Final Expense and Burial Insurance in Nevada
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 Nevada.
How to Get Burial Insurance in Nevada
If you’re ready to guarantee that your final expenses are covered when you pass, there are a few steps you should take. For starters, it’s important to look for an insurance provider that has been in business for years and has built a reputation of trust. Next, you should contact that provider and ask for a quote. Decided whether you will undergo a medical exam or ask for no-medical-exam insurance coverage.
To speak to a representative at Lincoln Heritage, one of the most trusted insurers in the country, contact us today. Learn how we can help you get the peace of knowing that you have planned so your loved ones aren’t negatively affected financially.
Funeral and Burial Expectations in Nevada
According to the NFDA, the median cost of a funeral in Nevada is $9,478 and that includes the national average cost of a vault at $1,572. But those costs can vary depending on which city you live in. In fact, the costs can range from $3,120 to $12,145, depending on the type of services and the extras involved.
The $9,413 figure includes these basic services:
- 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
- Vault
- Use of the service car or van
- Printed materials such as a memorial package
- Cremation fee (if the funeral home uses a third party)
- Cremation casket
- Urn
As you can see, the average cost does not take into account things like flower arrangements, memorial services, or tombstones.
Death Certificate
In Nevada, the funeral home director completes the death certificate with help from the attending physician and family of the deceased. Then, the mortuary, crematory, or another person in charge of the deceased remains is required to submit a death certificate to the local registrar within 72 hours after the date of the discovery of the death.
Nevada limits the people who can get a copy of a death certificate to family, representatives of the family, the deceased person’s guardian, and anyone who needs it to facilitate a legal process. The easiest way to get a copy of a death certificate is to ask the person who is responsible for filing it for copies. If you need a copy of a death certificate after the immediate time of death, contact the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services online or in person.
Embalming
Unlike a lot of other states, Nevada has strict rules when it comes to embalming. The state requires that bodies must be embalmed if the death is a result of a communicable disease or before it is transported in any way.
If the deceased does not fall into those two categories, the funeral home must provide a 72-hour window before they require a body to be embalmed as long as there is no objection by the family or someone who is in charge of the final disposition of the body.
Burial Requirements
Nevada law does not require a casket for burials or cremation. But keep in mind that individual cemeteries may require caskets. The law states that crematories must inform you that you can use an alternative container for ashes instead of the urns that they offer.
Nevada law requires funeral directors to obtain a burial permit before a burial can occur. If a county has a population of less than 5,000, someone can apply for a family burial plot on private land by contacting the county commissioner.
Cremation Services
Nevada’s laws about scattering ashes are the same as most states. You are allowed to scatter ashes in a scattering garden or private land without any restrictions. If you want to scatter ashes on public land, contact the local authorities to find out if there are any restrictions. The Clean Water Act requires you to scatter ashes at least three miles from the shoreline.
Average Funeral Costs in Nevada
While the median cost of a funeral in Nevada is $8,906, the price you pay will depend on location. Here are some examples of the cost of funerals in cities in Nevada.
The average cost of a funeral in Las Vegas is $9,310. Here’s how it breaks down. The figures are based on a $1,500 casket.
| Service | Average Cost |
| Basic services | $2,121 |
| Visitation and viewing | $337 |
| Ceremony | $561 |
| Graveside service | $433 |
| Remains transportation | $380 |
| Direct burial | $1,642 |
| Direct cremation | $1,594 |
| Embalming | $670 |
| Vault | $1,572 |
The average cost of a funeral in Sun Valley is $6,167. The prices below are also based on an assumption of a $1,500 casket.
| Service | Average Cost |
| Basic services | $1,830 |
| Visitation and viewing | $297 |
| Ceremony | $488 |
| Remains transportation | $369 |
| Direct cremation | $1,111 |
| Embalming | $500 |
| Vault | $1,572 |
A Note About Vaults
Vaults are outer grave liners and their purpose is to prevent heavy machinery or soil from causing a collapse in the soil surrounding the grave. Just as with other funeral and burial expenses, the price you pay for a vault depends on the type you choose. As most cemeteries require vaults these days, we’ve listed the options you will have when choosing a vault and the price you can expect to pay for it.
Typical costs:
- 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 Nevada
With the rising cost of funerals, it makes sense to look for all the help you can get if you need help covering the costs of a funeral. Here are some ways people pay for funerals.
Term Insurance
Term life insurance is the least expensive type of life insurance – and for good reason. These policies are only good for a set term. For instance, if someone takes out a term life insurance policy when they are 60, the policy will expire when they are 70. That person would have to apply for a new policy, and their increased age and a possible decline in health would likely result in higher premiums.
Final Expense Insurance
When most people purchase insurance policies, they buy whole life insurance because they want the peace of mind that as long as they pay the premiums, their coverage will never expire or go up. Final expense insurance – also known as burial insurance or funeral insurance – is a type of whole-life policy.
Pre-need Insurance
If you are a planner, a pre-need plan may be the right insurance for you. Keep in mind, however, that it does come with a few disadvantages. Pre-need plans are offered by funeral homes. To purchase one, you work directly with the funeral director to plan for your funeral. The director would give you the cost and you would pay for it upfront.
You can purchase these plans with a guarantee that your funeral will go exactly as planned, even if prices go up. For this type of guarantee, you pay a premium. Or, you can purchase a non-guaranteed plan meaning that your loved ones would arrange your funeral based on the amount of the plan, not by prearranged services.
By purchasing one of the plans, you take the risk that the funeral home will go out of business or be taken over by a new owner. Be sure to ask questions about what would happen if these things occurred before your passing.
Government Assistance
At times, loved ones simply do not have the funds to pay for a funeral. In these cases, the government may be able to help. For instance, a surviving spouse or dependent child may qualify for a one-time payout of $255 administered by the Social Security Administration.
Nevada does not have a state-wide funeral assistance program, but you can contact your county to find out if any aid is offered. Of the counties in Nevada that do assist, most offer direct cremation.
Average Overall Rates for Final Expense Insurance in Nevada
When considering final expense insurance, the first thing you should do is think about what kind of payout you want. Perhaps you want to leave behind enough for your loved ones to pay for your burial and outstanding final expenses such as utility bills. Or maybe you want to leave behind enough to pay for all of that – plus a little something extra.
Final expense insurance policies typically range from $10,000 to $20,000. It is possible to find policies with a higher payout, but the premiums may make it cost-prohibitive.
The premiums you will pay for burial insurance depend on your age, sex, health, and lifestyle. Following are some rate charts that show the amount you could pay for your policy.
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 Nevada
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publish the leading causes of death for each state. In Nevada, the top ten causes of death are:
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- COVID-19
- Accidents
- Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Diabetes
- Suicide
- Chronic Liver Disease/Cirrhosis
No Exam in Nevada
If you don’t want to go through a medical exam when applying for your burial insurance, you may not have to. Some insurance companies offer what’s known as no medical exam insurance. Oftentimes, you can find final expense insurance policies that offer this choice. Instead of undergoing a medical exam, you will simply be asked a few medical questions.
Free Look Period
According to Nevada law, consumers are allowed a free look period of at least 30 days to decide whether or not they want to keep their insurance policy. If, after looking at your policy, you decide you don’t want it, the insurer is required to refund your money in full as long as it’s within 30 days and no benefits have been provided.