What’s a funeral plan for over 50s?

A funeral plan for over 50s is a simple way to plan and pay for your funeral in advance.

It can help protect your family from additional stress and worry when the time comes and ensures that your funeral wishes are fulfilled.

A plan also locks in today’s prices for the funeral of your choice and keeps your money secure until your funeral services are needed.

Over 50s are guaranteed acceptance with any funeral plan arranged through Reassured.

Continue reading as we explain funeral plans for over 50s in more detail. We also look at over 50 life insurance and provide you with a comparison of both options...

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Why buy a funeral plan for over 50s today?

A funeral plan offers a smart and stress-free way of ensuring your funeral services are paid for ahead of time and that your family are protected from ever increasing funeral fees.

Benefits of having a funeral plan in place:

Avoid rising funeral costs by freezing today’s prices

Funeral costs in the UK have risen 128% since 2004. By 2025, prices may have risen a further 20%. However, the services included in a funeral plan are fixed at today’s prices.

This means the plan provider will guarantee to cover the cost of the funeral services included in the plan, even if prices have risen when it’s redeemed in the future.

Take control of your funeral arrangements and record your final wishes

Planning your funeral in advance takes away some of the difficult decisions that your loved ones would otherwise have to make when the time comes. Recording your final wishes ensures there’s no additional concern or uncertainty over what you would have wanted.

A funeral plan offers support from a professional funeral planner to help you through the process.

Ensure loved ones are protected from the full cost of your funeral

Many families struggle to afford unexpected funeral fees, especially as the average send-off in the UK costs £4,184[1].

Taking out a plan today ensures that your loved ones are protected from this financial worry in the future.

Choose from a range of flexible payment options to suit your budget

Unlike life insurance, a funeral plan gives you the option to choose how you pay.

You can either pay in full (one single payment) for immediate cover or you can spread the cost in monthly payments. Payment terms will vary between providers.
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This calculator uses data from the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2021 and should only be used as a guide.

What does a funeral plan for over 50s cover?

A funeral plan is designed to cover the key services for a cremation or burial funeral.

Whilst the services vary slightly between each plan, most will cover the following as standard:

  • A funeral director to collect and care for the deceased, to help arrange all aspects of the funeral and to provide support for the bereaved family
  • A coffin, hearse and pallbearers
  • Family viewing at the chapel of rest
  • Contribution to third party fees e.g minister or celebrant to lead the ceremony, burial fees or cremation fees

Get in touch with Reassured to compare all the options we have available and secure your funeral plan today.

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How much is a funeral plan for over 50s?

Funeral plans arranged through Reassured start from as little as £3,020 or from £19.11* a month.

Although, how much you pay will depend on the provider you choose and the level of service included in the plan.

Here’s a comparison of over 50 funeral plans prices in the UK:

  Basic plans Standard plans Mid-level plans Comprehensive plans
Co-op £3,020 £3,470 £3,870 £4,170
Dignity £3,095 £3,495 £3,850 £4,195
Avalon £3,645 £3,995 N/A £4,245
Golden Charter £3,089 £3,594 £3,949 £4,199

The information in this table was taken from the separate providers' websites and is accurate as at 25/05/2021
Please note, Reassured doesn't arrange plans on behalf of all the funeral plan providers compared above

Payment options for over 50s

Most funeral plans, including those arranged through Reassured, have flexible payment options.

You can choose to pay in one single payment or by monthly payments up to a maximum payment term of 10, 25 or 30 years depending on the provider.

Typically, spreading the cost for more than 24 months will incur instalment charges. You’ll also need to complete all funeral plan payments by a certain birthday, such as your 85th.

Nonetheless, funeral plans arranged through Reassured guarantee your funeral services once you have paid at least the first 12 months of your plan.

Giving you peace of mind that even if the unexpected happens, your loved ones are still protected.

To get your free personalised quote, contact Reassured today.

