Blog & Videos

Veterans · Final Expense

What Does the VA Actually Pay for a Veteran's Funeral?

By Ali El-Hallani, Principal, Michigan Benefit Services

We are grateful to every veteran who served. Many veterans and their families believe the VA will cover the full cost of a funeral. The VA does provide valuable burial benefits, but in most cases they do not cover everything. Here is what the VA provides, and where the gaps usually are.

What the VA provides in a national cemetery

For an eligible veteran buried in a VA national cemetery, the VA provides at no cost: a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. An eligible spouse can be buried with the veteran at no cost.

What the VA does not cover

According to the VA, any item or service obtained from a funeral home or cremation provider is at the family's expense. That generally includes the funeral home's services, the casket or urn, embalming or cremation, a viewing or memorial service, flowers, and an obituary. These costs often add up to thousands of dollars.

The VA burial allowance

Some families can also apply for a VA burial allowance to help with costs. For deaths on or after October 1, 2026, the VA lists a burial allowance of $1,032 and a plot allowance of $1,032. A different amount may apply when a death is service-connected.

Not every veteran qualifies. The allowance generally applies when, for example, the death was service-connected, the veteran died while receiving VA care, or the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death. The VA reimburses the person who paid the costs, so the family usually has to pay first and wait for repayment.

How a final expense policy can fill the gap

• Helps pay the costs the VA does not: funeral home services, casket or cremation, a service, and other final bills.
• Paid directly to your beneficiary: your family decides how to use the money.
• No reimbursement wait: the claim is paid by the insurance company once it is approved.
• Not tied to VA eligibility rules: once your policy is in force, the benefit does not depend on VA criteria such as a service-connected death.
• Coverage for your spouse: a spouse can have a policy of their own.

VA benefits and a final expense policy work best together. Use the VA benefits you have earned, and let a final expense policy help with the rest so your family is not left with the bill.

Michigan Benefit Services is a private insurance agency and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. VA benefit information comes from VA.gov, Veterans Burial Allowance and VA National Cemetery Administration, Burial Benefits, accessed October 2026. VA benefits and eligibility can change; contact the VA or visit VA.gov to confirm your benefits. Insurance coverage is subject to underwriting approval, and benefits, waiting periods, and claim timing vary by carrier and product.

Final Expense · Know Before You Buy

Guaranteed Issue vs. Level Day-One Coverage: What Those TV and Mail Ads Don't Always Tell You

By Ali El-Hallani, Principal, Michigan Benefit Services

You have probably seen the TV commercials or received the postcards: "You can't be turned down!" "No health questions!" "Guaranteed acceptance!" These policies are real, and they help some people. But before you sign up, it is important to understand how they work.

What is guaranteed issue coverage?

A guaranteed issue policy accepts almost anyone in its age range, with no health questions. Because the insurance company takes on everyone, these policies usually come with a waiting period, often called a graded or limited benefit, that typically lasts two to three years.

If you pass away from natural causes, such as illness, during the waiting period, your family usually does not receive the full death benefit. Instead, they typically get back the premiums you paid, sometimes plus interest. Accidental deaths are often covered in full from the start. Guaranteed issue plans also tend to cost more per dollar of coverage.

What is level day-one coverage?

With a level benefit policy, the full death benefit is in force from the first day your policy starts. If you pass away for any covered reason, even in the first month, your family receives the full amount.

To qualify, you answer a short set of health questions. Many people are surprised to learn they qualify, even with common conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or a past heart condition. Individuals managing more serious health conditions, including those who use oxygen, receive dialysis, or have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure or lupus, may also have coverage options available through select carriers. Eligibility and the type of coverage offered depend on the carrier and each person's individual health history.

A simple comparison

Our approach

At Michigan Benefit Services, we offer level day-one coverage with no medical exam. We compare several top carriers to find the one most likely to approve you for full coverage from the start, at the best price for your health. Guaranteed issue is a good option for some people, but it should be the last option, not the first.

Before you mail that card back

• Ask whether the policy has a waiting period, and how long it lasts.
• Ask what your family would receive if you passed away in year one.
• Ask whether the price or the coverage amount changes as you get older.
• Call us for a free comparison before you sign anything.

