Co-op funeral plan review [2022]

Co-op funeral plans are provided by Co-op Funeralcare, one of the largest funeral providers in the UK.

This is a comprehensive review of their traditional funeral plans named Bronze, Simple, Silver and Gold*.

Continue reading this review for all you need to know about Co-op funeral plans, including what’s included in a plan and how much they cost...

Please note, Reassured do not sell Co-op funeral plans or traditional funeral plans from other providers

Funeral cover through Reassured

Want to protect loved ones from having to pay for your funeral out of their own pocket?

Funeral cover from SunLife can be arranged through Reassured.

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 funeral cover 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.

Why not get in contact with a friendly member of the Reassured team to get your free quote?

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SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan:

  • Premiums beginning from £19.18 a month ^
  • Guaranteed acceptance if you’re aged 50 - 80
  • No medical exam or questions
  • Guaranteed pay out after two years of payments
  • Immediate accidental death cover
  • 100% pay out protection with FSCS
Compare Funeral Cover through Reassured »

What is a Co-op funeral plan?

A funeral plan with the Co-op allows you to plan and pay for your funeral in advance.

It’s a simple and affordable way to protect your family from ever-increasing funeral costs and to ensure that your final wishes will be fulfilled.

The Co-op have four different plans to choose from which each cover all the key services for either a cremation or burial funeral.

Read our comprehensive article on the pros and cons of a prepaid funeral plan »

Co-op funeral plan benefits

  • Award-winning funeral plan provider

The Co-op has been awarded ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ by Moneynet for 5 years running.

  • Highly rated funeral plans

The Co-op is the only funeral plan provider to receive 5 star ratings by Fairer Finance for each of their plans. Their Gold plan has also been awarded 5 stars by Defaqto.

  • Flexible payment options

You can choose to pay for a plan in one single payment or spread the cost in monthly instalments up to a maximum of 25 years.

  • Additional protection with the Co-op Commitment

If you choose to pay by monthly instalments over 2- 25 years and pass away after the first 12 months, but before finishing all your instalments, then Co-op will still carry out your funeral as agreed in your plan.

  • All funeral plans are regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA)

If you buy a plan from the Co-op then your money is kept safe in a whole of life insurance policy (which is managed by an independent trustee) until it’s needed for your funeral.

What’s included in a plan?

Each Co-op funeral plan includes the following items and services:

  • Choice between cremation and burial
  • Collection of the person who’s died within 50-mile radius, 24/7
  • Care and preparation of the person who’s died
  • Support and guidance provided by a funeral director
  • Family viewing at the chapel of rest
  • A coffin
  • Hearse or alternative suitable vehicle
  • Full personalisation of the plan with special requests
  • Free call from bereavement team and bereavement assistance for family

Co-op funeral plan options

The Co-op Simple funeral plan

Cost: £3,225

  • A simple coffin
  • Visitation to the chapel of rest during working hours
  • Time and date decided by Co-op
  • £850 contribution towards third-party fees
  • A suitable vehicle for the day of the funeral
  • Not included: A traditional hearse or limousine for the funeral procession and no pallbearers

The Co-op Bronze funeral plan

Cost: £3,735

  • A wood effect coffin, such as Maple
  • Visitation to the chapel of rest during working hours
  • Restricted time and date of the funeral
  • A traditional hearse and pallbearers
  • £1,000 contribution towards third-party fees
  • Not included: A limousine for the funeral procession

The Co-op Silver funeral plan

Cost: £4,150

  • A wood effect coffin, such as Cherry or Rosewood
  • Visitation to the chapel of rest by appointment at any time
  • Choice of time and day of the funeral
  • A traditional hearse and pallbearers
  • Flexibility to choose the route to service
  • One limousine for funeral procession
  • Third-party fees are fully covered

The Co-op Gold funeral plan

Cost: £4,460

  • A wood veneer coffin, such as Traditional or Light Oak
  • Visitation to the chapel of rest by appointment at any time
  • Choice of time and day for the funeral
  • Flexibility to choose the route to service
  • Two limousines
  • Memorial item e.g. Memorial Canvas
  • Third-party fees are fully covered

Co-op funeral plan comparison

Co op insurer logo white Simple PlanBronze PlanSilver PlanGold Plan
Coffin List icon
Basic		 List icon
Wood effect (maple)		 List icon
Wood effect (cherry or rosewood)		 List icon
Wood veneer (traditional or light oak)
Date and time of funeralDecided by Co-opRestrictedMutually agreedMutually agreed
Family visit to the chapel of restDuring working hoursDuring working hoursAnytimeAnytime
Funeral cortegeDirectly to crematorium or burial site from home onlyDirectly to crematorium or burial site from home onlyChoice of routeChoice of route
Bearers Cross
Wheeled bier or family bearers		 List icon List icon List icon
Hearse Cross
Other vehicle is used		 List icon List icon List icon
Limousine Cross Cross List icon
x1		 List icon
x2
Memorial canvas Cross Cross Cross List icon
Cremation or burial fees£850 contributionGuaranteed for cremation, or £1,000 contribution for burial List icon
Guaranteed		 List icon
Guaranteed

Co-op funeral plan payment options

When taking out a Co-op funeral plan, you can choose from three payment options.

