The passing away of a loved one can be a tragic experience. One must be mentally, physically, and financially prepared to handle the grief and passing of a beloved family member or a dear friend. A large part of the planning includes deciding which services will be necessary and how much they will cost. Considering certain factors about funeral expenses and services can help one make better decisions when someone loses their loved one.

What are the costs involved?
The average funeral cost in 2024 was estimated at upwards of $10,000. However, there are several factors that determine funeral expenses. Some of these factors are place of residence and whether funeral costs are included in the life insurance of the deceased. The total cost can be broken up into basic expenses, charges for funeral services, and any cash advances to vendors who supply all the necessary items for the solemn event.

Location can be another factor that determines funeral costs. When it comes to the most expensive locations to have a funeral, Hawaii tops the list of states. Families are expected to shell out approximately $15,000 for basic services, casket, fees for funeral director, body preservation and embalming, the ceremony, and transportation. Any additional services like flower arrangements, hiring pallbearers, notices for obituary, officiating clergy, and musicians must be paid out of pocket.

Types of services
Families can choose the type of casket for a burial or may opt for cremation as per the wish of the deceased, if this has been specified. Funeral homes are well equipped to cater to large crowds and conduct larger ceremonies. Here is a list of services one can expect.

• Body preservation
  Funeral homes provide embalming services for families who wish to preserve the body of their loved ones for longer viewing and visits. However, it is not a mandatory service, as most families consent to funeral cremation nearby within a short duration after the passing of their loved ones. Embalming is not required by law (there are qualifying exceptions, and funeral services specify the same in writing). Embalming services may cost around $800 according to the national average data.
• Traditional funeral
  Caskets are the next major one-time expense to consider for a traditional funeral. The average wood casket can cost upward of $2,500 depending on the quality of the build. Expensive materials like mahogany wood or caskets made with precious metals can cost upwards of $10,000. It is up to the family members to decide the quality of the casket. In recent times, many third-party vendors have started selling caskets in the open market, but it is advisable to buy one directly from traditional funeral homes. Funeral directors often handle the sale, and at the end of the day, the entire purpose of a casket is to allow for a dignified movement of the deceased to the burial grounds or cremation area.
• Burial services
  Full-service funerals also include burial containers in the form of vaults or grave liners. Grave liners are made with concrete to cover the top and sides of the casket to prevent the grave from caving in due to soft, wobbly soil. Burial vaults are designed with materials and insulation that completely cover the casket and prevent the top, side, and bottom soil from caving. This too is not a mandatory service, and families can decide if a metal casket is sufficient. The cost of burial services vary depending on the time and labor taken for the task.
• Cremation services
  Cremation costs are much lower in comparison to burial expenses. While other services are optional, simply viewing and then transporting the deceased for cremation can be done in under $5,000 on an average. In addition to basic funeral charges, one must also consider the cost of catering for guests and providing facilities to those who have traveled from distant locations.

Wherever possible, always engage family members and friends to chip in and carry out certain expenses, which helps in eliminating the middleman and saving money. The money can be reinvested for additional services in the funeral if required or it can be used to pay off cash advances for hiring even the basic services.

Providing for funeral expenses
Statistics indicate the average cost of funeral expenses have risen well over 200% in the last thirty years. Each year, the charges for some of the most basic services has seen only an upward trend in expenses payable. Families already mourning the death of their loved ones must also now accommodate these services. But there are a few ways to help a person be prepared in managing funeral expenses.

• Bank loan taken from funeral homes with a credit facility
• Prepaid expense plans with a funeral home to provide for the costs in allocated advances
• Burial benefits reserved for military personnel in the country
• Special Payable-on-Death (POD) savings account that can provide for the future expenses
• A life insurance policy that pays for funeral expenses as per the terms mentioned.

Funeral insurance plans
Some life insurance companies provide for funeral costs. You can opt for an insurance policy and pay a premium in advance for an estimated cover for the funeral. Some policies may even pay for the out-of-pocket expenses and cover cash advances for additional services that are not mandatory. Anybody can take funeral expenses insurance and prepare for the eventuality in advance to avoid any type of financial burden going forward.

Seniors can also choose over 60 funeral insurance plans wherein the monthly premium for the cheapest policy is just $18. Note that the premium amount will change depending on one’s age. So for seniors who have turned 60, the maximum premium payable for a better death benefit coverage is just over $88 a month. Seniors aged 65 and 70 will pay a higher premium of $93 and $116 per month, respectively.

In addition to a person’s age, other factors that determine the premium amount are the applicant’s gender, desired coverage, and choice of policy (with or without health checkup questionnaire).

Seniors of all ages can usually avail benefits from $5000 to $20,000 across policies, two examples of which have been mentioned below:

• One example is where the insured person must undergo a health checkup. The extent of the policy coverage is directly impacted due to the checkup. It is also one of the main reasons why these policies are available for the lowest applicable premium.
• Another example is where the insurance company agrees to provide a plan no-questions-asked to seniors without a health checkup. However, seniors must bear double the premium cost in this case.

Remember that there will be qualifying circumstances when it will not be possible to get immediate coverage upon opting for the policy. These include ongoing treatments, critical illnesses, and organ failures that severely affect the health of the insured.

Funeral homes
To locate the nearest funeral home, cremation services, or burial grounds, you can compare funeral homes online. It is advisable to compare and check the type of services and whether insurance policy coverages are valid at the location. The Funeral Homes Network is one such useful web directory of the best funeral services listed by location across the country. It is accredited by the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA).

The Funeral Homes Network allows you to compare funeral homes; refer to resources like buying guides, paying for services, hiring personnel for services; and everything else. Simply filter the data by state and locate all the necessary information.