Final Expense Calculator
How much final expense coverage does a family need?
Add the funeral cost to other final costs like medical bills, small debts, and legal fees, then subtract existing final-expense coverage and savings set aside. What is left is the cash gap a family would need to cover right after a death. Start from a cited national median funeral cost or enter your own, then adjust the rest to the client in front of you.
Educational estimate only, not financial or insurance advice. Funeral costs vary by region and provider; medians are national. Kadence does not provide financial advice.
How the math works
Start from a real median cost
The funeral type prefills with its 2023 NFDA national median. Because costs vary by region and provider, the field is editable: enter a local quote for a sharper estimate.
Add the other costs that come due right away
Medical bills, small debts, and legal or estate-settlement fees are grouped into a single figure alongside the funeral cost, for the total cash a family needs quickly.
Subtract what is already available
Existing final-expense coverage and liquid savings earmarked for this purpose are subtracted from the total, leaving the gap the coverage conversation can address.
Sources
- National median funeral costs (2023): National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Media Center. NFDA Media Center.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the average funeral cost?
Per the National Funeral Directors Association, the 2023 national median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is about 8,300 dollars, and a funeral with cremation and a service is about 6,280 dollars. This calculator uses those figures as editable defaults for the funeral-cost field.
What counts as a final expense besides the funeral?
Final expenses often include unpaid medical bills, small debts, legal and estate-settlement fees, and other costs that come due right after a death. This calculator groups all of those into a single "other final expenses" field alongside the funeral cost.
Do I need a separate final expense policy?
Not necessarily. Some families cover final expenses from savings or an existing policy's death benefit; others use a dedicated final expense or burial policy. This calculator only shows the gap between total final costs and what is already available, not which product should fill it.
Is this calculator financial advice?
No. This is an educational estimate based on the numbers you enter and cited national medians. Actual costs vary by region and provider. Kadence does not provide financial advice. Confirm any coverage decision with a licensed professional.