Funeral Insurance Plans FAQs
Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions you might have.
Funeral Insurance Plans FAQs
Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions you might have.
- British Seniors
- Funeral Insurance Plan
- Funeral Plan FAQs
Funeral Insurance Plans Explained
If you have further questions about our policies, check out our helpful guides or feel free to get in contact with our UK based call centre for free on .
- What is a Funeral Insurance Plan?
A British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan will allow you to leave a lump sum payout to your loved ones when you pass away. This lump sum payout can then be used to help with a funeral and other costs.
- How does a Funeral Insurance Plan work?
With a Funeral Insurance Plan, you can select the plan that suits you best. There are three options available to you: Gold, Silver and Bronze. You also have the option of adding additional cover to your chosen plan, depending on your age. Deciding on a plan will depend on what kind of financial support you would like to provide your loved ones with, and what you can afford.
From there you will pay a monthly premium that will maintain your protection until you pass away. When you pass away, your legal beneficiary will receive this money.
- Are Funeral Insurance Plans the same as Funeral Plans?
With a standard funeral plan, you pay for your funeral in advance, at today’s prices, with a tied Funeral Director. You can pay the plan provider in either a lump sum or instalments.
With our Funeral Insurance, we pay out a cash lump sum which can be used as you and your family see fit, typically contributing to a funeral. It’s more flexible so, for example, you could insure yourself for more than your funeral costs to help cover other expenses such as legal fees and final bills or even as a gift to leave behind to family or friends. - What does it include?
The payout from a Funeral Insurance Plan can be used to help cover some of the costs associated with a funeral and other expenses. In the last number of years there has been a steady increase in the cost of a funeral in the UK. This means that a funeral could potentially put your loved ones under financial pressure. A Funeral Insurance Plan can provide support and help relieve some of the financial stress associated with funeral planning. You also have immediate cover from day one for accidental death, plus death by any cause after 12 months.
- What does it not cover?
For the first 12 months of the policy, a Funeral Insurance Plan only covers death as a result of an accident. After this 12-month period you will be covered for death by any cause. If you pass away from natural causes in the first 12 months of the plan, all premiums paid will be refunded.
- What's the benefit of getting a Funeral Insurance Plan?
The death of a loved one can be a stressful time for anyone. The last thing that a lot of people would want to think about would be the finances. Getting the finances together for a funeral at short notice can often introduce stress and pressure into an emotional situation. Having a Funeral Insurance Plan in place could potentially relieve this pressure and give you peace of mind that things are taken care of when you pass away.
- What is included in my Funeral Insurance Plan?
You have three options with the British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan: Gold, Silver and Bronze. The difference between these plans is in the amount of money you have access to. With a Gold plan, you can have access to up to £5.5K, with a Silver plan you can have up to £4K, and with a Bronze plan, it's up to £2K. Alongside these amounts, you also have the option of an additional cash sum depending on your age. These break down as follows:
- Up to a maximum of £10,000 if you are aged 50-69 at start date of the policy.
- Up to a maximum of £9,000 of additional cover aged 70-74 at start date of the policy.
- Up to a maximum of £6,000 of additional cover aged 75-80 at start date of the policy.
So, for example, if you choose a Gold plan and are aged 50-69 you can choose an additional cash sum of up to £4,500. Please bear in mind that this will affect the cost of your monthly premiums. You will also have accidental death cover, where 2 times the benefit amount will be paid should you die of accidental causes.
- Can I have more than one Funeral Insurance Plan?
Yes, you can have more than one Funeral Insurance Plan. However, you should bear in mind if you have more than one whole of life insurance policy with British Seniors, they cannot exceed the maximum amount available for your age. This will be highlighted to you during the application process. These amounts break down as follows:
10K (aged 50-69 at start date)
9K (aged 70-74 at start date)
6K (aged 75-80 at start date)
What this means is that, for example, if you are aged 75-80 at the time of application the policies you can be insured by British Seniors are limited to £6,000.
- Can I take out a Funeral Insurance Plan for someone else?
With British Seniors, you have the option to take out a joint funeral insurance plan. This can only be done with a spouse, civil partner and/or common law partner. The only other situation where you would be allowed to take out a Funeral Insurance Plan for someone else is if you have power of attorney over their affairs.
- If I pay for a plan for someone else, can I update the plan on their behalf?
You can make updates to a plan for someone only if you have power of attorney over their affairs. If this is not the case, we need to speak with the policy holder.
