What is Funeral Insurance?

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Funeral insurance can seem complicated and confusing if you’re not familiar with the products on offer. How do you know if you need it? What does all that financial jargon really mean?

It can be difficult to make an informed decision when there’s so much information to take in. So, if you want to put some support in place to help your loved ones with your funeral costs and you’re wondering where to start, our simple guide to funeral insurance can help.

What is funeral insurance?

Funeral insurance in Australia is a type of insurance policy designed to help cover the costs associated with a funeral. You can use this policy to help cover your funeral, end of life expenses, or other costs your loved ones might need help with.

With a funeral insurance policy in place, your family could have some financial support during a turbulent and emotional time. And, knowing you’ve helped to relieve them of some future financial pressures, you can enjoy peace of mind in the here and now.

How does Dignity Funeral Insurance work in Australia?

If you’re an Australian resident aged 50-80, you’re guaranteed to be accepted with Dignity Insurance. Applying is simple – you can get insured over the phone with no complicated forms or medicals. Once you’re set up, you’ll pay a premium either fortnightly or monthly (the choice is yours) to keep your policy in place. Then when the time comes, your beneficiary can get in touch to make a claim to receive the benefit amount you’ve put in place.

How much does it cost?

The cost of your funeral insurance will depend on several different things, including your age, gender, smoker status and the amount of cover you want. For a breakdown of the sort of costs you might need to consider, you can see our helpful guide here.

How do I decide how much coverage I need?

When deciding how much funeral insurance you need, there are several things to keep in mind. To start with, it’s a good idea to think about the cost of your funeral, which may include expenses like funeral director fees, casket or urn costs, burial or cremation fees, and other related costs.

When it comes to end-of-life expenses, your funeral may not be the only cost left to your loved ones or estate. You might also want to think about any debts or bills in your name, for example, credit card repayments.

Lastly, it could be helpful to give some thought to any savings or assets you have, as well as your family’s financial situation and how they might cope with these expenses. All in all, the ideal benefit amount would strike a balance between covering final costs, and meeting your budget when it comes to your fortnightly or monthly payments.

Our friendly team of Australian-based experts are here to help and talk through your cover options.

What costs are typically associated with a funeral?

We’re all one-of-a-kind individuals with our own quirks and preferences, and that’s no different when it comes to our funerals. The cost will depend heavily on the type of ceremony you have, but there are some common expenses. For many families, the main expense will be a funeral director; a professional who takes charge of the arrangements and supports the bereaved throughout the process. The funeral director deals with administrative tasks such as death registration and will also guide the loved ones through any decisions that need to be made for the ceremony.

Whether it’s arranged by a loved one or a professional, most funerals will include further expenses for a coffin, transportation, a venue, an officiant or celebrant, and more personal details such as flowers and memorial cards. Many families will decide to host a gathering after the ceremony, which can bring additional venue costs and sometimes catering expenses too.

The cost of your funeral can also depend on your choice between burial and cremation. Burials bring the additional costs of cemetery plots and headstones, whereas cremation is typically more affordable.

While these are some of the core expenses, your own send-off could vary depending on religious or cultural customs, and personal preferences. Although it’s a difficult topic, it’s important to give some thought to the type of funeral you want, as that will give you a better idea of how much it might cost.

Benefits of Dignity Funeral Insurance

Funeral insurance can provide several benefits to policyholders and their families, from overall peace of mind to more practical advantages, like convenience. When you choose a Dignity Funeral Insurance policy, here’s a look at what you can expect:

  • Cash payout - Choose up to $15,000 of cover1
  • Terminal Illness coverage - 100% early payout for Terminal Illness, helping you plan your final wishes without worrying about financial pressures2
  • Straightforward claims - Our claims process is designed to be simple, and our Australian-based claims specialists are on hand to help your loved ones with cover backed by an independent, Australian-owned insurer
  • Guaranteed acceptance - If you’re an Australian Resident aged 50 to 80, you’re guaranteed to be accepted for cover
  • Easy application - With our easy to arrange insurance, you can get coverage in just a few minutes over the phone with no medical or blood tests for approval
  • Exclusive - Dignity Funeral Insurance is backed by an independent, Australian-owned insurer and is exclusive to us. You can't buy it anywhere else
  • Designed to be affordable - Our cover is designed to be affordable and if you’re a non-smoker you’ll enjoy lower premiums4
  • Trust - Dignity Insurance is part of a group whose brands have been chosen to protect over 500,000 customers worldwide and have ‘Excellent’ Trustpilot ratings3
  • No more premiums after age 90 - From the policy anniversary following your 90th birthday, premiums are no longer payable but your cover will continue for life4
  • Free Will Kit - Receive a free Will Kit when you purchase a policy


These are just a few of the benefits you could look forward to as a Dignity Insurance customer. For more information, you can read all about our Dignity Funeral Insurance here.

How do I apply?

While thinking of your funeral can be uncomfortable or even upsetting, making arrangements to help your family can bring you peace of mind – so you can get back to enjoying your life with your loved ones.

If you’re considering Funeral Insurance, we can help you get a quote over the phone in just a few minutes. Our Australian-based team of specialists are ready to answer any questions you might have and can help you secure  some cover.

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For your loved ones, with Dignity

Helping you to better prepare for tomorrow with peace of mind today. Our team of funeral insurance specialists is ready and waiting to help you and answer any questions you might have.

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1

From $3,000 up to $15,000 of cover available. Cover is for Accidental Death only within the first 12 months. After 12 months, cover is for any cause of death and Terminal Illness, as defined in the Product Disclosure Statement.

2

Terminal Illness is as defined in the Product Disclosure Statement. Upon payment of a terminal illness claim, the policy and cover will end.

3

Dignity Insurance is a trading name of Neilson Financial Services Pty Ltd (Neilson) ABN 52 668 314 896, AFSL 552284. Neilson is part of the Neilson group of companies whose brands have been chosen to protect over 500,000 customers worldwide and have been rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot, an online platform for consumers to review businesses. For more ratings information, see https://www.dignityinsurance.com.au/awards-and-recognition

4

Premiums for a non-smoker are lower than for a smoker of the same age and gender, with the same benefit amount. Dignity Funeral Insurance is an insurance policy and not a savings plan which means if your policy is cancelled, you will not get anything back (unless it is cancelled within the cooling off period). The total premiums you pay over the life of the policy could also be more than the benefits we pay out.