
This article will focus on funeral prices in Mississippi.
How to Get Burial Insurance in Mississippi
When looking for funeral insurance in Mississippi, you should first determine what you want out of an insurance policy. For instance, is it your wish to leave your loved ones enough money to pay for your funeral and any final expenses, such as your last utility bills? If that’s your wish, a final expense policy could be the perfect type of insurance for you.
Before you purchase your insurance policy, it’s important to find an insurance company that you can trust. For instance, you will likely want to do business with an insurer that has years of experience issuing policies and has a reputation that instills trust. Some major insurance companies, like Lincoln Heritage, provide help to your loved ones as they are planning your burial.
Are you ready to speak with someone to find out if burial insurance is the right policy for you? If so, contact Lincoln Heritage, and one of their knowledgeable representatives will talk to you about your options.
Funeral and Burial Expectations in Mississippi
In Mississippi, the NFDA says that the cost of a burial with service costs $7,551 and that includes $1,572 for the national average price of a vault. Included in that price are:
- A non-declinable basic services fee
- Removal and/or transfer of remains to the funeral home
- Embalming
- Other preparation of the body
- Use of the facilities and staff for the viewing
- Use of the facilities and staff for the funeral ceremony
- Use of the service car or van
- Printed materials such as the memorial package
- Vault
- Cremation fee (if the funeral home uses a third party)
- Cremation casket
- Urn
In Mississippi, a death certificate must be filed electronically with the Office of Vital Records Registration within five days of the death. The certificate must be filed by the funeral director, but if you are not using a funeral home, the person who is responsible for the deceased can file it.
The medical examiner or the deceased person’s doctor must complete the death certificate within 72 hours of the death. If the deceased died violently or unexpectantly, did not see a doctor in the 36 hours preceding their death, had a terminal illness, or were bedridden and did not see a doctor within 30 days of their death, the medical examiner must complete the death certificate.
Death Certificate
In Mississippi, a death certificate must be filed electronically with the Office of Vital Records Registration within five days of the death. The certificate must be filed by the funeral director, but if you are not using a funeral home, the person who is responsible for the deceased can file it.
The medical examiner or the deceased person’s doctor must complete the death certificate within 72 hours of the death. If the deceased died violently or unexpectantly, did not see a doctor in the 36 hours preceding their death, had a terminal illness, or were bedridden and did not see a doctor within 30 days of their death, the medical examiner must complete the death certificate.
Burial Requirements
In Mississippi, there are two instances when a body must be embalmed or refrigerated. If the deceased’s burial or cremation will not occur within 48 hours after the death, or if the body is being transported and will not reach its destination for 24 hours, the body must be embalmed..
You don’t have to bury a body in a cemetery in Mississippi, but if you want to bury it on private land, you must first establish a cemetery. To do that, you have to apply to the County Board of Supervisors or another governing body in your location. Once approved, you can create the cemetery and bury the body as long as it is not within 500 yards of a hospital.
Cremation Services
There are no laws in Mississippi about where you are allowed to scatter ashes. You may scatter them on private land or in a scattering garden. You should check with local authorities if you want to scatter them on public property to make sure there are no local laws. If you want to scatter the ashes by air, just ensure that you don’t scatter them in a way that poses potential harm to humans. And to scatter ashes by sea, you are not allowed to scatter them within three miles of the shore. You should also follow the additional rules set out by the federal Clean Water Act.
Average Funeral Costs in Mississippi
We know that the median burial with service in Mississippi is $6,979, but there are other forms of final disposition. The median price of a direct burial is $3,801, direct cremation is $2,136, and cremation with service is $5,835. When looking at these median prices, know that they can differ depending on what type of funeral you want, what extras you will include, and where you hold the funeral.
Here are the average costs of funerals in two Mississippi cities.
The average cost of a funeral in Biloxi is $6,620. The general prices in Biloxi are:
| Service | Average Cost |
| Basic services | $2,047 |
| Visitation and viewing | $234 |
| Ceremony | $460 |
| Remains transportation | $360 |
| Direct cremation | $1,455 |
| Embalming | $492 |
| Vault | $1,572 |
The average price for a funeral in Jackson is $6,629. The general prices in Jackson are:
| Service | Average Cost |
| Basic services | $2,084 |
| Visitation and viewing | $343 |
| Ceremony | $403 |
| Graveside service | $43 |
| Remains transportation | $402 |
| Direct burial | $214 |
| Direct cremation | $1,735 |
| Embalming | $833 |
| Vault | $1,572 |
The cost of funerals varies greatly in Mississippi and you should check with a local funeral home to learn about the cost in yours.
A Note About Vaults
When burying a loved one, you may have to purchase an outer grave liner called a vault. Vaults are used to protect the grave against the weight of heavy machinery used in cemeteries as well as the weight of the soil. Most cemeteries require them.
There are many types of vaults and they are all priced differently. Here are the vault opitons you will find and their average pricing.