Policy features, waiting periods, benefits, and eligibility vary by carrier, product, state, and individual health history. Coverage is subject to underwriting approval. This article is general information and does not describe any specific company's product.

Life Insurance · Mortgage Protection

Why Mortgage Protection Matters for Your Family

By Ali El-Hallani, Principal, Michigan Benefit Services

For most families, the home is the biggest purchase they will ever make. It is where the kids grow up, where holidays happen, and where memories are made. But have you thought about what would happen to that home if you were no longer here to help pay for it?

The mortgage does not go away

If a homeowner passes away, the mortgage is still owed. The monthly payment, property taxes, and insurance keep coming. If your family depended on your income, they could be forced to sell the house or fall behind on payments, all while grieving.

What mortgage protection is

Mortgage protection is simply term life insurance set up to match your mortgage. You pick a coverage amount close to your loan balance and a term that fits how long you will be paying, such as 15, 20, or 30 years. If you pass away during that time, the policy pays a tax-free death benefit to your family.

The money goes to your family, not the bank

This is one of the biggest advantages. The policy pays your beneficiaries directly. They can pay off the home, keep making payments, cover funeral costs, or use the money for whatever they need most. With the mortgage-life coverage some lenders offer, the benefit may go to the lender and may shrink as your balance goes down. Be sure to compare.

Help while you are still living

Many mortgage protection plans include living benefits. If you are diagnosed with a terminal, chronic, or critical illness such as a heart attack, stroke, or cancer, you may be able to access part of your death benefit early to help keep up with the bills. Some plans also offer a return of premium option that refunds what you paid if you outlive the term.

Why it is smart to act early

• Rates are based on your age and health, so they are usually lowest when you are younger and healthier.
• Your premium stays level for the whole term once you are approved.
• Many plans need no medical exam and can be approved quickly.

Who should consider it

If you have a mortgage and anyone in your life depends on you, whether a spouse, children, or a parent who lives with you, mortgage protection deserves a look. It is especially important for single-income households and new homeowners.

Mortgage protection is a life insurance policy and is not issued by or affiliated with your mortgage lender or any government agency. Benefits, riders such as living benefits and return of premium, rates, and availability vary by carrier, state, and underwriting approval. Call 313.721.2144 to review your options.

Medicare · October 2026

What's Changing in Medicare for 2027: A Simple Guide

By Ali El-Hallani, Principal, Michigan Benefit Services

Medicare Annual Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, and any changes you make start January 1, 2027. Here are the biggest changes coming next year, in plain English.

1. The yearly cap on drug costs goes up to $2,400

Since 2025, there has been a limit on how much you pay out of pocket for covered Part D prescriptions in a year. For 2027, that limit rises from $2,100 to $2,400. Once you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year.

2. Lower prices on 15 more popular drugs

Starting January 1, 2027, Medicare's negotiated prices take effect for 15 more drugs, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, Trelegy Ellipta, Breo Ellipta, Janumet, Tradjenta, Linzess, Xifaxan, Vraylar, Otezla, Ibrance, Xtandi, Pomalyst, Ofev, Calquence, and Austedo. Medicare expects these lower prices to save people about $685 million in out-of-pocket costs. All Medicare drug plans must cover these drugs.

3. Stand-alone drug plan premiums may change

A temporary federal program that helped hold down premiums for stand-alone Part D plans ends after 2026. Some people may pay more for their drug plan in 2027, while others may see little change. This is a big reason to compare plans this year instead of letting yours renew automatically.

4. Medicare Advantage plan ratings are changing

Medicare is updating its Star Ratings to focus more on real health results and patient experience, and less on paperwork. Medicare is also setting clearer rules for the benefit debit cards many Advantage plans offer, such as cards for groceries or over-the-counter items.

What you should do now

• Open your Annual Notice of Change letter from your plan and look for changes to premiums, copays, and your drug list.
• Make a list of your doctors, pharmacy, and every prescription you take.
• Compare plans before December 7. The plan that was best this year may not be best next year.

Sources: CMS negotiated drug prices fact sheet, CMS 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule, and Humana Part D changes summary. Part B premiums and deductibles for 2027 had not been announced when this was written. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.