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We know it’s not the most pleasant topic to think about. Planning your own funeral isn’t exactly a dinner-table conversation, and for many people, it’s something they put off for as long as possible. After all, funerals aren’t something you typically budget for yourself.
However, if you have a family who depends on you emotionally, practically, or financially, it’s one of those difficult but necessary things to consider. Funeral costs in Ireland can reach up to €8,000, and without a plan in place, your loved ones could be left scrambling to cover those expenses at the worst possible time.
In this article, we’ll explore how your life insurance policy could help cover the cost of your funeral and how some policies in Ireland even offer an advance payment to take care of funeral expenses before the full payout is processed. It’s about making things easier for your loved ones when they need it most.
How much should you pay for a funeral in Ireland?
According to The Irish Times, the cost of a funeral in Ireland typically ranges from €4,500 to €8,000, depending on your location and the type of service. This includes expenses such as the coffin, transportation, funeral director’s fees, burial or cremation, church or celebrant fees, music, flowers, and death notices. The article notes that it would not be unusual for a funeral to cost close to €8,000, particularly in cities where burial plots and third-party fees are more expensive.
What’s the Difference Between Funeral Insurance and Life Insurance with a Funeral Benefit?
There are two main ways to financially prepare for funeral costs in Ireland: funeral insurance and life insurance with a funeral benefit. While both can help cover the cost of a funeral, they work very differently:
Funeral Insurance
- Designed only to cover funeral-related costs.
- Pays out a small lump sum, typically between €3,000 and €30,000.
- Usually available to people aged 50–75, with no medical checks required.
- Policies often cost €15–€25/month, depending on age and cover amount.
- Includes a 2-year waiting period; if you pass away during this time, only the premiums paid are refunded.
Life Insurance with Funeral Benefit
- Provides a larger lump sum, usually from €50,000 to €500,000.
- The payout can be used for anything: funeral costs, debts, mortgage, children’s education, or income replacement.
- Some providers offer up to €10,000 paid early to help with funeral expenses while waiting for probate.
- Monthly premiums can start as low as €10–€20 for younger applicants.
While most life insurance claims are paid out promptly after a valid claim is accepted, sometimes probate is required, especially if no legal owner is remaining. In these cases, full payout is delayed until probate is granted, which can take several months. That’s why the advance funeral payment feature can be so valuable; it ensures your family isn’t left waiting to cover urgent costs.
Thinking about the future? Make sure your family’s protected.
Why Life Insurance Is Usually the Better Choice
Life insurance is usually the better choice because it offers greater flexibility, better value for money, and broader protection for your family than funeral insurance alone.
While funeral insurance is limited to covering funeral costs and often includes waiting periods or age restrictions, life insurance provides a larger lump sum that your loved ones can use for whatever they need most, including:
- Funeral costs (with some providers offering up to €10,000 in advance to cover immediate expenses)
- Mortgage repayments or rent
- Day-to-day living costs
- Clearing debts or loans
- Education or childcare expenses
- Future savings or income replacement
And the best part? In many cases, life insurance can cost the same or even less per month than funeral insurance, especially if you apply while you’re younger and healthier.
Ultimately, funeral insurance may offer peace of mind for a specific need, but life insurance provides real financial security, not just for your funeral, but for your family’s future as well.
What are the benefits of taking out life insurance early?
Taking out life insurance while you’re young and healthy comes with major advantages. One of the biggest benefits is lower premiums, the younger and healthier you are, the cheaper your monthly payments will be.
Even better, once you take out a policy, you lock in that premium for the entire term. That means you’ll continue paying the same low rate for decades, even as you age or your health changes.
If you wait until you’re older to apply, not only will premiums be higher, but you may also face more medical checks or exclusions due to pre-existing conditions.
In short: the earlier you start, the more you save, and the easier it is to get covered.
Are my children covered under my life insurance policy?
Yes, with many life insurance policies in Ireland, your children are automatically covered at no extra cost. If your policy includes Serious Illness Cover, your children are typically covered under it as well, offering them the same protection without any additional premium.
Here’s how it works:
- If a child passes away during the term of your policy, some providers offer a death benefit of up to €7,000, typically for children under 18, or up to 25 if in full-time education.
- If your policy includes Serious Illness Cover, your children are also protected. Most providers cover children for up to €25,000, or half the amount of your own serious illness cover — whichever is lower.
- This child cover is built into the adult policy and applies automatically to all your dependent children for as long as your own cover is in place.
Note: The availability, cover limits, and age restrictions can vary by provider, so it’s important to review your policy details or ask your broker for specifics.
What happens if I’m diagnosed with a terminal illness?
Suppose you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness and have less than 12 months to live. In that case, most life insurance policies in Ireland include a Terminal Illness Benefit, meaning your full life cover amount is paid out before you pass away.
