Guides: insurance explained without the sales pitch
Every guide here answers one question in plain language, with the date it was last checked at the top. We explain how a product type works, what it usually costs across the market, and what to ask the insurer. We do not name a product as better than another, because we are not licensed to advise and we do not think a guide should sell. When you are ready, the funnel is one click away and the insurer who calls you is licensed to answer the questions we cannot.
Funeral cover guides
What funeral cover actually pays for, and what it does not
A funeral policy pays a fixed lump sum to the person you nominate, usually within days of a valid claim. It does not pay bills directly, does not pay a monthly income, and does …
Updated September 20262 min read
Waiting periods explained: the six-month rule and the accidental-death exception
The six-month waiting period on funeral cover, the accidental-death exception, what restarts the clock, and what to ask before you switch insurers.
Updated September 20265 min read
Funeral cover for parents over 65, 75 and 84: what changes
Parents can be added to most policies, but the upper age limit differs by insurer, usually 74 or 84, and premiums rise sharply in each band. This guide explains what changes at …
Updated September 20262 min read
Burial society vs funeral policy: the honest comparison
A burial society is a community that supports a family with people, food, transport and some cash. A funeral policy is a contract with an insurer that pays a fixed sum. They do …
Updated September 20262 min read
Why one in three funeral policies lapse in the first year, and how to avoid it
Nearly one in four new funeral policies never collects a first premium, and another one in three lapse within a year, mostly because a debit order fails. This guide explains gra…
Updated September 20262 min read
What a funeral costs in South Africa in 2026
A dignified funeral costs between R25 000 and R60 000 in 2026, depending on province, burial or cremation, and the family's choices. This guide breaks the figure down: undertake…
Updated September 20262 min read
Can you have more than one funeral policy?
Yes. Each policy pays its full benefit, and the R100 000 limit applies per policy per life. This guide explains when a second policy makes sense, how claims work across two insu…
Updated September 20262 min read
What insurers ask before they cover you
Funeral insurers price on who is covered, their ages, the benefit amount, add-ons, and whether you can pay by debit order. They do not ask health questions. This guide walks thr…
Updated September 20262 min read
How to claim, and how fast insurers pay
A funeral claim needs the death certificate, the IDs of the deceased and the claimant, and the policy number. With those in hand, many insurers pay within 48 hours. This guide l…
Updated September 20262 min read
Your rights: POPIA, the FAIS Ombud, and the NCC opt-out registry
You have the right to know who holds your details, to see them, to correct them, and to say stop. This guide explains your rights under POPIA in plain language, how to complain …
Updated September 20262 min read
Cross-product guides
How insurance commission works in South Africa
Who gets paid when you buy a policy, what a referral fee is, and why Olvian is paid a flat fee by the insurer that never changes with what you buy.
Updated September 20262 min read
Credit life: your right to choose your own insurer (NCA s106(4))
Section 106(4) of the National Credit Act gives you the right to use your own credit life policy instead of the lender's. What it covers and how substitution works.
Updated September 20262 min read
Gap cover vs hospital cash plan
Gap cover pays the shortfall between what a specialist charges and what your medical aid pays. A hospital cash plan pays you a fixed daily amount. They do different jobs.
Updated September 20262 min read
What Olvian does with your details
What we collect, why, who receives it, how long we keep it, and how to make it stop. The privacy notice and consent screen, in a short guide.
Updated September 20262 min read
Olvian is a marketing and lead-referral service. We are not a licensed financial services provider, we do not give advice, and we do not sell insurance.