Prepaid Funeral Plans Pros and Cons
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Aug 15, 2023
Florida - Southwest
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When it's important, we plan for it ahead of time. From college funds to weddings and home purchases, we are accustomed to putting money away for the pivotal and inevitable milestones in life. Setting aside money for your funeral is no different.
More and more people are pre-planning their funerals to save loved ones the stress of having to do it during such an emotional time. And when you make your own arrangements, it can also save money because you can specify which type of service you want and lock in today's prices.
But not all pre-paid funeral plans make sense financially, and regulations on prepaid funeral plans can vary by state and province. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons—what works, what doesn’t and what questions you need to ask to ensure you find the right plan for you.
In this article, you will learn about:
- Comparing prepaid funeral plans and final expense insurance
- Pros and cons of the different types of prepaid funeral plans
- What a prepaid funeral plan covers
- Whether you can cancel a prepaid funeral plan or get your money back
- What a guaranteed prepaid funeral plan means
- What happens if the provider where you purchased a prepaid funeral plan goes out of business
“It is very important, if at all possible to pre-plan and prepay for your funeral. This ensures that you are getting what you specifically want, and it makes it so much easier for the family to deal with the emotional side of grieving when funeral arrangements have already been taken care of.
—GARLAND DIEHL, WAYNESBORO, VAIt can be lot of money, but planning and paying for your funeral or cremation in advance can ease your family’s burden in so many ways.
A prepaid funeral plan allows you to outline your funeral or cremation, choose the products and services you'd like to include, specify the details, and then pay for the arrangements over time in installments that fit your budget. When choosing a prepaid funeral plan, it’s important to understand the different types to determine which is best for you and your family.
Comparing final expense insurance and prepaid funeral plans
Prepaid funeral plans and final expense insurance both provide a way to plan ahead for the cost of your funeral. The difference is in the details.
Some people want not only to pay for their funeral or cremation in advance but also to pick the casket, cremation memorial, type of celebration, kinds of flowers and more. If that's you, then a prepaid funeral plan makes sense. It includes your detailed final wishes and the funds—paid right to the funeral home. Plus, it guards against inflation.
However, if you're less inclined to choose the specifics but want to know your family won’t face the financial burden of end-of-life expenses, final expense insurance may be the best choice. It pays a flat amount to your beneficiary for funeral and burial costs, as well as other expenses. The beneficiary decides how the money is spent, but there's no protection against inflation, so it's often recommended that you purchase a bigger benefit than the current funeral plan costs. It doesn't pay out immediately, though, and your family may have to handle funeral expenses out of pocket and wait for the policy to pay back later.
Our chart breaks it down.
| Final expense insurance (aka burial insurance or funeral insurance) | Prepaid funeral plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Typically $5,000-$25,000 | You decide. The average funeral in 2019 was around $9,000, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, but can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. |
| Benefit paid to | Your beneficiary (a person you designate) | The funeral home or cremation provider of your choice |
| Benefit used for | Whatever your beneficiary chooses, typically funeral arrangements and medical bills | Goods and services you purchased ahead of time from your funeral home |
| Requirements to qualify | Health questions, but no medical exam | None |
| Final expenses are covered at the time of need | No | Yes |
| Who makes the arrangements | Your beneficiary must choose the type of funeral service, casket or urn, etc. during a very difficult time. | You prearrange with the funeral home all the details for your funeral or cremation; loved ones do not have to plan anything. |
Types of prepaid funeral plans
When you purchase a prepaid funeral plan, you choose the type of service you want, down to the smallest detail, and lock in today's prices on many items. Once you've made decisions such as burial or cremation, casket or urn, traditional service or celebration of life and sign a contract, your money is set aside with a third party, either via an insurance policy or in a trust account. That ensures your monthly payments are in one of the following safe places:
Pre-need insurance policy: you pay premiums for a set amount of time—usually three to 10 years. The policy is in effect as long as your payments are up to date, and the benefit is paid directly to the funeral home. Dignity Memorial® providers offer pre-need insurance through American Memorial Life Insurance, which has an Excellent rating from AM Best.
Revocable trust: money (a lump sum or payments) for funeral expenses is placed into a trust with a trustee or beneficiary that you can change. The trust can be cashed out or canceled whenever you'd like. The benefit is paid directly to the funeral home.
Irrevocable trust: money (a lump sum or payments) for funeral expenses is placed into a trust that cannot be canceled. The trust has no cash value, and the money in the trust cannot be removed. Changes to the trustee or beneficiary or dissolution of the trust cannot take place without the permission of the trustee. Families usually designate a trust as irrevocable only as a state requirement for Medicare or Medicaid assistance. The benefit is paid directly to the funeral home.
Read more about prepaid funeral plans.
What’s covered by a prepaid funeral plan?
When planning a funeral or memorial service, there are literally hundreds of details to consider and decisions to be made. Like any funeral or cremation, a prepaid plan can be personalized just for you.
When you sit down with a planning professional, he or she will first get to know you and your cultural and religious traditions, family customs and how you would like to be remembered. Then he or she will explain your full range of options, including the goods and services typically included in a funeral or cremation, as well as specialty items like keepsakes, remembrance jewelry, cemetery or cremation property, or even burial in an underwater reef.
Prepaid funeral plans usually cover these items:
Services of a funeral director and funeral home staff. In addition to providing guidance and family care during planning and the day of the funeral, the funeral director and supporting staff are often on call around the clock. They make sure every detail is expertly handled, from scheduling flowers, clergy, speakers, music or catering, to obtaining permits and death certificate copies and more.
Transportation to the funeral home and care of loved one. When a loved one dies, the funeral home will transport that person from home or a medical facility to the funeral home and then prepare the loved one's body for burial or cremation. Leading funeral homes follow strict custody procedures to ensure that there are no mistakes or mix-ups.
Casket or cremation container. When choosing traditional burial or a traditional service prior to cremation, selecting a casket is an important step. Caskets are typically offered in wood or metal and can vary in quality and price. A cremation container is required by law and can take the form of an all-wood casket or a lower-price cardboard container.
Cremation services and a container. Simple cremations come with a standard plastic container. You may also choose a sumptuous wooden box, eco-friendly scattering tube or classic urn to hold the cremated remains. These containers vary in price and can be made of wood, bronze, metal, glass or another material.
Venue for the funeral and/or reception. Many funeral homes have beautiful chapels and modern reception areas designed especially for memorials. Some have spacious patios for outdoor gatherings or lawns for tented events.
Catering. Food and drink can be as simple as a commemorative brunch of tea and pastries, as unique as serving a loved one’s secret recipe, or as elaborate as a full six-course meal.
Transportation to the cemetery. A procession to the cemetery is part of some services. In those cases, a hearse may be needed as well as transportation for the family.
Burial vault. For in-ground casket burial, many cemeteries require a vault, or outer burial container, into which the casket is placed. The vault helps maintain the integrity of the cemetery grounds. When burying an urn, a smaller urn vault may be purchased and is required by many cemeteries.
Other items such as flowers, stationery, decor, keepsakes for family and mementos for friends may be planned and included in prepaid costs.
- To view the original version of this article visit www.dignitymemorial.com/pre-planning/funeral-costs/types-of-prepaid-funeral-plans
- Seniors Blue Book was not involved in the creation of this content.
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