Choosing a Funeral Home-Part 2
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Choosing a Funeral Home-Part 2 by Dr. R.E. Markin
Funeral Help Program
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Choosing a Funeral Home-Part 2- Typical Fees And What They Mean

Basic Fee For Professional Services of Director and Staff

Once known as the 'non-declineable fee' because no matter what goods and services you choose, you still have to pay it, this fee is unique to the funeral industry. Paid-for legislation at all levels of government have decided to grant the death-care industry the right to charge a fee, which includes all overhead plus a 'reasonable' profit, without the funeral home having to provide ANYTHING in return! All you are paying for in this fee is the funeral home being in business, and every good or service connected with the funeral will be billed in addition to it. If this strikes you as unfair -- after all, if your car dealership tried this you'd scream bloody murder, wouldn't you? -- get in touch with your legislators, from town to the Senate, and tell them you'll be watching how they vote on funeral issues in coming sessions. Since funeral homes were allowed to lump all their expenses into this 'freebie fee' in 1984, the non-declineable fee has increased on average 40% across the nation. This is your first 'chop' to see just how reasonable a funeral home's prices are. Typically these fees range from a low of $695 to highs approaching $3,000. Be aware, however, this fee does NOT tell ALL the story.

Embalming

With a few exceptions, embalming is NOT required by law. Exceptions would include death by certain communicable diseases or shipment of the body via common carrier across state lines. It is important to note that a hearse is NOT a common carrier since it doesn't carry paying customers along with the body as do airlines, buses, or trains. Should the family desire a viewing, the funeral director may insist on embalming both as a profit center and to facilitate cosmetics and avoid any unsightly leakage, etc. This is a reasonable stipulation.

Embalming a 200 pound man will require about two pints of embalming fluid in standard dillution. This fluid costs $3 to $8 a pint, on average, with the range of embalming fees running from $175 to $695. Many of the steps involved in this may be billed seperately as below or lumped together as 'embalming and other preparation'.

Embalming and Other Preparation

Washing and Disinfecting of Unembalmed Remains -- About what it sounds like, the body is washed in a mild solution to rid the body of bacteria, fly eggs, etc. This is included as part of the embalming process as a rule, but is a standard charge if embalming is not selected. Expect a fee of $50 to $100 Dressing, Casketing, and Consmetology -- Literally, putting on clothes and make-up, then putting the body into the casket. Fees range from $35 to $200.

Hair Care -- Bet you thought this would be included in the heading above, didn't you? Sometimes it is and sometimes it's a seperate charge and can vary widely from a low of $25 to a high of $200. Restoration Charge -- In many cases of traumatic death, or in the case of a wasting illness, the body needs to be restored if an 'open casket' funeral is planned. This charge I have no complaint about since it takes considerable skill and experience in many cases, and is worth it. Usually charged by the hour, fees range from $35 to $100 per hour plus any charges for 'appliances' or special items.

Post Autopsy Care & Post Organ Donation Care -- These fees are also charged by the hour as a rule, or may be included in a package. Organ donation and autopsy both leave incisions in the body that will compromise the usual embalming procedures if not sutured and sealed. Expect a charge of $25 to $60 per hour for this.

Refrigeration Charge for Unembalmed Remains -- What it sounds like, keeping the body cool to inhibit degradation. Expect this to be a 'per day' charge starting beyond the first 24 hours, from $50 to $85 per day.

Care and Custody While Sheltering Remains -- If the remains were taken directly to the funeral home that is to conduct the services, this charge typically doesn't kick in until after a fixed time, the average being three days. For interim stops, say at an out-of-town funeral home before transfer to the funeral home doing the funeral, it can start with the first day. Expect charges of $50 to $100 per day. Add to a notebook or create a new notebook