2nd Quarter- MORTUARY ADMINISTRATION Exam 3 Flashcards
(44 cards)
Funeral arrangements made in advance of need
pre-need
No provisions for funding or prepayment
pre-planned
Includes provisions for funding and payment
pre-funded
reasons for preneed
Make individual wishes known to family.
Make intelligent and informed decisions with less emotion.
Relieve survivors of financial burden.
Reduce personal assets for Medicaid eligibility.
“Spend-down.”
Includes pre-funded arrangements.
Exempt from personal assets.
types of pre-need contracts
Revocable
Irrevocable
Guaranteed
Non-guaranteed
Contract which may be terminated by purchaser at any time prior to death of the beneficiary with a refund of monies paid on the contract as prescribed by state law.
revocable contract
contract which cannot be terminated or canceled prior to death of the beneficiary
irrevocable contract
Funeral home guarantees that services and merchandise will be provided at need for an amount not exceeding original contract amount plus any accruals (interest).
Regardless of cost of providing services and merchandise upon death
guaranteed contract
Funeral home only agrees that amount prepaid plus any accruals (interest) will be credited to balance due. Funeral price will be whatever current price is for service and merchandise at time of death
non-guaranteed contract
locations where pre-need can be done
Home / Funeral home / other location
State and federal regulations
Licensing laws for pre-need
Funeral service licensee
Licensed insurance agent
Federal trade commission (FTC) funeral rules.
Presentation of price lists
Permission to embalm
Mandatory disclosures
Alteration of pre-funded contracts
- Minor changes in merchandise or services / No effect on guaranteed contract price.
- Major changes - Void a guaranteed contract
- Unavailability of services or merchandise. / Most allow substitution of similar or higher quality service or merchandise.
Wishes of decedent vs. wishes of funeral planner
Legal effect of pre-funded contract once death has occurred.
Most states allow spouse or next-of-kin to change or cancel pre-funded contract and purchase merchandise and service of their choice.
Disagreement among family members.
Case may go to court.
Judge will consider wishes of decedent.
Effect on surviving family member.
Right to right and duty of final disposition.
Most survivors will honor wishes of decedent.
Not legally bound in all states.
Parents of a mentally impaired adult child make pre-funded arrangements for a traditional funeral service.
Contract beneficiary is the mentally impaired adult
What will happen to this contract at time of death?
Contract will be honored, although contract was made by the child’s parents.
They are not the direct contract beneficiary upon the child’s death.
Types of funding
Trust account
Insurance
Savings/passbook accounts
Account established by one individual to be held for the benefit of another. This creates a fiduciary responsibility
As a method of payment of funeral expenses, money paid to a funeral home for future services is placed in an account with the funeral home as trustee for the benefit of another.
trust account
Separate account for each pre-funded funeral arrangement.
Individual trust accounts
Monies for all pre-funded arrangements placed in one account. Individual record for each account. Provides higher return on investment (interest) as allowed by law
master trust accounts
Similar to purchasing automobile or life insurance policy
Policy can be paid in full or monthly premiums may be allowed until the contract price is paid in full
insurance policy
Similar to a trust account.
Monies from all pre-funded arrangements placed in one account.
Account draws interest.
Interest pays inflationary increases in funeral prices.
Savings/passbook accounts
reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specially designed retort or chamber.
cremation
furnace or retort for cremating dead human bodies. Building that houses a retort
Crematory
Latin for crematory
Crematorium