Am I underinsured for a funeral? How to check your cover gap
Updated 10 November 2026
Short answer
You are underinsured if your funeral cover plus savings is less than the cost of the funeral your family would actually hold. Add up the items you want, subtract every policy payout and savings you can access quickly, and the difference is your gap. Many people find a gap of R20,000 or more.
Three steps to find your gap
1. Price the funeral you want: coffin, burial, catering for your realistic guest list, transport and a tombstone.
2. Add up what pays out: every funeral policy (including ones through work, church, a stokvel or burial society) and savings your family can reach within days.
3. Subtract. If the cost is higher, that difference is your cover gap.
Common reasons people end up short
Cover chosen years ago and never increased while prices kept rising.
Guest numbers underestimated — catering and chairs scale with every person.
Repatriation forgotten when the burial will be in a home province.
Assuming a burial society pays the full cost, when many pay a fixed amount.
Questions people ask
How much funeral cover do I need?
Enough to match the full cost of the funeral you want, minus savings your family can access immediately. For most South African families that means R30,000–R80,000 of cover for the main member.
Can I have more than one funeral policy?
Yes. Many people combine a work policy, a burial society and a private policy. Add them all up when checking your gap.