These are:

  • One single payment
  • 6 or 12 monthly payments
  • Monthly instalments over the course of 2 - 25 years

Choosing to pay by monthly instalments over 2 - 25 years will incur additional instalment charges and the payment plan must end by your 80th birthday.

Co-op funeral plans cost

Co-op funeral plans start from £19.79 a month. However, the exact amount you pay will depend on your age and the payment option you choose.

For example, the cost of a Silver Co-op funeral plan for a 50 year old paying by monthly instalments over 15 years would be £30.11 a month.

As mentioned, paying by monthly instalments over 2 - 25 years will incur instalment charges, and you’ll need to pay a minimum deposit of £99 when taking out the plan.

At Reassured we can't arrange a Co-op funeral plan for you. However, we can arrange funeral cover through SunLife beginning from £19.18 a month, simply get in touch for your free quotes.

Funeral costs in the UK

The average cost of dying is currently £8,864[1]. A cremation funeral now stands at £3,765 on average, whereas a burial funeral costs more at £4,927 on average.

According to the SunLife Cost of Dying report, it’s predicted that funeral costs will rise each year - reaching an estimated £5,089 by 2026.

Protect your loved ones from the cost of your funeral with funeral cover Funeral cover can ensure that your loved ones aren’t left with an unaffordable bill when you pass away.

The SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan, available at Reassured, guarantees that the funeral service detailed in your policy is provided, following two years of continued payments

For more information, why not speak to a member of our team?

Cost of funerals infographic

Co-op tailor-made plans

The Co-op also provide tailor made plans which allow you to create a bespoke final farewell.

You can choose between a cremation or burial and make the arrangements for your unique send-off in advance.

For example, you could opt for an eco-friendly woodland burial at one of the Co-op woodland cemeteries.

A tailor-made plan can only be arranged with your local Co-op funeral director so that everything is exactly as you want it to be.

Memorial headstone plans

Want a particular headstone or know how you want to be commemorated?

It’s possible to put these arrangements in place before you pass away.

It’s also possible to pre-pay the cost of your masonry headstone but this is an additional cost to that of your funeral plan.

This can be arranged via your funeral director and upon purchase of your plan through the Co-op.

Direct cremation plan

A direct cremation funeral plan with Co-op allows you to pay in advance for a simple cremation without ceremony.

This is the least expensive funeral plan option as there’s no need for ceremonial elements such as a hearse, limousines, fancy coffin or pallbearers.

For more information about this type send-off, head to our no funeral, just cremation guide.

Co-op funeral directors

Upon purchasing a Co-op funeral plan, you’ll be able to register with a Co-op funeral home of your choosing and begin to make future arrangements.

The Co-op has over 1,000 funeral homes across the UK.

Once you’ve selected your preferred Co-op funeral home, they’ll work with you to ensure all of your wishes are carried out and all plans are in place.

Additionally, due to such a wide network of funeral homes, it’s possible to switch to a more conveniently located funeral home if you were to move home or change location, at no extra cost.

Co-op funeral plans reviews and ratings

The Co-op is a highly rated funeral plan provider, and their funeral plans are considered some of the best on the market.

Co-op funeral plans have achieved a 5 star Defaqto rating for their Gold funeral plan and a 5 star Fairer Finance rating for all of their funeral plans.

Co-op funeral plans for over 50s

Co-op funeral plans can be taken by people in their 50s.

Their plans are available to anyone over the age of 18, without needing to provide any medical or health related information. If paying monthly over 2 - 25 years, all payments must be completed by your 80th birthday.

Therefore, if you are aged 78 or older, you could still take out a Co-op funeral plan, but will have limited payment options.

Save money with exclusive Co-op member discount

Co-op members can save £75 on the Simple funeral plan or £125 on the Bronze, Silver and Gold Co-op funeral plans.

If you’re not yet a member and would like to benefit from these offers, you can sign up on the Co-op website.

