Planning a cremation arrangement is a sensitive topic, but one that should be discussed nonetheless. An individual could look into various options, including a prepaid cremation, which lets them make arrangements before their passing. It may help make it easier for their family to deal with various things during their time of grief. A prepaid cremation service will also ensure one’s final wishes are carried out seamlessly while reducing the family’s financial burden.

What is prepaid cremation?
Pre-paying or pre-planning for one’s own funeral, whether it is burial or cremation, can help in taking off some of the worry from one’s family during a challenging time.

In addition to saving one’s family from emotional distress, prepaid cremation plans also help lower funeral expenses. These plans bring down the overall cost by facilitating payments in timely installments. Furthermore, extra savings can be done through discounts offered by some funeral homes and crematoriums on complete advance payments.

Usually, prepaid cremation plans involve contracts and agreements with a funeral home or crematorium. These signed contracts and agreements provide all the details regarding the service type that has been paid for. Also, the contracts include the name of the person who is entitled to redeem the service on behalf of the one who has to be cremated.

How does prepaid cremation work?
Prepaid cremations can be directly set up through a crematorium or a funeral home. There is also the option of purchasing a plan through a prepaid insurance policy. The set up works in a in a simple manner. Here’s what happens.

The process starts by inquiring with local crematoriums or funeral homes to learn about and discuss the various plans. This helps to know about affordable cremation nearby.
A comparison of the prices of the services required is done.
A good way to find out whether the prices are worth it is by asking the cremation home to unbundle the package deals.
Once a suitable plan is found, one can pay the complete amount. The alternative is to make payments through installments or payment plans to be paid over a duration of years.
One will also have to take into consideration the cost of extra maintenance and administration fees.

How much does prepaid cremation cost?
In most cases, the overall prepaid cremation costs for seniors as well as anyone else is nearly the same as standard cremation. But the overall cost may go down if the funeral home or cremation company offers deals and discounts for prepayments.

The price also reduces if the cremation is done in an area where the population density is low. For example, some of the cheapest cremations in the United States are done in rural areas. So it is usually recommended to take some time to look around and inquire around in order to get the best price.

Here are some common types of prepaid cremation plans. The cost is also influenced by which type is picked.

Direct cremation
One of the most affordable prepaid cremation plans are the ones that offer direct cremation. The cost usually ranges from $600 to $1000. The reason for the low cost is that there is no funeral beforehand and no embalming is involved, the body is directly taken to the crematorium a few days after death.
Traditional cremation
Such plans are somewhat similar to traditional burial ceremonies. The only difference is that the body is cremated instead of being buried in a casket. Embalming is done for the funeral service. The casket has to be rented by the family, which can incur additional costs and fees. In general, traditional cremation can cost around $5000 on an average.
Urn or ash box
An important factor to consider while thinking about cremation is what should one’s family do after the cremation services are over. If the family wants to keep the ashes with them, one will have to prepay or purchase an ash box or an urn. Also, if one desires that their ashes should be scattered, there are alternatives such as biodegradable urns. The cost of urns and ash boxes vary widely depending on their type, make, and quality. The cost can range from $10 to $500. The cost will increase if one wants a customized or special urn and ash box.

What to look out for when prepaying for cremations?
Prepaid cremation plans involve signing agreements and contracts. All of the terms and conditions in these conditions are binding. In case there is any violation of these conditions, such as failure to pay an installment or if the cremation company goes out of business, it may cause distress to one’s family members later on. This will add to the mental and emotional distress of the family members. So, it is crucial that one has done all the necessary research and background checks on the cremation company before signing any contract. Here are a few tips to avoid any such difficulties:

Research the cremation providers that are being considered.
Check the Better Business ratings to know whether there are any previous customer complaints against the cremation company.
Look for online reviews.
Get reviews from people among friends, family, or coworkers, who may have signed up for the cremation company or funeral home’s prepaid cremation plans.
Check with the agency that regulates funeral services nearby.
Read through the terms of the contract carefully. Take legal advice if needed.