How much does a funeral cost???

[mefordis]

A lot of people rely on jobs to get life insurance, when they retire, the life insurance goes away and often by that time they don't qualify for life insurance any longer. I agree though, term life insurance is pretty cheep, but the drawback is that for 99% of the people they outlive their life insurance policy. We have some whole life for this reason and others but mainly this.

But then you are supposed to renew the life insurance policy, right? I would feel awful knowing that my kids would be saddled with paying for my funeral - it is so expensive!

 

[golfgal]

But then you are supposed to renew the life insurance policy, right? I would feel awful knowing that my kids would be saddled with paying for my funeral - it is so expensive!

That is not always an option and it is often VERY expensive. Getting a smaller whole life policy at a young age is really the way to go. They have fixed premiums and for $50,000 or so in coverage you are going to pay about $25/month give or take. Most are "paid up" by age 65 or 70 so you don't have to budget for it in your retirement and you still have coverage for as long as you need. They are a little more involved then that but that is the basics.

 

[castmemberb4]

Sorry if it upsets anyone but my instructions specifically state that a simple cremation is all I want (After they are absolutely certain that I actually deceased. I don't like fire.). We have many billboards out here in rural Georgia that advertise this service for $695. I'll budget a thousand.

I want no one going broke paying for my box.

These were my Sister and BIL's instructions also.
They passed away 2 months apart and we spent $800
each for cremation. Then we all went to Disney World a few months
later (our own expense) and took their ashes with us.
They ultimately were scattered in front of our family's beach condo.
As a result the rest of us siblings have the same request.

As for the "why didn't they have life insurance" questioin, you don't know
that they didn't the OP just quoted the cost she didn't say they were paying
out of pocket.

OP I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[roscoepc1]

But then you are supposed to renew the life insurance policy, right? I would feel awful knowing that my kids would be saddled with paying for my funeral - it is so expensive!

I'm not sure about the States, but in Ontario, the estate pays for the funeral. Not the family. If there is no estate left, the family may CHOOSE to pay for it, but cannot be forced. Of course, then the person gets the Gov't's idea of a funeral, but you do have that choice.

 

[mefordis]

I'm not sure about the States, but in Ontario, the estate pays for the funeral. Not the family. If there is no estate left, the family may CHOOSE to pay for it, but cannot be forced. Of course, then the person gets the Gov't's idea of a funeral, but you do have that choice.

But it takes a while for the estate to get settled. A life insurance policy can just be signed over to pay for the funeral.

 

[golfgal]

I'm not sure about the States, but in Ontario, the estate pays for the funeral. Not the family. If there is no estate left, the family may CHOOSE to pay for it, but cannot be forced. Of course, then the person gets the Gov't's idea of a funeral, but you do have that choice.

That isn't all that different from what we have here. Our "estate" will pay for our funeral through our life insurance policies. If someone doesn't have money their families can't be forced to pay for a funeral but then you get a pine box, unmarked in some cemetery somewhere. No service, etc.

 

[roscoepc1]

But it takes a while for the estate to get settled. A life insurance policy can just be signed over to pay for the funeral.

As far as I know, in our area at least, funeral homes are more than willing to wait. They know they are going to get paid, it just takes a while. It's kind of like working a job with bi-monthly paycheques...you work one week behind, but still get paid. You have money coming in from past funerals while you wait for the current one.

 

[msjprincess]

As far as I know, in our area at least, funeral homes are more than willing to wait. They know they are going to get paid, it just takes a while. It's kind of like working a job with bi-monthly paycheques...you work one week behind, but still get paid. You have money coming in from past funerals while you wait for the current one.

Unfortunately funeral homes around here don't wait. They want to be paid in full immediately.

 

[golfgal]

Unfortunately funeral homes around here don't wait. They want to be paid in full immediately.

Really? I know with my Mom's funeral, we were not sure if she had life insurance left or not (long story). They were more than willing to wait for us to look into it. Another long story but that took a lot of time. They sent out a bill when all was said and done and we were still waiting for answers on the insurance or not. It was about 2 months later when we got it all straightened out. They wanted someone to sign to be responsible for the bill if it wasn't straightened out. We have a couple friends that are morticians and they say usually there is some kind of payment plan arranged if there isn't insurance otherwise they have forms to fill out directing insurance money to go to the funeral home right from the insurance company.

 

[doxdogy]

My dad's funeral almost 3 years ago was 11K. That was with prepaid plots, headstone provided by the VA and a coffin that wasn't expensive. Most of the costs were the opening and closing of the grave, transport from the hospital and other miscellaneous expenses. DH's mother passed away over twenty five years ago and it was 1200 to cremate her.

 

[nancytoby]

Small town Michigan: cremation, simple service, 1 spray of flowers, burial about half mile away, simple flush-mount granite grave marker. All together ran about $7000. (Family plot location was pre-paid, don't know what that would run).

