RemRemi wrote on Oct 27
th, 2015 at 12:51pm:
Best case scenario for a direct cremation is 3500, that's if it was arranged prior to passing and was expected by staff at the hospital, hospice, etc.. In that case the family has had time to prepare documentation and paperwork so the process is streamlined.
In the situation laid out (sorry couldn't resist) in this thread it's going to be at the very least 5k for direct cremation after release, transfer, transport and full process are completed. In cases where the death was unexpected very few people are ever mentally prepared for the costs, and at the time of passing ill equipped to "bargain hunting" or "comparison shopping".
Tip, if you ever plan on dying while on vacation overseas? make sure to do it in a fashion that will make your body unrecoverable if you don't want' to financially hobble those you leave behind. Even with the best life insurance policies it is crushing.
Depends on the market. But here is a sample Florida GPL. (General Price List. Per law and the FTC, all funeral homes and crematories must provide a copy of a GPL prior to or at time of arrangement of services.)
http://d1nehc8tkfvcw0.cloudfront.net/files/2014/01/CSA-GPL-01-15-14.pdfhere's one from Michigan:
https://www.cremationmichigan.com/pdf/cremationofmichigan.com_gpl.pdfBoth of these are lower. Here is one from a funeral home in Illinois:
http://www.kirlin-egan-butler.com/pdf/butlerfuneralhomes_KEB_GPL.pdfNote the jump. Cremation Societies are typically much cheaper than a traditional funeral home because they never do visitations or chapel services. As a result, their overhead is a fraction of a traditional funeral home. Their property is smaller (no big parking lot for hundreds of guests), their building is much smaller. Just a retort and some office space. No need for vehicles (A single hearse is $140k. Then there are limos, lead cars, flower vans/service vehicles), less staff, no embalmer. No prep room with embalming equipment. No casket show room, even with cut outs or consignments. The funeral home has to pay for all that stuff every month even if everyone just does direct cremations, on the chance people want all that stuff. As a result, their basic fees must be higher to cover overhead. In effect, when you get a direct cremation from a traditional funeral home you are over paying.
All that said, I agree 100% with plan ahead. Don't put the burden on your family. Everyone who is married, has kids or is over the age of 30 should have a will and have stuff spelled out. Even if you are single/no kids have at least a $20k life insurance policy to cover getting your funeral and affairs in order. My company gives $15k for free to every employee. But even if your employer doesn't have anything, a quick google search shows $250k available for $14 a month. (and that's a rip off honestly, unless you are over 50 or a chain smoker).
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