Best funeral plans for over 50s

The best funeral plan for you and your family will depend on your specific needs and budget.

You can find the best funeral plan by:

  • Comparing various options by using a broker, such as Reassured
  • Understanding what’s usually covered in a plan and what’s not
  • Choosing a provider that’s FPA approved
  • Making sure your plan has everything you want included

For more information, we have written an extensive best funeral plans guide.

Or, get in touch with our free comparison service today and we can help find you the perfect funeral plan for over 50s.

Cheapest funeral plans for over 50s

The cheapest funeral plans for over 50s are those that cover direct cremation.

Direct cremation is a simple cremation with no funeral service and no attendees.

A typical direct cremation plan covers services such as:

  • Collection and care of the deceased
  • Cremation fees
  • Basic coffin
  • Return of ashes

They won’t cover things like a hearse, limousines, a service at the crematorium chapel and so on.

Whilst most people prefer a traditional send-off, direct cremation provides a more affordable alternative.

Reassured can help you arrange a low-cost funeral plan for a conventional cremation or burial funeral.

Cheap funeral plans over 50s plans start from as little as £19.11 a month.

Over 50s funeral plans or over 50s life insurance, (which is better?)

Funeral plans and over 50s life insurance (over 50s plans) are both types of financial protection that can help safeguard your family against unexpected funeral costs.

The main difference is that a funeral plan is designed specifically to cover your funeral expenses, whereas a life insurance policy is designed to leave behind a cash lump sum (which could be used to help cover your funeral).

Here’s a quick comparison of their key features:

  Over 50s funeral plan Over 50s plan
Lump sum cash pay out Cross List icon (Up to £25,000)
Guarantees to cover key funeral costs List icon Cross
Over 50s guaranteed acceptance (aged 50-85) List icon List icon
No medical or health questions List icon List icon
Quick & easy application List icon List icon
Flexible payment options List icon Cross
Protected against inflation List icon Cross


An over 50s plan won’t provide protection from rising funeral costs but could provide a guaranteed cash pay out of up to £25,000.

This could be ideal if you wish to cover funeral costs as well as leave behind an inheritance or clear outstanding debt.

Although, there’s a chance the pay out may not be sufficient to cover your key funeral costs, especially if you live in an area with high funeral fees.

An over 50s plan guarantees acceptance to all UK residents aged 50-85 years old.

People at the lower end of this age bracket should be able to obtain the highest level of cover at the best price.

Like with a funeral plan, no medical information is required to obtain cover making it a desirable option for those with a poor medical history who’d struggle to secure standard life insurance.

An over 50s plan guarantees protection for the whole of life.

This means premium payments will continue until you pass away, or until you reach a certain age (such as your 90th birthday) depending on the insurer.

The sum assured (pay out amount) remains the same, however, the total amount you pay into the policy is unknown.

The longer you live, the higher the chance you could pay more into the policy than what’s paid out.

On the other hand, funeral plan prices are fixed which means you’ll only pay up to the amount that the plan is worth.

See our in-depth article on life insurance vs funeral plan for more information »

Over 50s funeral plans

  • Prices from £19.11 a month
  • Guarantees to cover your key funeral services as agreed in the plan
  • Be in charge of your own funeral arrangements - taking the pressure off loved ones when the time comes
  • Can only be used for your funeral (no cash value)
  • Prices are fixed; payments end when plan has been paid in full
  • Freezes today’s funeral prices (funeral fees risen 128% since 2004)
  • Funeral is covered after 12 months if paying by instalments over 2 -25 years (and no payments have been missed)
  • Guaranteed acceptance for people aged 50-85 (no medical questions)
  • Funeral Planning Authority (FPA) regulated

Over 50s plans

  • Fixed premiums from £6 a month
  • Guaranteed pay out (usually between £5,000 and £25,000)
  • Loved ones would need to arrange the funeral but would have financial help
  • Pay out can be spent however the beneficiaries see fit, but could be used to help cover funeral costs
  • Premiums continue up until your 90th birthday or until you pass away (it’s possible to pay more into the policy than what’s paid out)
  • Value may decrease over time
  • 12 month waiting period applies during which a claim can’t be made
  • Guaranteed acceptance for people aged 50-85 (no medical questions). Monthly premium is calculated based on your age and level of cover
  • Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated
Compare Over 50s Life Cover Quotes »

The full funeral insurance over 50 solution

Depending on your available budget, it's possible to have both a funeral plan and a life insurance policy in place should the worst happen.

