Life Insurance for An 88 Year Old


  • May 20, 2024
88 year old
Photo credit: Senior woman portrait of a 88 year old lady

At 88, you can obtain life insurance to protect your loved ones from the financial burden of funeral expenses. In this article, we’ll review final expense insurance to help you make an informed decision.

Having life insurance means you don’t have to worry about your final expenses being a financial burden on your loved ones. It can also give your loved ones peace of mind, knowing they’re protected and that you’ve taken steps to secure their future.

Additionally, life insurance can be used to leave a financial legacy if that’s something you desire.

(Note: If you want to see what rates would have been like last year, see our piece on 87 year old life insurance, and if you want to see what’s coming up, check out our article on life insurance for 89 year olds.)

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Can an 88-Year-Old Get Life Insurance?

Final expense insurance, or burial insurance, is a type of life insurance designed to cover expenses incurred at the end of life, including funeral costs, outstanding debts, and other related expenses.

Several key features of final expense insurance are important to note, including:

  1. Permanent coverage that lasts for the policyholder’s entire life.
  2. Coverage amounts typically range from $2,000 to $50,000.
  3. A streamlined application process that does not require a medical examination.
  4. Riders, or add-on benefits, provide additional protection in specific cases such as accidental death, critical illness, or long-term nursing home care.
  5. Cash value builds over time, allowing the policyholder to borrow against the life insurance policy for medical or other urgent expenses.

88-year-olds are not eligible for the following types of life insurance:

  1. Term life insurance
  2. Accidental death life insurance
  3. Guaranteed acceptance life insurance

Life Insurance Rates For 88 Year Olds

Whole Life Insurance Rates For 88 Year Old Male

Coverage$2,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$66
Male (Smoker)$105
Coverage$3,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$97
Male (Smoker)$156
Coverage$4,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$129
Male (Smoker)$207
Coverage$5,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$160
Male (Smoker)$258
Coverage$6,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$191
Male (Smoker)$309
Coverage$7,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$223
Male (Smoker)$360
Coverage$8,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$254
Male (Smoker)$411
Coverage$9,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$285
Male (Smoker)$462
Coverage$10,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$317
Male (Smoker)$513
Coverage$11,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$348
Male (Smoker)$564
Coverage$12,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$379
Male (Smoker)$615
Coverage$13,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$411
Male (Smoker)$666
Coverage$14,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$442
Male (Smoker)$716
Coverage$15,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$473
Male (Smoker)$767
Coverage$16,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$505
Male (Smoker)$818
Coverage$17,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$536
Male (Smoker)$869
Coverage$18,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$567
Male (Smoker)$920
Coverage$19,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$599
Male (Smoker)$971
Coverage$20,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$630
Male (Smoker)$1,022
Coverage$21,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$661
Male (Smoker)$1,073
Coverage$22,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$693
Male (Smoker)$1,124
Coverage$23,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$724
Male (Smoker)$1,175
Coverage$24,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$755
Male (Smoker)$1,226
Coverage$25,000
Male (Non-Smoker)$787
Male (Smoker)$1,277

The table shows burial insurance rates for men at different coverage amounts, divided into two columns for non-smokers and smokers. The coverage starts at $2,000 and goes up to $25,000 in increments of $1,000.

For non-smokers, the price range is from $66 for a $2,000 coverage to $787 for a $25,000 coverage. For smokers, the price range is from $105 for a $2,000 coverage to $1,277 for a $25,000 coverage. Therefore, non-smokers pay less for the same coverage amount compared to smokers.

For every $1,000 of coverage, the price difference between non-smokers and smokers increases. For instance, for a $2,000 coverage, smokers pay $39 more than non-smokers. But for a $25,000 coverage, the difference increases to $490.

Overall, the table provides information about burial insurance rates for men based on their coverage amount and smoking status. The rates increase with the coverage amount and are higher for smokers than non-smokers. Analyzing such tables to make informed decisions about purchasing insurance is essential.

