Yes, it’s possible to get life insurance for an 86-year-old.
Learn your options, how to avoid a waiting period, sample prices, available companies, and how to apply.
Topics Covered in this article
Burial Life Insurance Options For 86-Year-Olds
Final expense life insurance is the only type of coverage that an 86-year-old can buy.
A final expense whole life policy is permanent coverage with a fixed price, and it will accrue cash value.
To qualify, you only need to answer some basic health questions. You don’t have to take a medical exam.
If you have pre-existing health issues, you can still get coverage.
However, some health conditions would preclude you from qualifying, but that is pretty rare.
The policy will pay out a lump sum cash benefit directly to the beneficiaries.
Your beneficiaries can spend the money on funeral expenses or anything else.
Life Insurance Vs. Funeral Insurance
People seeking life insurance for an 86-year-old commonly proclaim that they only want “end-of-life funeral insurance” (or some similar description).
Furthermore, they are careful to indicate that they don’t want life insurance.
It’s important to remember that funeral insurance for seniors is a type of life insurance.
A funeral only occurs when a person dies.
That’s why an insurance policy to cover the cost of cremation or burial will always be life insurance.
Read more: Burial insurance vs. life insurance
How Much Does Burial Life Insurance Cost At Age 86?
Not surprisingly, life insurance for 86-year-olds can get costly strictly due to age.
On average, it will cost $90-$320 monthly for a $5,000-$10,000 policy.
The price of a funeral insurance policy is based on your age, health, tobacco history, and how much death benefit coverage you want.
The table below has some sample monthly price estimates.
| GENDER & RATING | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | $87.41 | $171.32 | $255.24 | $339.15 |
| Female Tobacco User | $130.07 | $256.64 | $383.21 | $509.77 |
| Male | $119.87 | $236.25 | $352.62 | $469.00 |
| Male Tobacco User | $198.62 | $393.75 | $588.87 | $784.00 |
Does Burial Insurance For 86 Year Olds Have A Waiting Period?
For the most part, if you’re eligible for a policy at this age, there will be no waiting period.
Also, remember that you don’t need to be in perfect health to qualify for immediate life insurance coverage for a senior at 86.
There are many chronic conditions eligible for no waiting period life insurance, such as COPD, diabetes, and Parkinson’s, to name a few.
But understand that some conditions are completely uninsurable (such as dementia) or only eligible for coverage with a waiting period.
In the end, you’ll need to speak with an insurance agent who can diagnose if you’re eligible for no waiting period coverage at age 86.
Age 86 Life Insurance Companies
Truthfully, there aren’t many life funeral insurance companies for seniors over 85.
That said, below is a table that details all the various insurance providers who issue new coverage to 86-year-olds.
| Insurance Company | Coverage Options Above 85 | Max Age For New Applicants | Policy Type | When Policy Can Pay Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $2,000-$25,000 | 89 | Whole Life Insurance | No waiting period |
 | $2,500-$25,000 | 89 | Whole Life Insurance | No waiting period |
 | $2,500-$10,000 | 90 | Whole Life Insurance | No waiting period |
 | $2,000-$10,000 | 90 | Whole Life Insurance | Refund of premiums in first 12 months, 50% payout in 2nd year, then full benefits after 2 years |
The Application Process
For starters, you will need a licensed insurance agency like Choice Mutual to buy burial life insurance for an 86-year-old senior.
Life insurance carriers that insure seniors above 85 don’t allow applicants to apply directly with the company, online or through the mail.
That being said, here’s what the process looks like when working with us:
- Ask the insured person the health questions. No medical exam is necessary.
- Gather all the necessary information to fill out the application completely.
- Submit it to underwriting and wait for an underwriter to approve or decline the application. Most applications receive a decision within 15 minutes to a few business days.
If approved, a paper policy will arrive via US mail within 2-3 weeks.
If you’re a senior over 80 and need life insurance, call us at 1-800-644-2926.
One of our licensed agents will answer your questions and walk you through the entire application process.