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10-second summary: Funeral insurance helps your family pay for funeral costs and final expenses when you die. You pay a monthly premium and your insurer guarantees a payout — no medicals, no expiry, no awkward surprises later.
Funeral insurance isn’t exactly the chat of champions — most of us would rather talk about potholes or the price of pints.
But since you’ve come this far, let’s have a proper look at how it works, what it costs, and whether it’s worth it.
By the time you hit your 50s, the focus shifts from getting the cheapest cover to making sure everything’s sorted for your family. This is the stage where funeral insurance (sometimes called over-50s or non-medical life cover) makes the most sense — and it’s the natural next step from life insurance in your 30s and 40s.
In Ireland, “funeral insurance” and “over-50s life insurance” usually refer to the same thing — a whole-of-life policy you can get without a medical. You pick a monthly premium and a payout amount. Once you keep paying, the cover lasts for life and the money goes to your family when you die.
It’s designed for anyone aged 50 to 80 who doesn’t want the hassle of medical forms or health questions. That’s why it’s often called non-medical life insurance — a guaranteed way to cover funeral costs and final bills.
But the catch is that you’re only covered for death due to an accident in the first two years of the policy. If death is due to an illness, the insurer will refund your premiums. After two years, you’re fully covered.
Important: Lion.ie doesn’t arrange these over-50s or non-medical plans. They’re available through An Post and many credit unions.
However, if your health is good enough for standard life cover, or you have only mild medical issues, a whole-of-life policy can work as your funeral cover — it’s guaranteed to pay out eventually, unlike a term policy that could expire before you do.
If you’re already into your 60s and wondering whether you can still get standard cover instead of a no-medical plan, read our Life Insurance in Your 60s guide for practical Irish options.
As a life insurance broker, I take a fairly laid-back approach to death. Otherwise, I’d curl up in a ball, rocking gently in the corner.
You can either plan ahead — or stick your head in the sand and leave your family to deal with a hefty bill when you finally board the Stairway to Heaven. (By the way, the fact there’s a Stairway to Heaven but a Highway to Hell says plenty about expected traffic.)
According to Fanagans, the average funeral can range from €2,500 to €8,500+ — depending on what kind of send-off you fancy.
Wexford comes in cheapest at around €3,400. Dublin… not so much.
Typical costs include:
Plots vary massively. A double plot in Deansgrange, Dublin? €32,000.
The same in Shanganagh? €5,600.
So yeah — location, location, location applies even in the afterlife.
You’ve two main options:
The second option is usually the smarter move — you stay in control, your family gets the cash, and you don’t need to lock in with one funeral director.
Be realistic — a decent send-off could cost around €15,000–€20,000 when you factor in inflation. (You’re not planning to go anytime soon, are you?)
This is the key difference: whole-of-life insurance never expires. If you’re paying your premiums, the insurer has to pay out eventually. That’s why it’s ideal for covering funeral costs — you can’t outlive it.
Once the policy is in place, you’ve done your bit. No stress, no cap-in-hand moments at the Credit Union when the time comes.
Peter (48) and his wife (43) came to me after losing two family members last year. They’d seen first-hand how much a funeral costs — around €8,500 — and didn’t want their kids to deal with that burden.
A dual whole-of-life policy for €8,500 each cost them €33 per month.
That’s less than €1 a day for peace of mind and dignity when the time comes.
Yes — you should add your spouse to a dual-life policy. When one person dies, the payout goes to the survivor. When the second passes, the policy pays again to their estate.
If you’re not married, it’s better to take out two single-life policies and pay each other’s premiums to avoid inheritance-tax issues.
This one’s tricky.
Insurers need an “insurable interest” — meaning you’d suffer financially if they died. That doesn’t usually apply to adult children, but some providers allow it if the payout is clearly meant for funeral costs.
If not, you can always gift up to €3,000 tax-free to your parents’ account each year to cover their premiums instead.
This depends on:
Because each insurer takes a different approach, the best option is to let me check all five major Irish insurers for you first. That way, you’ll get the best deal without overpaying.
⚰️ Want to make sure your family isn’t left with the bill?
Answer a few short questions and I’ll come back with a personal recommendation — no jargon, no pushy calls, just straight advice.
Funeral insurance won’t make you immortal, but it will make life easier for the people you leave behind.
A small policy now means your family can focus on remembering you — not fundraising for your funeral.
Next step: learn about whole-of-life insurance or get your personalised funeral cover recommendation.
Or call 057 93 20836 if you prefer an actual chat.
If you’d like to see how life insurance changes across every decade, check out our guide to how age affects life insurance in Ireland.
As Ireland's leading life insurance broker, we specialise in comparing the rates and policies from the top five Irish life insurance providers and offering the very best value quotes to suit the individual needs of our clients. Our expertise lies in finding a suitable insurance plan for those with specific needs, be it a particular illness, occupation or claim history, we've got you covered in every sense!
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