- Basic, unlined concrete grave liner: $400 and $1,500
- Basic plastic- or steel-reinforced sealed concrete vault: $600-$2,000
- Double-reinforced vault of heavy concrete lined with plastic, porcelain enamel, or metal: $2,000-$4,000
- Premium metal burial vaults or vaults covered with a veneer of fake marble or granite: $2,000-$16,000+
- Protective urn vaults for cremains: $125-$900+
Help With Funeral Costs in Mississippi
Most people don’t have the money to pay for a funeral out of pocket when the time comes. That’s why so many people plan for their own funerals – they don’t want their loved ones to be in financial straights just to pay to bury them. If you want to arrange for your funeral expenses, there are a few ways you can do it.
Term Insurance
Term life insurance policies are the least expensive, but there is a reason for that. When a person purchases a term life insurance policy, they are only buying insurance for a specific period –usually 10 to 20 years. The downside comes when you have to renew it. You will be older at that time, and your health may be poorer, which will result in higher premiums.
Final Expense Insurance
This type of insurance policy is designed to pay for funeral expenses as well as some other final expenses such as outstanding bills. The face value of these policies is typically $20,000 or under, which is the ideal amount for these types of expenses. A final expense insurance policy, also known as burial insurance, is a whole-life policy. That means that the policy will never expire – or increase in price – as long as you pay the premiums.
Pre-need Insurance
Some people make arrangements with a funeral home while they are still alive for their funeral. They select the type of funeral they want and pay for the arrangements in advance. This takes the burden off of their loved ones. If you want to preplan and prepay for your funeral, you should first meet with a funeral director in a local funeral home. Ask them about their pre-need plans, and whether they offer guaranteed or non-guaranteed plans. You will pay more for guaranteed plans because they guarantee that, no matter what the prices are when you pass, you will get the funeral you want. When calculating your price, the funeral director will adjust the price of your funeral based on projected inflation rates.
You can also purchase a non-guaranteed plan. With this type of plan, you will prepay a certain amount and that will ensure that your loved ones have that amount to plan for your funeral when the time comes.
When exploring pre-need insurance, be sure to compare prices and plans at several local funeral homes. And be sure to ask questions such as what would happen if the funeral home went out of business or if you died in another state.
Government Assistance
The Social Security Administration provides a one-time payment of $255 to qualifying surviving spouses or children of the deceased. While this won’t pay for a funeral, the federal government does offer this one-time amount to help pay for the cost.
The state of Mississippi does not offer burial insurance, but some local counties do. To qualify, the deceased cannot have family that has assets, and if assistance is provided, they will likely pay for cremation only. People should contact the county where the deceased lived for information.
Average Overall Rates for Final Expense Insurance in Mississippi
If you think final expense insurance is the right policy for you, you probably want to know what you will pay in premiums. The best way to find out what burial insurance will cost you is to call the insurance company and get a quote. That’s because the policy premiums are based on age, sex, and health.
But you will find some example premium amounts below that will give you an idea of a typical premium amount. It’s important to note that final expense insurance face values often range from $10,000 to $20,000.
Monthly Premium Rates for Men*
| $5,000 Death Benefit | ||
| Age | Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer | No Health Questions Asked |
| 50 | $16 | $20 |
| 55 | $19 | $24 |
| 60 | $23 | $29 |
| 65 | $29 | $35 |
| 70 | $38 | $44 |
| 75 | $51 | $63 |
| 80 | $65 | $82 |
* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.
| $10,000 Death Benefit | ||
| Age | Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer | No Health Questions Asked |
| 50 | $30 | $40 |
| 55 | $35 | $46 |
| 60 | $43 | $57 |
| 65 | $56 | $68 |
| 70 | $74 | $88 |
| 75 | $100 | $125 |
| 80 | $126 | $162 |
* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.
Monthly Premium Rates for Women*
| $5,000 Death Benefit | ||
| Age | Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer | No Health Questions Asked |
| 50 | $14 | $15 |
| 55 | $16 | $18 |
| 60 | $18 | $24 |
| 65 | $22 | $28 |
| 70 | $28 | $35 |
| 75 | $38 | $46 |
| 80 | $48 | $64 |
* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.
| $10,000 Death Benefit | ||
| Age | Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer | No Health Questions Asked |
| 50 | $25 | $28 |
| 55 | $28 | $36 |
| 60 | $33 | $45 |
| 65 | $41 | $55 |
| 70 | $53 | $69 |
| 75 | $72 | $90 |
| 80 | $93 | $126 |
* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.
Leading Causes of Death in Mississippi
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading causes of death in Mississippi are:
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- COVID-19
- Accidents
- Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Influenza/Pneumonia
- Kidney Disease
No Exam in Mississippi
If you don’t want to sit for a medical exam when applying for a final expense insurance policy, you won’t have to. That’s because instead of an exam, you can simply answer a few health questions issued by the insurer.
Free Look Period
Mississippi law allows consumers a 30-day free look period when purchasing an insurance policy. A free look period is a period when you can look at your new insurance policy and decide whether or not you want to keep it. If you decide to cancel the policy within that 30 days, you will receive a full refund of any money you paid to the insurance company.