Burial Insurance and COVID-19: What You Need to Know (2026)

Many people wonder whether COVID-19 affects their ability to get burial insurance, or whether a COVID-related death would be covered. The short answers are reassuring: burial insurance covers death from COVID-19 like any other illness, and having had COVID rarely prevents you from getting covered. Here is what you need to know.

Does burial insurance cover COVID-19 deaths?

Yes. Burial insurance is whole life insurance, and it covers death from any natural cause — including COVID-19 and its complications. On a level (day-one) plan, a death from COVID is paid in full, the same as a death from heart disease, cancer, or any other illness.

If you are on a graded or guaranteed-issue plan during its initial waiting period, a natural-cause death (including COVID) would result in a refund of premiums plus interest rather than the full benefit — but that is true of all natural causes during that window, not COVID specifically.

Can you get burial insurance if you had COVID-19?

In almost all cases, yes. Having recovered from COVID-19 does not prevent you from getting burial insurance. Most carriers treat a past, resolved COVID infection like any other recovered illness — it rarely affects your eligibility or rate.

Where carriers pay closer attention is to active or recent COVID, hospitalization, or lingering complications. If you currently have COVID or are recovering from a serious case, a carrier may ask you to wait until you have recovered before applying for a day-one plan — but a guaranteed-issue plan remains available in the meantime.

What carriers may ask

Because there is no medical exam, your application is based on health questions. Related to COVID and your overall health, a carrier may ask:

• ✓Do you currently have COVID-19 or symptoms?
• ✓Have you been hospitalized recently for COVID or breathing problems?
• ✓Do you have lingering complications, such as lung or heart issues?
• ✓What other health conditions and medications do you have?

How plan types handle waiting periods

Your plan type — not COVID — determines whether there is a waiting period:

Most people in reasonable health qualify for a level plan with no waiting period, meaning a COVID death (or any natural-cause death) is covered in full from day one.

How to get covered

Getting burial insurance remains fast and easy, COVID or not. The steps are the same: choose a coverage amount, answer a few health questions by phone, and compare carriers to find your lowest rate. If you have fully recovered from COVID, you can typically apply right away and often qualify for day-one coverage.

Because carriers differ in how they handle recent illness, comparing several A-rated companies is the best way to find the one that approves you fastest and at the best rate.

Frequently asked questions

How much coverage do you need?

A good policy covers your final expenses without paying for coverage you do not need. With the average U.S. funeral running $8,000–$12,000 once a cemetery plot and headstone are included, most people land in the $10,000–$15,000 range. A simple way to size yours:

• ✓$5,000–$8,000 — a direct cremation and small memorial.
• ✓$10,000–$12,000 — an average funeral with burial.
• ✓$15,000 — funeral plus a cemetery plot and headstone.
• ✓$20,000–$25,000 — funeral plus leftover medical bills or debts to clear.

Why comparing carriers saves you money

Here is the most valuable thing to understand before you buy: every insurer prices age and health differently, and the same coverage can cost 40% more from one company than another. The carrier that is cheapest for a healthy 60-year-old may be the most expensive for a 78-year-old with diabetes. There is no one-size-fits-all “best” company.

That is why working with an independent agent who shops the whole market beats calling a single 1-800 number from a TV ad. We compare 25+ A-rated carriers for your exact age and health, then bring you the lowest rate you qualify for. It costs nothing, takes a few minutes, and there is no obligation.

How to get started today

Getting covered is fast and simple. There is no medical exam — just a short phone conversation — and many people are approved the same day. The steps:

• ✓Choose a coverage amount that fits your final expenses.
• ✓Answer a few health questions by phone — no exam or blood test.
• ✓Compare quotes from several A-rated carriers for your profile.
• ✓Lock in the lowest rate you qualify for — your premium is fixed for life.
• ✓Name your beneficiary and your coverage begins.

Reviewed by Phillip Chin, Licensed Insurance Agent

Phillip is a licensed final-expense specialist (NPN #8895251) who has helped hundreds of families secure affordable burial insurance. He shops 25+ A-rated carriers to find the lowest rate for each client’s age and health.