 

[eliza61]

My dad died in May. His funeral cost about 13K and he had already pre paid for his plot. There was this 1000k grave opening charge that I thought was ridiculous. I mean when you buy a plot, wouldn't you assume that one day youo would have it opened??

 

[eliza61]

Why don't these people have the funeral already paid for? Don't they at least have life insurance? I mean, we are all going to die, people! If you are getting up there in age, especially, have money set aside for your funeral.

Because it's a cost that not even one can afford. When you're unemployed about to lose your house and have medical bills just to stay alive, the cost of life insurance may be too much.

 

[msjprincess]

Really? I know with my Mom's funeral, we were not sure if she had life insurance left or not (long story). They were more than willing to wait for us to look into it. Another long story but that took a lot of time. They sent out a bill when all was said and done and we were still waiting for answers on the insurance or not. It was about 2 months later when we got it all straightened out. They wanted someone to sign to be responsible for the bill if it wasn't straightened out. We have a couple friends that are morticians and they say usually there is some kind of payment plan arranged if there isn't insurance otherwise they have forms to fill out directing insurance money to go to the funeral home right from the insurance company.

When my mother died I had to give them $5K upfront and the rest a couple of weeks later when I received the life insurance. With my father there was no insurance. We had to pay 50% upfront and the rest a week or two later. We asked around about a payment plan and everyone told us no.

 

[golfgal]

When my mother died I had to give them $5K upfront and the rest a couple of weeks later when I received the life insurance. With my father there was no insurance. We had to pay 50% upfront and the rest a week or two later. We asked around about a payment plan and everyone told us no.

WOW--so much for being "compassionate"--the tag line for many funeral homes...

Was the insurance for your mom not enough to cover the entire bill? If it was, would you still have had to put that much down?

 

[msjprincess]

WOW--so much for being "compassionate"--the tag line for many funeral homes...

Was the insurance for your mom not enough to cover the entire bill? If it was, would you still have had to put that much down?

It was way more than enough. I was only in my 20's at the time and didn't have a lot of cash on hand so I had to borrow the $5k from my grandmother. The insurance company sent me an advance of $5K right away so I was able to pay her back in a few days.

 

[Nancyg56]

But then you are supposed to renew the life insurance policy, right? I would feel awful knowing that my kids would be saddled with paying for my funeral - it is so expensive!

That is not always possible.

But it takes a while for the estate to get settled. A life insurance policy can just be signed over to pay for the funeral.

Actually, not all policies are able to be assigned. My brother in law passed away three weeks ago and his policy could not be assigned.

WOW--so much for being "compassionate"--the tag line for many funeral homes...

?

Easier said than done. Would you just hand over thouands of dollars to a stranger? Just becasue one promises to pay does not ensure that it will happen and who reimburses for the expenses the funeral home incurred?

I was fortunate, when my 1st husband died the funeral home did just that, they trusted that I would pay and I did. it was a leap of faith to give a 23 year old woman, especially one who husband was not able to carry over his life insurance.

When my DBIL passed away his funeral cost over $20,000 which included a purchase of a cemetary plot. The funeral home offered to wait for their portion. Fortunately my sister did not need that but it was noce that they took her at her word. I believe tht this ios not the norm.

 

[golfgal]

That is not always possible.



Actually, not all policies are able to be assigned. My brother in law passed away three weeks ago and his policy could not be assigned.




Easier said than done. Would you just hand over thouands of dollars to a stranger? Just becasue one promises to pay does not ensure that it will happen and who reimburses for the expenses the funeral home incurred?

I was fortunate, when my 1st husband died the funeral home did just that, they trusted that I would pay and I did. it was a leap of faith to give a 23 year old woman, especially one who husband was not able to carry over his life insurance.

When my DBIL passed away his funeral cost over $20,000 which included a purchase of a cemetary plot. The funeral home offered to wait for their portion. Fortunately my sister did not need that but it was noce that they took her at her word. I believe tht this ios not the norm.

I know, it's not like they can repossess the body if someone doesn't pay. There are credit companies and such out there that they could contract with to offer payment plans though.

 

[Nancyg56]

I know, it's not like they can repossess the body if someone doesn't pay. There are credit companies and such out there that they could contract with to offer payment plans though.

I am not sure that I would get into that if I was in that business. Businesses are not obligated to supply credit to their patrons. While I understand the stress that people are under, I was in that position myself, it is not always feasable to contract to credit companies. If someone is going to qualify for credit they can go to their bank.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

It was way more than enough. I was only in my 20's at the time and didn't have a lot of cash on hand so I had to borrow the $5k from my grandmother. The insurance company sent me an advance of $5K right away so I was able to pay her back in a few days.

You picked a bad company to deal with. There is a form to fill out that has the funeral home paid directly by the insurance company. There is no need for loans if there is life insurance sufficient to cover the cost (assuming the funeral hime knows what it is doing and is trying to help).