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What is Funeral Cover?
Funeral Cover, also referred to as Funeral Insurance, is a policy that pays out a lump sum when an insured person passes away. Funeral Cover provides fast payouts after your death to cover funeral expenses, so your family can focus on grieving, rather than budgeting.
You can take out an affordable Funeral Cover policy for yourself only, or choose a family funeral plan that extends cover to your spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, and other extended family members. This is referred to as extended cover, and it means a lump sum is paid out when any of your covered loved ones pass away.
Why Funeral Cover?
Few things in life are as heartbreaking as an unexpected death in the family. Without a funeral policy in place, expenses add up and often push families into debt.
South Africa has some of the highest funeral costs in the world. A funeral can easily run into tens of thousands of rands, from R5,000 for basic arrangements to R30,000 (on average), then when you factor in the undertaker, burial arrangements, catering, and transport, you can be facing even more.
With Funeral Cover you can...
Common waiting periods for funeral claims
Before your policy pays out, most policies include a waiting period — a set amount of time after your policy starts during which certain claims won't be paid. This is standard practice across the industry and is important to understand before you choose a plan.
| Claim type | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Accidental death | None |
| Natural death | 6–12 months |
| Suicide | 12–24 months |
| Adding new family members | New waiting periods apply |
Note: Waiting periods protect insurers against people taking out cover only when death is imminent. All waiting periods are plan-dependent. Understanding the waiting period on your policy ensures your family won't be caught off guard when making a funeral claim.
What does a funeral plan pay out for?
A funeral policy pays out a tax-free lump sum when an insured person passes away. Depending on your plan, the payout can help cover:
- Undertaker and embalming fees
- Burial or cremation costs
- Catering and venue hire
- Transport and repatriation of the deceased
- Tombstone and memorial costs
- Airtime and grocery benefits for the family
Important: Funeral Cover policies have waiting periods, exclusions, and limitations that vary by insurer. Always read your policy schedule carefully and speak to a licensed financial adviser if you are unsure what your cover includes.
Funeral Cover vs Life Insurance
Life Insurance ensures that those dependent on your income are taken care of, covering bond or rental costs, tuition costs, paying off debt, or leaving behind a financial legacy. Comprehensive Life Insurance often includes Funeral Cover. It is priced according to an individual's profile and involves complex underwriting.
Funeral Cover, on the other hand, is simpler and easier to qualify for, because its sole purpose is to assist in covering the expenses associated with planning a funeral after you or a family member dies. A medical examination is not required for Funeral Cover, but can be required for Life Insurance, depending on the provider.
It's advisable to have both for comprehensive financial planning, but Funeral Cover is the most direct way to cover funeral costs quickly, with speedier payouts.
Family funeral plan
A single policy that covers your spouse, children, and yourself. One monthly premium, one policy, and a lump sum paid out for any covered family member who passes away.
Funeral Cover for parents
Funeral Cover for parents allows you to add one or both parents to your existing or new funeral policy.
Extended family Funeral Cover
Extended family Funeral Cover pays out a lump sum upon proof of death of a covered extended family member. Some insurers cover up to 21 extended family members on one plan
Funeral Cover for over 80's
Some insurers let you add someone up to the age of 80 on your policy, allowing you to prepare financially for funeral costs.
What does Funeral Cover cost?
The answer depends on several factors: the cover amount you choose, how many family members you want to insure, their ages, and the plan you select.
- Premiums with Hippo's partners start from as little as R42 per month for basic individual cover.
- A family funeral plan covering a spouse, children, and parents typically ranges from R100 to R500 or more per month, depending on the number of people insured and the cover amount per person.
- Hippo's affordable Funeral Cover quotes cover amounts from R15,000 up to R80,000.
It's important to note that monthly premiums can increase annually (this is standard across the industry and is usually linked to age or inflation). When comparing funeral plan options, always check whether premiums increase at a fixed rate or at the insurer's discretion, so there are no surprises.
The ins ‘n outs of Funeral Insurance
Hippo’s top tips to getting more out.
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Execellent service, timeous response, great communication and a good overall experience finding the ideal insurance for you.
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I was desperate for an insurance an affordable premium as Auto General had suddenly communicated that they would charge me R2400. Hippo provided affordable options and within 3 hours, I had new insurance cover at a good rate and the old insurance cancelled.
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FAQ
How quickly will my claim be paid out?
Most claims are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the insurer receiving all required documents. Payment is made via EFT directly to the named beneficiary.
Do I need a medical exam to get Funeral Cover?
No. Funeral Cover does not require a medical exam or health questionnaire. However, waiting periods will apply before certain claims can be paid.
Can I change my cover amount or add/remove family members later?
Yes, most providers allow you to adjust your cover amount or add and remove family members at any time. Note that a new waiting period will apply for any newly added person.
What happens if I miss a premium payment?
This depends on your insurer. Some plans offer a grace period or premium holiday that lets you skip 1–3 months without losing cover. If your policy includes a paid-up benefit and you've paid premiums for the required period (usually 10–15 years), your cover may continue even if you stop paying altogether.
What does "remain covered" mean after the main member dies?
Some plans offer a premium waiver, allowing remaining family members to stay covered for a set period after the main insured person passes away, without having to pay further monthly premiums.
How do I make sure my family can claim?
Make sure your loved ones know the policy exists, keep your beneficiary details up to date, and store your policy documents where family can easily find them. Unclaimed benefits are more common than you'd think, usually because families didn't know a policy was in place.
What are the legal requirements for cover amount and age?
Funeral Cover in South Africa is regulated under the Insurance Act, 18 of 2017, together with the Policyholder Protection Rules. There is no statutory cap on aggregate Funeral Cover across multiple policies held with different insurers. Main members are typically accepted from age 18 to 65, with cover continuing up to age 75 or 85, depending on the insurer. Children (biological, step, and legally adopted) are covered from birth up to age 21, or 25 if they are full-time students. Parents and parents-in-law can also be added, with an age limit of 75, though this will result in higher premiums.
