When there is a critical illness or death, figuring out how to pay for a funeral can be stressful. It can be even more challenging if the death was unexpected or there were no arrangements made in advance. While nobody likes to think about death, the best way to ensure that things are taken care of when the time comes is to plan. As pre-planning is not always possible, however, you might require resources to help cover funeral services.

If there is a need, there are some federal and state programs that can help offset at least a portion of funeral costs. Additionally, you can try to work with a funeral home that will extend a credit plan to help you pay for final expenses over time. If you are in a situation where you need to contact funeral homes, you can start by searching for funeral homes near me to get a list of those in your area. Many funeral homes will also be able to point you towards some resources that may be able to help. Many people assume that things like medicare or their health insurance plans will help cover funeral expenses. Unfortunately, this isn’t typically the case. Let’s take a look at how to pay for funeral expenses.

Insurance

From homeowners insurance to car insurance, we rely on various plans to help pay for things when something goes wrong. Health insurance will help you when you are sick or in need of medical attention. A good health plan will cover doctor visits, hospital stays, procedures and medications. In the event of an accident, medical emergency, or the need for a routine check-up, your health coverage will help you pay for expenses.

Usually, a medical insurance plan will cover you, your spouse, and your dependents. Unfortunately, a health insurer will not usually pay for funeral services and expenses. In general, funeral and burial expenses aren’t considered medical expenses. This means that your health care plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or other coverages can’t be used to pay for final expenses. While health care coverage won’t pay for funeral expenses, some plans will cover grief support during a difficult time.

Although you can’t rely on your health care plan to pay for funeral expenses, there is insurance coverage that will provide financial help for funeral costs. If an individual has time to make plans and purchase a burial insurance policy, it will save your family from having to deal with funeral expenses in their time of need and grief. This insurance plan is a type of whole life policy that will provide funding for final expenses. These policies usually provide financial assistance to cover the funeral, burial, or cremation, and even a headstone.

Planning Ahead

The best way to pay for a funeral is to plan. Arrangements can be made with funeral homes to set up payments and take care of funeral expenses ahead of time. Depending on your chosen funeral home and financial circumstances, you might be able to arrange for payment at a later date or set up a payment plan.

Many funeral homes will allow you to sign over a life insurance policy instead of advance payment. The payment details will vary based on your situation and the policies of the funeral home. Planning and making payment arrangements for your funeral will take away some stress when your family is faced with the situation.

Thinking about and preparing for a funeral can be stressful. This is especially true if money is tight. If the death is unexpected or there was no advanced plan, this can make matters even worse. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average price of a funeral with burial averages around $9,135. In the midst of dealing with grief and the loss of a loved one, this can be a heavy burden. While a health insurance plan won’t help pay for expenses, there are options such as burial insurance and pre-planning that can help.