Low-cost funeral options: Here's everything you should know

Holding a funeral can be costly, with expenses reaching up to multiple thousands of dollars. If the deceased passed without providing ways to pay for end-of-life expenses, your family may find itself wondering what the least expensive option is. Fortunately, there are a variety of low-cost funeral and burial options that offer an experience equal in impact to the pricier ones.

The least expensive, though perhaps most well known, option is direct cremation. Rather than a public showing, which involves embalming, the funeral home arranges for transportation and cremation of the body, and the ashes are returned in an urn to the family. The family is then able to arrange and hold a memorial service for their loved one with the urn present. Prices range from around $600-$900 for this option.

Another option is a direct burial. This provides the family with the ability to avoid the expensive full-service funeral fees. With direct burials and direct cremations, the deceased’s family and friends are able to hold a more intimate home funeral, often for less than $1000. For more information on how to arrange and conduct a home funeral, check out Peacefully’s guide by clicking here. (It is important to note that nine states require the use of a funeral director after a death.)

Unfortunately, there are very few state funds directly dedicated to funeral funding. However, some state burial assistance programs do exist for low-income families. This guide offers a list of state burial assistance programs available to those who meet certain criteria. The family must apply to the correct state program to receive the benefits.

It is also important to check whether the deceased owned a life insurance policy, which could have been held personally or through an employer. The death benefit of a life insurance policy can be used to pay for the funeral. You should call the deceased’s former employer to identify benefits.

While Medicaid will not directly pay funeral fees, Medicaid beneficiaries are able to designate funds towards their funeral and burial costs, and these payments will not count towards the beneficiary’s assets when determining Medicaid eligibility. You should check state Medicaid regulations for more information regarding this subject.

There are also a variety of fund-raising options for those struggling to fund a funeral. Many communities plan and participate in events such as bake sales and yard sales to raise money for the funeral. Additionally, there are multiple crowd-funding websites, such as GoFundMe and Fund the Funeral, where the deceased’s family can receive online donations for the funeral service.

Finally, under certain circumstances, the family may be able to donate the body for research. Bequeathing a body to science is often a free service, and many programs return the cremated remains for a memorial service. However, donor acceptance has become more selective, and registering to an anatomical gift registry does not guarantee donation approval. For more information on this option, click here.

Funerals serve as an opportunity for friends and family to grieve and mourn together, and there are low-cost options that can achieve this goal. Most importantly, remember that the amount of money you spend on a funeral does not correlate to the amount you care for your loved one. One can hold a meaningful memorial without going into debt.

One final note: For those looking for a funeral quote, Peacefully offers a tool that gives you customized quotes from local funeral homes. Take advantage of this free service by clicking here.

— Jon Scalabrini