
Prepaid funeral plans pros and cons
11 min
Should you choose a prepaid funeral plan to protect your…
Officially, there isn’t a top 10 funeral plan list. However, each of the plans listed below have been rated 4 or 5 stars by Fairer Finance, making them the best on the market according to experts[1].
The best funeral plans and funeral cover, in alphabetical order, are:
The plans listed above are available to customers across the UK and are designed to cover a traditional funeral.
Please note, Reassured can't compare quotes for all of the funeral plans detailed in this article
The best funeral plan for you may not be the best funeral plan for someone else, as every customer has different preferences.
With lots of funeral plan options available to choose from, it’s possible to find a plan which suits your unique needs and budget.
Essentially, the best funeral plan for you and your family will depend on:
Your decision may also be influenced by the brand reputation and credibility of the funeral plan provider offering the plan.
Currently, funeral plans aren’t regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), but this will change from the 29th July 2022.
Reassured has written this comprehensive guide on the best buy prepaid funeral plans. Continue reading as we explain:
There are various ways you can safeguard your family from unexpected funeral costs.
You could take out a traditional funeral plan from an alternative provider, or you may consider the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through us.
This is a type of life insurance policy which is designed to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services after two years.
There are two different options to choose from depending on the level of cover you require.
When you pass away, the funds from your SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan will be issued to the appointed funeral director, or it can be issued to your loved ones as a cash pay out.
Learn more about the SunLife funeral cover available through Reassured by heading to our funeral cover guide, or get in touch for your free quotes.
A funeral plan allows you to cover the cost of your funeral in advance, protecting your loved ones from this considerable expense when the time comes.
It’s one way to ensure that your family will have the money available to pay for your funeral at short notice and before they can access your estate.
A funeral plan also allows you to choose the type of send-off you’d like to have and the services you want it to include, so that it’s carried out according to your wishes.
Different funeral plan providers offer different payment options. These can include paying for your plan in one lump sum, or making monthly payments either for a fixed term or until you pass away.
Your money is kept safe in a life insurance policy or trust fund, which is then managed independently from the funeral plan provider.
When your funeral services are needed, the necessary funds are released to your appointed funeral director so they can cover the cost.
The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured is a little different because it can only be paid in monthly premiums.
Also, the plan funds can be used for your funeral or can be taken as a cash pay out at the discretion of your loved ones.
The benefits of a funeral plan or a Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured include:
A funeral plan includes essential services provided by a funeral director, as well as services required for a cremation or burial.
However, the exact services and features covered in a plan will depend on the plan provider and the level of cover you choose.
How much a funeral plan costs depends on the plan you choose and the level of cover included.
See the prices of different funeral cover options available on the market in the comparison tables below.
A SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured begins from just £19.18 a month. The exact amount you'll pay will depend on your age and the plan you select.
Find out how much your funeral cover will cost by getting in touch with Reassured, our quotes are free.
As mentioned, the best funeral plan for you may not be the best funeral plan for everyone else.
However, some plans are better than others and it’s helpful to know how to identify these when shopping around.
Use these top 5 tips to help you find a funeral plan which is worth buying:
1. Make sure your investment is safeguarded
Only consider buying a plan which is approved by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA), is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Currently, 95% of funeral plan providers are registered with the FPA, which provides a degree of protection for their customers.
Some types of funeral cover, including the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan through Reassured, come with protection from the FSCS (plus, the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan is an FCA regulated life insurance policy).
From 29th July 2022, the funeral plan sector will be regulated by FCA, which will provide a much higher degree of protection for all funeral plan customers from this date.
2. Check expert ratings and reviews
Prepaid funeral plan features and ratings can be compared easily and for free on websites such as Fairer Finance, Defaqto and The Times Money Mentor.
You can identify which plans offer the best quality based on their expert reviews and star ratings.