- Am I covered for Coronavirus?
With a British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan you are only covered for accidental death in the first 12 months of your policy. You are covered if you pass away after this 12-month waiting period from Coronavirus or any other cause. You should also note that if you pass away with the first 12 months of natural causes all premiums you have paid will be refunded.
- What types of Funeral Insurance Plans are there?
With British Seniors, there are three types of plans available. They are:
- Gold
- Silver
- Bronze
In terms of how they work, these are largely the same; you agree a payout amount and if you continue to pay your premiums your loved ones will receive that money when you pass away. The main difference between them is in the payout amounts you can apply for. Each one of these plans offers guaranteed acceptance to UK residents aged 50-80.
- How much does a Funeral Insurance Plan cost?
The cost of your Funeral Insurance Plan will depend on four factors: how much you would like your payout to be, your smoker status, your age, and whether you choose a single or joint policy. Our Funeral Insurance Plan is affordable, with premiums starting from £4.32 per month (for a 50 year old non-smoker with £1,000 of cover). This means you can get some financial support for your loved ones even on a budget.
- Who provides the funeral? Can I choose?
With a British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan, the money is paid directly to your loved ones when you pass away. We do not deal with any funeral providers, instead payment is made to your legal beneficiary or if you have placed your Funeral Insurance Plan in a trust, your nominated beneficiary. It is then up to your legal beneficiary to decide how this money is used.
- Can I have a joint Funeral Insurance Plan?
Yes, you have the option of having a joint Funeral Insurance Plan. It must be with a legal spouse, civil partner or common law partner of the policy holder. In the case of a joint Funeral Insurance Plan there will be two payments made, one when the first person passes away and the second when the other person passes away.
- Can you get a Funeral Insurance Plan with pre-existing medical conditions?
Yes, with a British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan you are guaranteed acceptance if you are a UK resident aged 50-80. This means that no matter what pre-existing medical condition you might have, you will be eligible for a plan. However, you should bear in mind that there will only be a payout in the event of an accidental death for the first 12 months of the policy.
- How can I purchase a Funeral Insurance Plan?
Securing your very own Funeral Insurance Plan is straightforward. In fact, you can get a quote online in a matter of seconds and if you’re happy with it you can buy it then and there. Or if you’d prefer, our UK based team can provide you with a quote and help you explore your options. You can contact us free on 0800 803 0052. Our UK Sales team is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Can I make changes to my policy?
Yes, you can apply to make changes at any stage during your plan. In order to apply to make these changes you need to get in contact with us and we can help you through the process. You can call us for free on 0800 542 7618. Our customer service centre is open from Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm.
- Can I put my plan into trust?
You have the option of placing your plan into trust. Please note that only single policies can be put into trust using our form. This means that your plan will not be included in the calculation of your estate and this will exclude it from inheritance tax. If you are interested in setting up a trust you can find more information here.
- Will my premiums ever go up?
With a British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan, your benefit amount and premium will automatically increase every year on the anniversary of your policy. This can offer you a way to help offset the impact of inflation on your payout amount.
Your benefit amount will increase by 3.5% and your monthly premium will increase by 5% each year.
You can choose to opt out of these increases in which case your benefit amount and premium will remain fixed for that year. If you opt out of three increases in a row, your benefit and premium will remain permanently fixed for the policy duration. - What additional costs will there be at the time of the funeral?
Additional costs for a funeral will ultimately depend on your personal wishes and the choices of your family. If you choose to have a simple funeral, there will be fewer costs. It is important for you to sit down and consider some of the costs involved with a funeral. You can find more information on the average costs of a funeral in our guide.
- What happens after I've bought my Funeral Insurance Plan?
One you’ve bought your Funeral Insurance Plan you should receive a welcome pack a few working days after. In this welcome pack you’ll find all the important documents such as the Key Facts document and the policy Terms and Conditions. It is vital that you keep all these documents in a safe place. You might also consider letting your family know that you’ve bought a Funeral Insurance Plan. The Funeral Insurance Plan offers you whole-of-life cover. This means that as long as you continue to pay your monthly premiums your loved ones are guaranteed to receive a lump sum when you pass away.
- What happens if funeral costs rise in future?
A British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan offers you flexibility. This means that at any point during your plan you can apply to increase or decrease your monthly premium which can increase or decrease the payout amount.
