Final Expense & Burial Insurance in Georgia
When you die, you leave behind more than memories. Your loved ones, usually your spouse or adult children, are left with the task of arranging and paying for your funeral. They may also be legally required to pay any debt you left behind.
If you’re considering how your family will pay for your final expenses, know that you have options to help ease the burden. Final expense and burial insurance in Georgia is available for most ages and the application process is usually easy and affordable. Keep reading to learn more about state-specific costs and insurance rates.
The Funeral Rule
Federal law dictates basic laws surrounding burial services. Known as the Funeral Rule, these rules apply to every state and are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- Pricing – Funeral homes must quote prices for products and services over the phone if requested. In person, they must provide a general price list, a casket price list, and a burial container price list (when applicable).
- Contracts – An itemized statement of charges and estimates must be provided before a contract is signed.
- Pre-Need Funeral Plans – FTC laws do not apply to the language of pre-need contracts. They do not govern payment options, costs, modifications, transfers, cancellations, or administrative fees.
Funeral & Burial Expectations in Georgia
The funeral, burial, and/or cremation process is similar throughout the United States. In Georgia, there are a few things that are handled at the state level. This includes burial requirements, embalming and refrigeration expectations, notifying the authorities of death, and death certificate requests.
Death Certificates
The death certificate serves as proof of death and is obtained by the medical examiner’s office. Deaths should be reported in the county where it took place. The medical examiner is required to issue a death certificate within 72 hours of the event. The death certificate has to be filed within 10 days, and will be needed to apply for government benefits and the deceased person’s employer.
Embalming
Embalming is not required by state law in Georgia, and there is no time limit on how long a body may be left unburied without refrigeration or embalming. A funeral home may require it if there is a public viewing. Embalming is usually a wise choice if the funeral will not take place for several days after death.
Burial Requirements
If burial is chosen, a casket may not be required under certain circumstances. Your cemetery may require the use of a burial container, and they will often note that it must be leak-proof. If a casket is required, you don’t have to buy a one from the funeral home — you are free to buy it elsewhere, and the funeral home must use it. If you’re considering a home burial, check with your local zoning office to confirm its okay to have someone buried on your property.
Cremation Services
Cremation is a method that uses heat to burn a body down to bone fragments, which are then ground into sand-like ash. Embalming is not required, and the remains are often accepted in cemeteries, mausoleums, and churches. If you choose to scatter the ashes, you can do that on your own land or – with permission – on public property. Check with your local country before scattering ashes anywhere.
Average Funeral Costs in Georgia
Nationally, the average funeral cost is just under $9,000, but there are some slight pricing differences from state to state and even between major cities. Like any consumer-driven product, funeral costs are dependent on supply and demand, the local economy, and competition.
Funeral homes charge a basic service fee, plus the costs of the arrangements (including the memorial, burial, transportation to the cemetery, etc.). This fee includes administrative services, such as filing for the death certificate. Overhead costs are also found in this fee, which can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,195. Funeral homes do not have standard pricing, and each is free to change their costs at any time.
Funeral Costs in Georgia
| Product | Average Cost | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Basic services | $2,497 | $1,800 - $3,195 |
| Embalming | $875 | $795 - $955 |
| Transportation of remains | $342 | $225 - $460 |
| Casket | $6,232 | $2,000 - $12,400 |
| Facility/staff use | $447 | $400 - $500 |
| Direct cremation | $2,000 | $995 - $3,000 |
| Direct burial | $3,375 | $2,250 - $4,500 |
Atlanta Funeral Costs
| Service Type | Average Cost | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Cremation | $1,295 | $800 - $2,000 |
| Cremation Memorial | $3,500 | $3,250 - $3,750 |
| Full Burial | $4,200 | $4,150 - $4,250 |
Savannah Funeral Costs
| Service Type | Average Cost | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Cremation | $1,242 | $995 - $1,490 |
| Immediate Burial | $2,867 | $2,740 - $2,995 |
| Cremation Memorial | $4,340 | $3,090 - $5,590 |
| Full Burial | $6,897 | $5,185 - $8,610 |
In addition to these expenses, you will also need to consider any extras that you may want. A casket, flowers, urn, and other items are not included in the city-based price ranges listed above.
Help with Funeral Costs in Georgia
Medicare and private health insurance do not provide benefits for death services. Your employer may offer death benefits, but this is rare. In most cases, it is the family that pays for the funeral and burial. Government benefits provide a one-time payout of $255 if you have a qualifying survivor. If you are a veteran, your family may also receive something for funeral expenses, so check with your local VA office.
Other ways to pay for a funeral and other final expenses are life insurance, pre-need insurance, and final expense insurance.
Life Insurance
Life insurance comes in different forms. A whole life policy is an insurance product that builds cash value over time and, when purchased at an early age, is an affordable option for whole life coverage. Once you have the policy, your rates never go up as long as you pay the monthly premium. A term life insurance policy is secured for a set time and then expires. You are then required to re-qualify if you want to get new insurance. Term life insurance policies typically don’t build cash value the way whole life insurance does and is most valuable when you have young children or a dependent spouse.
Pre-Need Plans
A pre-need plan is an agreement between you and funeral home to carry out your final wishes. You choose the services you want, and pay for them in a lump sum or over time. Your final cost is based on the price of each service you choose (casket, memorial, cremation, etc.) at the time you buy the plan. Depending on the type of pre-need plan, your plan may adjust for any increase in price later on.
When you die, your loved ones can contact the funeral director to coordinate your funeral. The money you paid is usually not usable at any other funeral home, and your loved ones may have to pay the difference in price if costs have risen since your policy date.
Final Expense Insurance
Final expense insurance is a type of whole life insurance specifically designed to cover any end-of-life expenses you leave behind. Final expense policies aren’t tied to any specific funeral home, so they can be used anywhere and for anything your survivors need to pay for, including funeral arrangements, unpaid bills, and transporting out-of-state relatives to the funeral.
Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage® is the leading final expense life insurance policy that comes with added benefits. Members are enrolled in the Funeral Consumer Guardian Society® at no additional cost. Funeral Advantage can help save surviving loved ones thousands of dollars on their final arrangements.
Average Overall Costs/Rates for Final Expense Insurance in Georgia
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 Georgia
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists the following as the leading causes of death in Georgia:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Chronic lower respiratory disease
- Accidents
- Stroke
- Alzheimer's disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Septicemia
- Flu/pneumonia
No Exam in Georgia
Depending on the type of life insurance you buy, you may not have to take a physical exam to qualify. Term insurance policies typically require you to qualify by taking a medical exam, but final expense insurance can usually be issued without an exam. Final expense insurance is usually issued based on your answers to health questions on the application.
Free Look Period
If you’re still on the fence about purchasing final expense insurance, know that you have a legal right to examine your coverage called the free look period. In Georgia, this lasts 10 days from the day you buy a policy. This law is in place to make sure that people have the option to make a clean break from a policy they do not want or need.
How to Get Burial Insurance in Georgia
The first step is to find a provider you trust who specializes in burial insurance and has experience working with the funeral industry. Look for a plan that offers an affordable amount of coverage while allowing you to document your final wishes.
Contact Lincoln Heritage today for your free, no-obligation quote on burial insurance and see why people all over the Peach State choose Funeral Advantage™.