Follow
Share

I dont know what happened, my mother has always insisted on insurance for her children or grandchildren, now since I have been caring for her, I have found no insurance policies and have seen no statements for insurance bills. How am I going to be able to bury my mom when the time comes?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

39 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
1 2
If you cannotfind life insurance policiesl, and she has no savings or other assets, you may want to talk to an estate attorney to see what to do. If she has any assets, set aside money now. You can look into pre-payment with a funeral home, but be sure to find out if the money is put in a safe fund where you can transfer it at will. Your state laws may come into effect here. You don't want to be stuck if the funeral home goes out of business.
take care,
Carol
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
If she believes in cremation, and If she would like to help with research, try MedCure. My husband & I have signed up for that, no cost, and cremanes will be returned to family
We've always been for helping with research. Dee
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
Thankyou Dee, I checked out the website. I understand the importance of research and when reading about Medcure it just seemed so.... I dont know, cant explain it. Guess just never believed in cremation. But the bottom line is I almost have no other choice. And at least its all covered and I would have no financial worries, especially since I have given up my job and have no money anyway. I know my 2 sisters will complain, but what the heck they not even helping me now. Thankyou again, I guess this is one of the main reasons for belonging to this site, the advice you can get and knowing you are going through nothing alone, someone somwhere has an answer
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
It's possible your mother may have an old policy that was paid up years ago and will provide a small lump-sum death benefit.....but if you don't know where those papers are, it could be hard to locate.

I'm sure she receives social security each month. Start setting aside a part of it each month in a savings account earmarked as "funeral account" so when the time comes, there will be money in it. You can actually open this type of account at any bank branch....they can call the account "Mary Jones Funeral Account" with you as the trustee. Since your sisters are NOT helping you, don't even involve them in setting up this account.

Keep the funeral simple.....you don't need to spend $10K to have a tasteful funeral. An immediate burial in a simple box (or cremation) followed by a tasteful memorial service is an inexpensive way to honor your mother.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Believe it or not, you can buy burial insurance as long as your loved one is not dead yet. Buy what you need, and pay the premiums until death comes. Talk to an insurance agent. My Farmers Agent told me this right after my mother-in-law died. We had her cremated for $600, thus avoiding huge burial expenses. BTW, I'm not qualified to sell insurance or give legal advice, so take this information as anecdotal and call an insurance agent. Good Luck, and God Bless You.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report
Some states have (had( special state funds thru the county Welfare Department. The funeral home contacts the county. Please check with your local county welfare department to see if it has any such funding.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report
Yes, the counties do have funds.....but the person has to be poor enough to qualify for Welfare. That's the catch.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Thank you, that never crossed my mind
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Dee, and anyone else that may be faced with this situation, MedCure assisted our family in a respectful and dignified manner. Yes, some family members did not agree with the decision, however, my mother was a supporter of St. Jude's Children's hospital and was able to request that the "gift" of my father's body go to St. Jude's Medical research. There is no guarantee where they will go. We did not ask to be notified where his remains went. Even if his remains did not go to St. Jude's, my mother was comfortable with the fact that my father just may be helping someone find a cure for another person. My father's driver's license stated he was an organ donor. This also made Mom feel better about our decision and helped us when dealing with the family members who did not agree with the decision. They accepted the fact that he wanted to help someone else in the event of his death. The cost of a funeral and burial would have been a burden on the family. The last thing my parents wanted, was to be a burden to their children. My father was in Hospice care and was not able to make this decision on his own, however, we believe he would have supported our decision as they were living on Social Security income only. Talk to your Mom's health care provider to help you become more comfortable in your decision making. When my father did pass, everything went smoothly and his remains were sent back to us in a box that could be buried and gave us beautiful flowers in Mom's yard. After working with MedCure, my husband and I both have decided to gift our bodies for medical research. Mom has also decided she would like to gift her body too. We would like to help those in the medical field learn and grow. You can research this at Medcure or you can look at other organizations out there. Respectfully submitted, Holly
Helpful Answer (9)
Report
I understand that the bank accounts are called Totten Accounts. Does she still have a car or furniture that could be sold? Like others have written, maybe some of her social security money could be set aside each month. You can get caskets through Walmart (!) much less expensive than going through the funeral home, but you would have to either store it or have it shipped to the funeral home at the time. You can still get a funeral policy and let them directly take some of her money out each month. It is supposed to be in effect from the first month you pay so they are obligated to honor the policy no matter how long she lives. Around here, just a basic funeral costs at least $3000. Death is not cheap in the US. (I also know a lady who donated her body to a research hospital, but I don't know how your Mom would feel about that.)
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
If you start up a funeral account for her, and she is on Medicaid, make sure that her resources do not exceed your state's resource limit. Talk to the funeral about making monthly payments on an "irrevocable" funeral account. If your mom is on Medicaid, make sure, first, that this is acceptable to Medicaid. If it is not, and the money in the account exceeds the Medicaid resource limit, she would no longer be eligible for Medicaid.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
You can also consider a pre-paid funeral by using her Social Security income to pay for it in advance. All states have laws protecting the funds. Use a reputable funeral home that has been in business for a long time. I actually did this for my own father who was in a nursing home.....paid for the whole thing in advance including the cost of the funeral director driving 2 hours to pick up his body when he passed. The funeral home was owned/operated by a large extended family and had been in business for many decades. It went smoothly and we had a graveside memorial service in the summer when the weather was warmer and people could attend. (He died in the winter.)