With a British Seniors Funeral Insurance Plan, your benefit amount and premium will automatically increase every year on the anniversary of your policy. This can offer you a way to help offset the impact of inflation on your payout amount. Your benefit amount will increase by 3.5% and your monthly premium will increase by 5% each year. You can choose to opt out of these increases in which case your benefit amount and premium will remain fixed for that year. If you opt out of three increases in a row, your benefit and premium will remain permanently fixed for the policy duration. - How do I (or my family) make a claim?
We aim to make sure that the process of making a claim with British Seniors is straightforward for your loved ones. In order to make a claim, you or a loved one will need to email claims@britishseniors.co.uk. From there we will send out the necessary documentation that will have to be filled out. Once these documents have been returned, the claim will be processed. As soon as the claim is accepted, we will pay the benefit to the person who is legally entitled to it and we will refund any premiums paid between the date of death and the date the claim is paid.
- What happens if I lose my paperwork?
If you have misplaced your paperwork you can get in contact with our UK customer service team for free on 0800 542 7618. We are available Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Alternatively you can get in contact with us via email on service@britishseniors.co.uk. From there our expert team will help you get things sorted out.
- How can I include personal requests in my Funeral Insurance Plan?
In order to have personal requests about your Funeral you will need to sit down and discuss your wishes with your loved ones. When you pass away a lump sum payout will be made to your legal beneficiary. From there it is up to them to fulfil any personal requests you might have. With your Funeral Insurance Plan you will receive a free, legally approved Will Kit worth £100 that can help you plan for when you pass away.
- What happens if I die during my first year?
For the first 12 months of your plan, you are only covered for death as a result of an accident. If you pass away as a result of an accident during the first year of the plan, you will receive two times the benefit amount. After that 12-month period, you are covered for death as a result of any cause.
- What happens if I stop making monthly payments?
If you miss two consecutive payments on your plan, it will come to an end and you won’t get any of the premiums you have paid back. You will be given plenty of notification before it gets to this point.
- How long do I pay for Funeral Insurance Plans?
A Funeral Insurance Plan with British Seniors is a whole-of-life plan. That means that if you continue to pay your premiums your plan will be in place for the rest of your life. However, on the policy anniversary after the 95th birthday of the person who is insured the premiums will come to an end. Your cover will still be in place, but you will no longer have to pay the monthly premium.
- Am I immediately covered with a Funeral Insurance Plan?
With British Seniors, you are immediately covered for death as a result of an accident. Not only this but we will pay 2x the benefit amount if you pass away as a result of an accident. After 12 months, you are then covered for death by any cause.
- Can I cash in my Funeral Insurance Plan?
There is no cash-in value of the plan at any point.
- What if I want to cancel my plan?
If you cancel your plan within the first 30 days you will be entitled to a full refund of any premiums paid. After this 30 day period if you decide to cancel you will not receive any money back as the policy will have no cash in value.
- How do you know funeral costs are rising?
In 2020, British Seniors conducted research into the average cost of a funeral over the last 5 years. This research looked at the different elements that make up the cost of a funeral. It also considered other elements that have an impact on the overall cost such as location. You can find the full report here.
- I have life insurance; can I use this for my funeral?
Yes, you can use your life insurance to help towards the cost of your funeral. The lump sum benefit amount from a Funeral Insurance Plan will be paid to your legal beneficiary and they can choose to use it towards the cost of your funeral.
- What happens if I die abroad or away from home?
With British Seniors you are covered worldwide, 24/7. However, the costs of repatriation of a body can be high. While a Funeral Insurance Plan could help towards the costs of a funeral, repatriation might exceed the payout amount of the plan. If you intend to travel abroad at any point it is important to consider travel insurance. This kind of insurance can help cover the costs of repatriation of your body. Once your body has been returned to the UK, the funeral can be planned.
- Does my Funeral Insurance Plan guarantee to cover the cost of my funeral?
No, there is no guarantee that your Funeral Insurance Plan will cover the cost of your funeral. Unfortunately, inflation could influence the cost of your funeral in the future. As a way of offsetting inflation your Funeral Insurance Plan premium and benefit amount are automatically set to increase. Your benefit amount will increase by 3.5% each year and your monthly premium will increase by 5%.
You can choose to opt out of these increases in which case your premium and benefit amount will stay the same for that year. If you opt out of these increases for three years in a row your benefit and premium will stay fixed for the remainder of the policy.
Funeral Insurance Plans from British Seniors
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£100 M&S Gift Card, for new policy holders only, after six successful monthly payments and once your total premiums paid exceeds the value of your Gift Card. View full terms and conditions here.