Short answer
American General offers final expense coverage: SimpliNow Legacy, Guaranteed Issue Whole Life. How it is sold: independent agents and financial professionals.
Life Insurance Policy Desk is not American General and cannot see or change your account with the company. We are an independent brokerage: we can explain an American General policy you already own, or compare American General with other final expense carriers, at no cost.
American General final expense plans at a glance
| Plan | Underwriting | Issue ages | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliNow LegacyIssued by American General Life Insurance Company | Simplified issue: health questions, no exam | 50-80 | $5,000-$35,000 |
| Guaranteed Issue Whole LifeIssued by American General Life Insurance Company | Guaranteed issue: no health questions | 50-80 | $5,000-$25,000 |
Plan names, ages and amounts vary by state and change over time. The policy contract is the final word.
Policies are not solicited, issued or delivered in New York.
What final expense insurance covers
A final expense policy pays a lump sum to your beneficiary when you die. The money is not restricted, so families usually use it for the funeral or cremation, a burial plot or marker, flowers and the service, and final medical or household bills. Because it is whole life coverage, the premium is fixed for life and the policy does not expire as long as premiums are paid.
- Simplified issue plans ask health questions but need no medical exam. If you qualify, the full benefit usually applies from the first day.
- Guaranteed issue plans ask no health questions. They cost more for the same amount and normally have a waiting period of two or three years for deaths from natural causes.
- Graded benefit plans pay a reduced amount in the first years, then the full benefit.
Before you buy or replace a final expense policy
- Answer the health questions honestly. A wrong answer can let the insurer contest a claim in the first two years.
- If you qualify for simplified issue, avoid paying more for guaranteed issue and its waiting period.
- Replacing a policy you already have can restart a waiting period and cost more at an older age. Compare first.
- Name a beneficiary who can act quickly, and tell them where the policy is.
A licensed agent can compare American General with other final expense carriers for your age, health and state, or review a policy you already own.
Frequently asked questions
Does American General sell final expense insurance?
Yes. American General's small whole life coverage for funeral and end-of-life costs is sold as SimpliNow Legacy, Guaranteed Issue Whole Life. Ages, amounts and underwriting are summarized on this page; the policy contract and the state you live in set the final terms.
Is there a waiting period on American General guaranteed or graded coverage?
Yes. The waiting period is 2 years; 110% of premiums paid for non-accidental death. After it ends, the full death benefit is paid. Accidental death is usually covered in full from the start. Check your own policy for the exact wording.
What is the difference between simplified issue and guaranteed issue final expense?
Simplified issue asks health questions but has no medical exam; if you qualify, the full benefit usually applies from day one. Guaranteed issue asks no health questions, so it costs more for the same amount and normally pays only a refund of premiums, plus a set percentage, if death from natural causes happens in the first two or three years.
I already have an American General final expense policy. Should I replace it?
Usually not without a comparison. A new policy may restart a waiting period, costs more at an older age and may ask new health questions. Keeping, reducing or adding to the current policy is often better. A free review lays out what you have and what replacing it would cost, side by side.
How much final expense coverage do people usually buy?
Most final expense policies are between about $5,000 and $25,000, sized to cover a funeral or cremation, a burial plot or marker, and a few final bills. The right amount depends on the arrangements you want and on any savings or other coverage your family can use.