It takes a few minutes to enter in your details and a £1 membership fee is required.

Compare funeral cover quotes

At Reassured, we can’t help you arrange a Co-op funeral plan, but we can provide funeral cover in the form of a SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan.

Funeral cover through Reassured guarantees acceptance to those aged 50 - 80 and provides a way to protect loved ones from funeral costs, so why not get in touch?

Our dedicated team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and we can also help you complete the application, making sure all of the information is accurate and anything you don’t understand is clearly explained.

This ensures you’re confident in your decision making.

And the best bit is, our award-winning service is FEE-FREE.

So, contact Reassured today to make arrangements for your funeral and ensure your future peace of mind.

Compare Funeral Cover » Save Money

Co-op funeral plan FAQs

What’s not included in a plan?

Co-op funeral plans, as with other plans on the market, won’t cover some additional items and services as standard. Your family may need to pay for these when the time comes.

Excluded elements include:

  • Flowers
  • Embalming
  • Alternative hearses
  • Funeral notices
  • Order of service
  • Extra limousines or executive cars
  • Burial plot (cost of burial plots in the UK vary from region to region)
  • Catering/wake
  • Memorial
  • Live music

For the Simple and Bronze plans, the Co-op won’t cover the full cost of third-party fees but provide a contribution towards these.

Third-party fees include:

  • Cremation or burial fees
  • Doctor’s fees
  • Minister or celebrant fees.

What is the Co-op Commitment?

All Co-op funeral plans which are paid for in monthly instalments over 2-25 years, come with the Co-op Commitment.

This is an additional level of protection to ensure that if you choose to spread the cost of your funeral plan, and anything were to happen to you during this time, your funeral costs are still covered.

As long as you’ve made at least 12 monthly payments then all the services included in your plan will still be carried out.

Can you purchase a plan on behalf of someone else?

Yes, you can. Co-op funeral plans are available to purchase on behalf of yourself, a family member or friend.

In the instance of purchasing a plan on behalf of someone else, the person named within the plan will receive all documentation and all decisions regarding funeral arrangements will remain theirs.

However, to obtain an instalment plan in this instance, all payments must be made by the 80th birthday of the person paying for the plan.

It’s imperative that the named individual is aware of the plan being set up in their name and the person paying for the plan is 18 or over.

How do you check if someone has a Co-op plan?

If a family member has recently passed away and you’re unsure if they had a funeral plan, it’s best to do a few checks before planning the funeral.

You can find out if they had a funeral plan by:

Contacting Co-op Funeralcare - Pop into the local funeral home or give them a call. They’ll be able to find out if there is a funeral plan using just the name, date of birth and address

Funeral Planning Authority - A trace a funeral plan service is available, simply fill in the online form.

Is life insurance better than a Co-op funeral plan?

Often it’s asked what’s more suitable, a funeral plan or life insurance policy?

The answer comes down to what it is you’re looking to protect.

A funeral plan can only be used to cover the cost of your funeral, whereas life insurance can be used for anything your loved ones deem fit.

It can be beneficial to have both forms of cover in place. For example, a funeral plan to cover your funeral director costs, alongside a life insurance policy to protect your family from outstanding debts, replace an income and/or to provide an inheritance.

Age may also be a deciding factor in this decision, as life insurance premiums become more expensive as you get older. Therefore, your budget may dictate which type of cover is available.

This is where funeral cover can be an ideal option.

The funeral cover available through Reassured, provided by SunLife, is a form of life insurance policy designed to cover the cost of your chosen funeral services after two years of continued payments.

When you pass away, the life insurance payout goes directly to the funeral provider to carry out your chosen funeral. However, your loved ones could request the payout be issued to them instead to use as they see fit - potentially offering the best of both worlds.

No medical questions are asked and acceptance is guaranteed to UK residents aged 50 - 80.

Contact Reassured for your fee free funeral cover quote.

Can I buy a Co-op funeral plan through Reassured?

Unfortunately, Reassured can’t help you to secure a Co-op funeral plan.

We can, however, help you to secure funeral cover via the SunLife Guaranteed Funeral Plan.

This is a type of life insurance policy which guarantees to pay for your chosen funeral services after two years of continued payments.

Cover begins from £19.18 per month and acceptance is guaranteed to UK residents aged between 50 - 80 years old.

For more information on SunLife Guaranteed Funeral plans, get in touch or head to our funeral cover article.

Sources:

[1] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/cost-of-dying-report.pdf/

*Co-op funeral plan information and prices in this article are taken directly from the Co-op website and are correct as of 14th June 2022. These are subject to change by the provider at any time

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