How Much Is Life Insurance For An 88 Year Old Female?

Coverage$2,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$51
Female (Smoker)$71
Coverage$3,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$75
Female (Smoker)$105
Coverage$4,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$98
Female (Smoker)$139
Coverage$5,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$122
Female (Smoker)$172
Coverage$6,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$146
Female (Smoker)$206
Coverage$7,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$169
Female (Smoker)$240
Coverage$8,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$193
Female (Smoker)$274
Coverage$9,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$217
Female (Smoker)$307
Coverage$10,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$241
Female (Smoker)$341
Coverage$11,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$264
Female (Smoker)$375
Coverage$12,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$288
Female (Smoker)$409
Coverage$13,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$312
Female (Smoker)$443
Coverage$14,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$335
Female (Smoker)$476
Coverage$15,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$359
Female (Smoker)$510
Coverage$16,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$383
Female (Smoker)$544
Coverage$17,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$407
Female (Smoker)$578
Coverage$18,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$430
Female (Smoker)$611
Coverage$19,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$454
Female (Smoker)$645
Coverage$20,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$478
Female (Smoker)$679
Coverage$21,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$501
Female (Smoker)$713
Coverage$22,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$525
Female (Smoker)$747
Coverage$23,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$549
Female (Smoker)$780
Coverage$24,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$573
Female (Smoker)$814
Coverage$25,000
Female (Non-Smoker)$596
Female (Smoker)$848

The table displays burial insurance rates for women at various coverage amounts, with separate columns for non-smokers and smokers. The coverage starts at $2,000 and increases to $25,000 in increments of $1,000.

The prices for non-smokers range from $51 for a $2,000 coverage to $596 for a $25,000 coverage. For smokers, the prices range from $71 for a $2,000 coverage to $848 for a $25,000 coverage. As in the previous table, non-smokers pay less than smokers for the same coverage amount.

This table shows a lower price difference between smokers and non-smokers compared to the previous one. For instance, the price difference for a $2,000 coverage is only $20. However, the difference increases with the coverage amount, with smokers paying $252 more than non-smokers for a $25,000 coverage.

The prices for every $1,000 of coverage increase with the coverage amount. The price difference between non-smokers and smokers also increases with the coverage amount. For example, for a $2,000 coverage, smokers pay $20 more than non-smokers. But for a $25,000 coverage, the difference increases to $252.

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Top Life Insurance Companies for an 88-Year-Old

Aetna is a life insurance provider that offers plans specifically tailored to meet the needs of seniors, including those aged 88. They provide coverage options for individuals aged between 40-89, with varying coverage amounts ranging from a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of $25,000.

Aetna has earned an “A” rating from AM Best, a rating agency known for its impartial assessments of insurance companies. Ratings are based on the company’s financial health and claims-paying ability.

"Protection Series" Whole Life Insurance
Policy TypeAvailable States
Whole LifeAll except AK, CA, DC, HI, MA, ME, MN, NY, ND, SD, WA
Policy TypeAge Range
Whole Life45 - 89 years
Policy TypeCoverage Range
Whole Life$2,000 - $50,000 (varies by age)
Policy TypePolicy Duration
Whole LifeLifelong
Policy TypeWaiting Period
Whole LifeNone
Policy TypeRate Lock
Whole LifeYes - rates never increase
Advantages
  • Lenient underwriting
  • Shortest application, industry-wide
  • Automated underwriting (approval potentially in minutes)
  • No medical exam
  • Flat, never-increasing premiums
Considerations
  • N/A

Rikin Shah

Rikin is the Founder & CEO of GetSure. He is a licensed life, accident & health insurance agent in all 50 states (plus D.C.) and has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been featured in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, and U.S. News & World Report, among others. Rikin holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Columbia University and an MBA from The Stanford Graduate School of Business. If you'd like to speak with Rikin to discuss your life insurance options or questions, don't hesitate to email him at hello [at] getsure.org.