3. Be aware of what’s typically included in a plan and what’s not
Things you may want to consider when looking at various options include:
4. Look out for plans which guarantee to carry out your funeral after a set period of payments
Some funeral plan providers will guarantee to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services after a set period of payments.
For example, the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan through Reassured will guarantee to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services after two years of payments.
This means your funeral will still be carried out as agreed in your plan, even though your payments may not have covered the full cost.
Some plan providers won’t offer this benefit and will require that your family pay the remaining balance of your plan if you pass away before finishing all your payments.
5. Compare multiple funeral cover options
Comparing funeral plans will help you to get a better understanding of which plans offer a better package deal and price.
It may also be worth comparing quotes for alternative ways of covering funeral costs too, for example an over 50s plan or whole of life insurance policy, to see if these may be more cost effective for you.
Here at Reassured, we can provide you with personalised quotes for the funeral cover we offer, allowing you to compare these to other options available on the market.
Continue reading as we compare funeral plans later on in this article.
Some of the best value funeral plans are ones that guarantee to cover your chosen funeral services when the time comes, as mentioned previously.
Some funeral plan providers will pay out the money required for your funeral when you pass away, even if you haven’t paid the total cost of the plan.
This benefit will kick in once you have made a certain number of plan payments.
For example, a SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan arranged through Reassured guarantees to pay out after the first two years (24 monthly payments).
This means if you pass away once this initial period has passed, your chosen funeral services will be carried out as specified in your plan, with no more for your loved ones to pay.
Comparing multiple funeral cover options will help you decide which one offers you the best deal.
Below is a comparison of the funeral cover options provided by SunLife, Avalon, Co-op, Golden Leaves and Dignity.
There are three different levels of service; basic, standard and comprehensive.
Please note, Reassured doesn’t arrange funeral plans on behalf of all the providers compared below
The costs typically covered in this tier of funeral plan include funeral director fees, a coffin, and a service at the crematorium.
SunLife | Avalon | Co-op | Golden Leaves | Dignity | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plan | Traditional Plan | Standard Plan | Simple Plan | Zinc Plan | Limited |
Prices beginning from | £19.18 a month | £3,645 or from £35.06 a month | £3,095 or from £18.96 a month | £3,089 or from £20.88 a month | £3,095 or from £38.25 a month |
Collection and care of deceased | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Coffin | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Basic) |
Hearse | Yes | Yes | No (Suitable vehicle alternative) | Yes | Yes |
Limousine | No | No | No | No | No |
Cremation fees | Yes - Guaranteed | Up to £1,000 contribution | £950 contribution | Yes - Guaranteed | Yes - Guaranteed |
Burial fees | £1,010 contribution | Up to £1,000 contribution | £950 contribution | £931 contribution | £1,220 contribution |
Minister or celebrant fees | Yes - Guaranteed | No | No | No | Yes - Guaranteed |
Guarantees to cover your funeral after a set period? | Yes (After 24 monthly payments) | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) | No | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) |
Plan moves with you if you move home? | Yes - Free | Yes - Free | Yes - Free | Yes (Price may change if moving to a different region) | Yes - Free |
The prices shown for each plan must be used as a guide only, as the exact cost of your plan will depend on various factors
Key points:
A standard level funeral plan covers everything that the basic level plan covers, but will provide a higher quality coffin and may include limousines.
Avalon | Co-op | Golden Leaves | Dignity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plan | Plus Plan | Silver Plan | Silver Plan | Amber Plan |
Prices beginning from | £3,995 or from £38.52 a month | £3,995 or from £24.65 a month | £3,594 or from £24.32 a month | £3,495 or from £42.53 a month |
Collection and care of deceased | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Coffin | Yes (Wood-effect) | Yes (Wood-effect) | Yes (Basic) | Yes (Wood-effect) |
Hearse | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Limousine | Yes (One) | Yes (One) | No | No |
Cremation fees | Up to £1,000 contribution | Yes - Guaranteed | Yes - Guaranteed | Yes - Guaranteed |
Burial fees | Up to £1,000 contribution | Yes - Guaranteed | Contribution provided¤ | £1,220 contribution |
Minister or celebrant fees | No | Yes - Guaranteed | No | Yes - Guaranteed |
Guarantees to cover your funeral after a set period? | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) | No | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) |
Plan moves with you if you move home? | Yes - Free | Yes - Free | Yes (Price may change if moving to a different region) | Yes - Free |
The prices shown for each plan must be used as a guide only, as the exact cost of your plan will depend on various factors
¤Contribution amount will be in line with the national average cost of cremation fees
Key points:
With a comprehensive level funeral plan, a high-quality wood effect coffin is usually provided, and two limousines may be included.
