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Final Expense & Burial Insurance in Michigan

Michigan state flagIn Michigan, it can cost $10,000 or more for a funeral, depending on the style of service, memorial expenses, transpaortation, and where you hold the service. And if you pass unexpectedly, your loved ones may struggle to pay for your funeral’s expenses.

But with a little preplanning, you can arrange your own funeral and even ensure that your loved ones aren’t left with the financial burden. Final expense insurance, also known as burial insurance, is an affordable way to ease the pain of your passing. And with the leftover funds, your loved ones can pay other final expenses such as medical bills, final utility bills, and outstanding debt.

But not all states handle the intricacies of death and final insurance in the same way. Follow along as we walk you through the process and show you how final expense insurance can help ease your loved one’s burden in the state of Michigan.

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The Funeral Rule

Federal law dictates basic laws surrounding burial services. Known as the Funeral Rule, these rules apply to every state and are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

  • Pricing – Funeral homes must quote prices for products and services over the phone if requested. In person, they must provide a general price list, a casket price list, and a burial container price list (when applicable).
  • Contracts – An itemized statement of charges and estimates must be provided before a contract is signed.
  • Pre-Need Funeral Plans – FTC laws do not apply to the language of pre-need contracts. They do not govern payment options, costs, modifications, transfers, cancellations, or administrative fees.

Funeral & Burial Expectations in Michigan

Every state has different laws and requirements when dealing with death and the disposition of bodies. Michigan has specific statutes that you will have to follow if a loved one dies in the state.

 

Death Certificates

In Michigan, the funeral director often completes the death certificate. They gather the personal data from the deceased and file the death certificate with the local registrar in the county where the person died within 72 hours.

If the funeral director doesn’t have all of the personal data of the deceased, they file the partially-completed certificate within 72 hours, and then a supplemental report with the remaining information is filed no later than 60 days after the date of death.

 

Embalming and Refrigeration

Funeral directors and their employees must receive explicit authorization from a deceased person’s family or guardian before embalming a body. Once they do, they are required to embalm the body within 48 hours from the time of death — or bury or cremate it. Michigan law states that a deceased person’s body cannot be transported after 48 hours from the time of death unless embalmed.

Refrigeration is also allowed in Michigan, but it is not allowable as a preservation replacement in the state.

 

Burial Requirements

Michigan does not require a casket or burial vault, but the cemetery might. The state requires that the next of kin make final disposition decisions about the deceased. If the deceased has more than one next of kin who want a say, the decision will have to be made by majority rule. For example, if two of the deceased’s children want cremation, and one wants a burial, the outcome is cremation.

 

Cremation Services

Cremation is legal in Michigan only with written authorization from the next of kin. But before cremation can be carried out, the funeral home must receive approval from the County Medical Examiner to ensure that the cremation doesn’t conceal any criminal activity.

 

Average Funeral Costs in Michigan

Costs for final expenses in Michigan are subject to a huge range: They can average between $1,000 and $9,000 because the exact cost of a funeral will depend on what services and products you choose and the location of the funeral. Keep in mind that the prices below don’t include the casket cost, flowers, headstone, etc.

 

Service Costs by Type

Service Type Description Average Cost
Direct Cremation No viewing or ceremony $795
Immediate Burial No viewing or ceremony $995
Cremation Memorial Includes facility fees, viewing, & service $1,937
Full Service Includes facility fees, embalming, viewing, hearse, & graveside service $5,085

 

Kalamazoo Funeral Costs

Service Type Average Cost Price Range
Direct Cremation $1,995 $695 - $2,000
Immediate Burial $2,901 $995 - $3,500
Cremation Memorial $1,500 $1,395 - $4,500
Full Burial $5,200 $5,000 - $9,000

 

Detroit Funeral Costs

Service Type Average Cost Price Range
Direct Cremation $987 $655 - $2,000
Immediate Burial $1,900 $1,100 - $2,900
Cremation Memorial $2,092 $1,300 - $2,500
Full Burial $4,700 $4,000 - $9,000

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Help with Funeral Costs in Michigan

Funerals are expensive, and when someone loses a family member, the last thing they need is the added worry about how they will pay for the funeral. But with a little preplanning, you can ensure your loved ones aren’t financially devastated by your funeral’s costs.

Here are some things you can do to pay for your funeral in advance.

 

Term Insurance

While term life insurance is the least expensive option when it comes to life insurance, it also has the shortest duration. The policy is only good for a term, and when it expires, you will have to qualify for and purchase a new policy. This can be difficult as you get older because, not only will you have to pay more for the policy, but you might not qualify for it.