The funeral does not have to be extravagant. You can have calling hours at the home and then a simple graveside service or memorial service at a church/temple later.

Since your mother was "into" insurance for her children, my guess is that she actually has a paid-up policy somewhere, since she surely had life insurance for herself and her husband. However, the papers could be anywhere. But if she had even a small life insurance policy, this would provide enough funds to pay for a simple but tasteful funeral.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
A friend from high school was murdered two nights ago. He has two daughters and was unemployed at the time. We have two days left to come up with the money to bury him. We would like to at least have a small service for his kids sake but times are hard for everyone. If anyone knows where we can find help please tell me! Thank you and God Bless!
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
If your town has a victim assistance organization, they would be the first place to check, I would think. Call United Way, or maybe a local religious organization also. Good luck :)
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
I researched the internet after I read your post and discovered that many counties and states have programs set aside for people in your mother's situation. Also, there seemed to be several policies that are very inexpensive (no more than $3.50 a month) just for burial purposes.Was either your mother or father a vet? Most vets can be buried for free in a military cemetery if they are cremated. This can include the spouses of a vet. I hope you can find some information to help you. Have you tried to start with your family and children services? Best wishes. I will keep looking. RLP
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Cremation costs should be considered. Ashes in a box can be buried anywhere.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
my husband just passed away and i dont know how i am going to bury him we have no insurance i dont know what i am going to do
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
I live in Texas and lots of family drama in Calif. has left my mom who is 87 without her house or anything else. She now lives in an apt. My sister who once looked over mom's finances bought a plot for her years ago. How can I find out if it still exist. Family is not speaking to sis, and she will not take any calls from family.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Everyone should have final expense insureance. If you don't have it, look in to it or I can help you...
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Thank you for this most helpful information. I just found out that my mother, who has always said she wanted to donate her body to medical science (but I actually thought she was too old to donate it!), has a very small insurance policy that probably won't even cover creamation(which I know she wants). I have never heard of MedCure and will do my research. This all is so new and overwhelming.......we haven't yet had an end of life discussion, I don't know how to start it, let alone bringing up final arrangements. Any suggestions?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
no insurance sister died yesterday carnes has body wants her cremated what to do
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
Can I take out a policy on my 2 aunt in a another state
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
My neighbor's sister died suddenly and she has no life insurance. Matter fact to left nothing. The remaining siblings can not pay for her funeral. They have contacted the state, county, funeral homes, places that help the needy. Except no one can help. Right now the body is laying in a funeral home, and she has been dead for 4 days with no help in sight. Can you help, Please?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
My mother is 91 and in good health phy. but is showing signs of mental, memory loss.
She lives on 900.50 month no house, rents, no car. We are going to get her signed up for Medicade, in Michigan. She has three small insurance policies
we thought they would be okay to keep if she went on Medicade, but we called each one and she has built up equity in each policy. So we have a cash out valvue of 7,356.00. So can we keep these or will Medicade take the money when she goes on Medicade? If they take the money who is going to bury her?
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
my close friend, whom passed away 7 years ago, son has passed away on Nov.23, 2014, in Baltimore, Maryland. He had no life insurance & was not on any public Assistance, his body is now at the city morge, we are trying to find how to him cremated, we are limited funds, I just want to know what are our options if no one can come up with enough money,
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
1003mom talk to the Medicaid people right away. They'll likely let you put an amount into a burial fund at a local funeral home (from the policies). Then, you'll have to spend down the rest. She should qualify for Medicaid. Please talk with you local Medicaid people right away. Every state is a little different on what they require/allow.
Good luck,
Carol
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
richell20022000, I'd talk to the people at the morgue. Likely the county has a program. Bodies must be taken care of. They used to bury people in a "pauper's grave" but now it's likely that they cremate. If the morgue won't/can't say, then check with county social services. Thanks for being so caring,
Carol
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
My 91 yo father is in hospice. Agressive prostrate cancer which has spread to bladder, kidney, spine, ribs and shoulder. He actually seems to be doing very well in spite of everything. He is a WWII vet and burial will be at a local veterans cemetery. I am one of his 6 children and the only one to help with health and financial decisions. He has zero money...zero assets. Thank you for the info about the research option. Perhaps dad can offer something positive in death since he unfortunately chose to do little in life. It isn't always easy to be there for a parent who chose himself over his family.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
In addition to the notion that you can obtain caskets apart from the funeral home (ie, Costco and Walmart), you may also "rent" the casket. We did that for my mother's funeral. Although the funeral was still expensive because we opted for an open casket service (including prep for the corpse) with rosary and transport to her church, we also saved a lot because dad wanted her cremated, and so, no cost for a plot or headstone.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
tell me how
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
1 2
This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

Recent Questions


Popular Questions


Related Questions

Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter