What Happens if Funeral Costs Increase After I Pay for My Funeral Plan?
The answer to that question depends on several different factors. Who did you pay? What were the terms of your agreement? It is ALWAYS a good idea to ask this question BEFORE you enter into an agreement. It is also ALWAYS a good idea to check in with the funeral home of your choice BEFORE you make any financial decision regarding payment of your funeral in advance. Because the funeral home will be the service provider, they will have options that others (final expense insurance, standard life insurance, savings accounts) cannot possibly offer.
This is because the scope of the funeral home’s offering is tighter. You will be funding just the cost of your funeral. The funeral home will most likely have the best option for payment of the funeral in advance. In most cases, you will be offered the opportunity to “cost guarantee” all of the goods and services provided directly by the funeral home.
This means the services, including the transfer of the deceased into the care of the funeral home, the preparation of the body, the funeral service, and the products, such as the casket and vault provided by the funeral home, will be protected from inflation. In this case, if the cost of the funeral increases after you pay for your funeral, the funeral home will provide the services and products agreed to, even if the funding mechanism falls short of current prices. There will be no additional cost to your family.
So, while funding your funeral at the funeral home will not provide funds for end-of-life medical expenses or a cruise for the mourners, it will pay for the funeral you selected. Funeral homes offer plans that pay for funerals because that is all they are providing, and they offer the best plans for this purpose.
Often you will hear or read that you cannot transfer your plan to another funeral provider or change your plan if your needs change. That is just not true. Ask your funeral provider before you purchase a funeral plan. Get all of your questions answered. Your local funeral home has someone on staff who will be pleased to answer all of your questions and help you find the solution that best fits your wants, your family’s needs, and your budget.