 

Final Expense Insurance

Final expense insurance is a type of whole life policy, which means that once you have it, the policy will never expire as long as you pay the premiums. The premiums are higher than term life policies, but you won’t have to worry about re-qualifying at any point. In most instances, you will not have to take a medical exam to qualify. Most final expense policies are issued based on answering health questions on the application.

Funeral Advantage™ is a final expense program offered by Lincoln Heritage that can be used anywhere in the United States. Funeral Advantage provides a cash payout for use at any facility for any style of service. As an added bonus, a burial insurance policy from Funeral Advantage includes a free membership to the Funeral Consumer Guardian Society®. The sole mission of this not-for-profit, consumer advocate organization is to help its members save money on funeral costs. The FCGS saves policyholder families an average of $1,800 on funeral costs and $600 on cremation costs. Every member’s family gets a dedicated representative who will help them price-shop funeral homes in their area.

 

Pre-need Plans

You can arrange your funeral at a funeral home and take care of all the details before your death, so your family doesn’t have to. Using this method, you will pay for your funeral in advance in one lump sum or monthly payments.

Even though this option seems convenient, it does come with some risks. For instance, the funeral home could go out of business, or you might die in another city or state. If you do, the funeral home may not honor your agreement.

 

Government Assistance

If the deceased worked and was eligible for social security benefits, the federal government will pay a one-time death benefit of $255. And if the deceased was a veteran, the VA may pay up to $300 for funeral expenses. Read our Funeral Planning Guide for Veterans for more information.

If the survivors are in need financially, the State of Michigan and the federal government may provide additional resources through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The HHS program is called State Emergency Relief (SER), and it offers assistance to needy families. If approved, it pays $475 for a burial with a memorial service, and $240 for a burial without one.

If you choose to cremate, the program pays up to $455 for a cremation with memorial service and $220 for a cremation without a memorial service.

 

Average Overall Rates for Final Expense Insurance in Michigan

The cost of your final expense policy depends on your age, sex, health, and the amount of coverage. Younger people will generally pay less, as will females. And while you may not have to undergo a medical exam to get final expense insurance, you will pay a higher premium if you decide not to answer the health questions. And keep in mind that the higher death benefit payout you want, the higher your premium will be.

Here are some charts that show the types of premiums you can expect to pay.

 

Monthly Premium Rates for Men*

$5,000 Death Benefit
Age Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer No Health Questions Asked
50 $16 $20
55 $19 $24
60 $23 $29
65 $29 $35
70 $38 $44
75 $51 $63
80 $65 $82

* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.

$10,000 Death Benefit
Age Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer No Health Questions Asked
50 $30 $40
55 $35 $46
60 $43 $57
65 $56 $68
70 $74 $88
75 $100 $125
80 $126 $162

* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.

 

Monthly Premium Rates for Women*

$5,000 Death Benefit
Age Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer No Health Questions Asked
50 $14 $15
55 $16 $18
60 $18 $24
65 $22 $28
70 $28 $35
75 $38 $46
80 $48 $64

* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.

$10,000 Death Benefit
Age Determined 'In Good Health' by Insurer No Health Questions Asked
50 $25 $28
55 $28 $36
60 $33 $45
65 $41 $55
70 $53 $69
75 $72 $90
80 $93 $126

* Estimated rates do not reflect the rates of any particular life insurance company.

 

Leading Causes of Death in Michigan

According to the Michigan government, the top ten leading causes of death in the state are as follows:

  1. Heart disease
  2. Cancer
  3. Chronic lower respiratory diseases
  4. Stroke
  5. Unintentional injuries
  6. Diabetes / Mellitus
  7. Alzheimer’s disease
  8. Kidney disease
  9. Pneumonia/influenza
  10. Self-harm (suicide)

 

No Exam in Michigan

Regardless of your health, you can likely get final expense insurance in Michigan. These policies only require that you answer a few questions about your health. In other words, you won’t have to undergo a medical exam to be approved regardless of your age.

 

Free Look Period

A free look period is a time, typically one to two weeks, when the purchaser of a life insurance policy can change their mind and receive a refund of their initial premium. Many states require insurers to give buyers this chance to change their minds. Although Michigan doesn’t have this free look requirement, many insurance companies still offer this on their own to Michigan buyers.

 

How to Get Burial Insurance in Michigan

Your first step to getting burial insurance in Michigan is finding a provider that you trust. Look for one that not only has the experience and proven trustworthiness in the funeral insurance industry but also offers a plan that’s right for you.

Determine the amount of coverage you require, and then think about what you can afford in monthly premiums. And if you can find a provider that offers family support services to help your survivors with the planning and implementation of your funeral, even better.

Why not contact Lincoln Heritage right now to get your free, no-obligation quote for final expense insurance?

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