This early payout allows you to take control and:
- Organise your funeral the way you want
- Settle any debts or financial affairs
- Update your will and make legal arrangements
- Ensure your last wishes are carried out
Most importantly, it gives you the chance to do all of this without placing added stress or financial burden on your family during an already difficult time.
To qualify, both your attending consultant and the insurer’s Chief Medical Officer must confirm the diagnosis.
What Other Free Benefits Are Available to Me and My Family if I Have a Life Insurance Policy?
Alongside the advance payment of your cover for funeral purposes, children’s life cover, and terminal illness benefit, some providers also offer additional benefits for you and your family, such as
Aviva Care
When you choose Aviva for your Life Insurance, Serious Illness Cover, Mortgage Protection, or Income Protection, you can access an exclusive health and well-being service called Aviva Care.
This service is included free of charge with all new protection policies, offering a suite of valuable benefits designed to support your overall health and well-being.
Aviva Care provides policyholders with four great benefits at no additional cost: Digital GP, Best Doctors Second Medical Opinion, Family Care Mental Health Support, and Bereavement Support.
Helping Hand
Royal London goes beyond the typical insurance offering by providing access to a service called Helping Hand, which grants you access to dedicated medical professionals from the day your policy starts, not only when you make a claim.
This unique feature includes all nurses available to give you a second opinion on your diagnosis and future treatment options without additional cost. Helping Hand isn’t just for policyholders; your spouse and children can also use the service.
Should you ever experience a serious illness, injury, or bereavement, Helping Hand offers crucial support that extends beyond financial aid. To aid in recovery or coping, Royal London, through Helping Hand, may provide access to specialist therapies such as bereavement counsellors, speech and language therapists, face-to-face second medical opinions, complementary therapies, and physiotherapy for specific serious health conditions.
Check out the benefits you can enjoy while alive and see how your policy can do more than you might think.
If something happened tomorrow, would your family be okay financially?
Which Type Of Life Insurance Should I Choose?
When it comes to securing your family’s financial future through life insurance, you have several options to consider. You can opt for a standalone life insurance policy that provides a payout in the event of your or your partner’s death.
Alternatively, you might combine different types of insurance to ensure comprehensive cover. For instance, Serious Illness Cover can be added to your policy to protect against specified critical illnesses, while Income Protection Insurance can provide financial support if you’re unable to work due to injury or illness.
Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance provides a lump sum payment to you and your family in the event of death. This type of life insurance applies to a specific fixed term; the policy will cease after the term has ended and no claim is made.
Whole of Life Insurance
Whole of Life Insurance will insure you for your entire life, continuing up until the event of your death. In most cases, this type of life insurance will cost considerably more than other products as there is a guaranteed payout.
Convertible Life Insurance
Convertible Term insurance is similar to Term insurance but has a different advantage.
The policyholder can convert the existing cover into a new, longer-term policy without requiring the insured person to provide further medical information at the time of conversion.
Read more about Convertible Life Insurance.
You can also change the policy to a “Whole of Life” policy, which guarantees you life insurance for the rest of your life.
Mortgage Protection
If you pass away before paying off your mortgage in full, Mortgage Protection insurance will cover the remaining balance.
Read more in our post about the most frequently asked questions about mortgage protection and the myths surrounding it.
Life Insurance – Types of Cover For Families
Single
Getting a quote by yourself and taking out a single policy.
Joint
This policy covers you and your partner and will pay out once. This policy can either be set up on a Joint Life First Death basis, i.e., the policy will pay out on the death of the first life assured, and cease.
Or on a Joint Life Second Death basis, i.e., there will be no payment on the death of the first life assured, however, the policy will pay out on the death of the second life assured and then the policy will cease.
Dual
Dual cover will pay out on the death of both the first and second lives assured. On the death of the first life assured, the benefits will be paid to the remaining life assured.
The benefits will be paid to their estate upon the death of the second life assured. Once the policy has paid out on both the first and second lives assured, it will cease.
Thinking about the future? Make sure your family’s protected.
Need Help Choosing the Right Cover? Get a Life Insurance Quote
At LowQuotes.ie, we compare life insurance from Ireland’s leading providers to help you find the right cover, not just for today, but for the future. Whether you’re 25 or 55, planning ahead means your loved ones won’t be left scrambling to cover funeral costs during an already heartbreaking time.
Our experienced financial advisors are here to guide you every step of the way. We’ll help you understand your options and explain the unique benefits each provider offers, so you can choose a policy that truly fits your life and your family’s needs.
Whether you’re looking for term life insurance, whole-of-life cover, a single, joint, or dual policy, or a plan tailored to your personal circumstances, LowQuotes gives you the tools, support, and insight to make an informed and confident decision.
We also provide a wide variety of financial services, such as mortgages, serious illness cover, pensions, financial planning, health insurance, and savings & investments.
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All our content has been written or overseen by a qualified financial advisor. However, you should always seek individual financial advice for your unique circumstances.