For example, you may want to take out funeral cover specifically to avoid rising funeral costs and an over 50s plan to cover other death-related expenses.

Obviously, this would mean paying for two separate policies but would provide you with much greater coverage.

Compare quotes for both funeral plans and over 50s plan through our fee-free broker service.

SunLife over 50s plan, (are they any good?)

SunLife is a well-known financial services provider for people over 50.

They offer over 50s life cover (over 50s plan) and an over 50s funeral plan.

If you take out their over 50s life cover then you could opt to have the cash sum paid directly to the funeral director when you pass away, similar to a funeral plan (called a ‘Funeral Benefit Option’).

SunLife offer to pay an additional £250 towards your funeral as an incentive.

However, the cash pay out is generally very low and may not be sufficient to cover all your funeral expenses.

Especially if you’re close to the age of 80, you’ll only be able to secure a small sum assured.

You could take out multiple policies, but your monthly premium can’t exceed £100 and the maximum sum assured is £18,000.

The SunLife funeral plan could give you a little more peace of mind as the plan guarantees to cover your chosen funeral services after 2 years.

However, it’s similar to a life policy as your monthly payments must continue until you’re 90. This means, just like an over 50s plan, you could pay more into the policy than what’s paid out.

At Reassured, we can help you arrange an over 50 plan with a pay out up to £25,000 or an over 50 funeral plan that guarantees to cover your funeral services after the first 12 monthly payments.

Get in touch with our friendly team to get your best available deal.

Paying for your funeral with savings

Many people put money aside into a bank account to help pay for their funeral.

Whilst this is also a sensible way to cover funeral costs, it isn’t completely foolproof.

Firstly, this may make things a little tricky for family members who need to access the money to pay for the funeral.

If a bank account is in your sole name it’ll be frozen when you pass away and funds may not be released until probate is granted.

Probate can take from 6 - 9 months after you pass away, sometimes longer.

But, if you use your savings to pay for a funeral plan in full today, the funds paid into the plan won’t be considered as part of your estate and will be available straight away to cover your funeral.

A plan also locks-in today’s prices but, with savings, your loved ones would need to pay the going rate for a funeral when the time comes.

With a funeral plan, you’ll also have peace of mind that your final farewell has been arranged according to your wishes.

Our friendly team can help with any questions you may have, so contact Reassured.

Buy a funeral plan over 50

There are a range of plans to choose from offering different levels of service, at varying prices.

Searching through these may not only be daunting but also very time-consuming.

Using an award-winning broker service, such as Reassured, can relieve you of this mundane task.

We compare multiple plans on your behalf to help you find the one that’s most suitable.

We get you quick and free personalised quotes without obligation.

So, if you’re looking for a funeral plan for over 50s, challenge us today to save you money.

Compare Prepaid Funeral Plans »

Sources:

[1] SunLife (2021), Cost of Dying Report, sunlife.co.uk/costofdying2021

*£19.11 per month pricing includes a £75 discount only available to Co-operative members and is based on a 50-year-old purchasing a Co-op Simple Funeral Plan at £3,020 over the maximum term available of 25 years (total amount repayable £5,733.40) as of 1st March 2021

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Our Providers

At Reassured, we will provide you with quotes from Co-op Funeral Care.

All of the funeral plans we provide are fully regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA) ensuring you and your money are protected.

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