SunLife | Avalon | Co-op | Golden Leaves | Dignity | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plan | Traditional Plus | Premium Plan | Gold Plan | Platinum Plan | Diamond Plan |
Price beginning from | £23.02 a month | £4,245 or from £40.99 a month | £4,295 or from £26.55 a month | £4,199 or from £28.44 a month | £4,195 or from £50.01 a month |
Collection and care of deceased | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Coffin | Yes (High quality wood veneer) | Yes (High quality wood veneer) | Yes (High quality wood veneer) | Yes (High quality wood veneer) | Yes (High quality wood veneer) |
Hearse | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Limousine | Yes (Two) | Yes (Two) | Yes (Two) | Yes (Two) | Yes (Two) |
Cremation fees | Yes - Guaranteed | Up to £1,000 contribution | Yes - Guaranteed | Yes - Guaranteed | Yes - Guaranteed |
Burial fees | £1,010 contribution | Up to £1,000 contribution | Yes - Guaranteed | Contribution provided¤ | £1,220 contribution |
Minister or celebrant fees | Yes - Guaranteed | No | Yes - Guaranteed | No | Yes - Guaranteed |
Guarantees to cover your funeral after a set period? | Yes (After 24 monthly payments) | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) | No | Yes (After 12 monthly payments) |
Plan moves with you if you move home? | Yes - Free | Yes - Free | Yes - Free | Yes (Price may change if moving to a different region) | Yes - Free |
The prices shown for each plan must be used as a guide only, as the exact cost of your plan will depend on various factors
¤Contribution amount will be in line with the national average cost of cremation fees
Key points:
Arrange your ideal funeral cover through Reassured today. Get in touch with our award-winning service to get started.
Each of the cremation only funeral plans listed below have been rated 4 or 5 stars by Fairer Finance:
Cremation only funeral plans are the most affordable plans and cover a direct cremation or simple cremation funeral.
The cheapest plans available are the Simplicity Cremations Lily Plan and the Age Co Buttercup Plan, which both cost £1,495.
Unfortunately, Reassured isn’t able to help you arrange this type of plan today.
According to Fairer Finance, the best natural funeral plans are:
Natural funeral plans provide an eco-friendly alternative to a traditional funeral.
The cheapest plan available for this type of funeral is the Bamboo plan provided by Dignity which costs £4,195.
Unfortunately, Reassured isn’t able to help you arrange this type of plan today.
The Money Saving Expert has plenty of advice on his website regarding funeral plans and whether they’re worth the money.
Martin Lewis’s general advice is that funeral plans can be a good way of covering funeral costs in advance, but it’s important to be aware of the pros and cons before making a purchase.
Martin Lewis also emphasises the importance of making sure your plan covers everything you’re expecting. For example, if you’re opting for a burial funeral then it’s unlikely your plan will cover the full cost of a burial plot.
At Reassured, our friendly team is on hand to answer any questions you have regarding the funeral cover we can offer, allowing you to make a fully informed decision.
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[1] https://www.fairerfinance.com/ratings/product-ratings/prepaid-funeral-plans
[2] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/cost-of-dying-report.pdf/
Reassured can't arrange all of the plans detailed in this article. Information and pricing taken directly from the plan provider's websites is correct as of 31/03/2022