Understanding Funeral Homes and Crematories & the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program

A live & interactive discussion with the founder of the largest search tool of prices and locations of funeral homes and cremation providers in the nation! Learn about FEMA financial assistance program for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 Ed Michael Reggie, CEO of Funeralocity 

Average Funeral Cost in the USA - Average Cremation Prices 

Link to Podcast

Questions Asked:

• Body Composting, can you talk about the new funeral concept for composting the persons body and remains
• Person dies outside a hospital.  Person is an organ donor (e.g., eyes, kidneys).  Can you discuss the normal process from death to cremation?
• Donating our body to science after death?
• Without use of Funeral Home, Family can take care of their own dead and care for the body and bury, the book is Caring for our own dead, home funerals, can you talk about this? Not against law in some states not to use a funeral home or even bury body in the back yard or on family land
• book gives step by step guide how to get death certificate family can do this if they choose
• If you decide to have a home funeral do you legally need a funeral hime for anything
• Cremains frequently come from the funeral home in a plastic bag inside a black plastic box.  Do most families deposit the black plastic box in the ground (no vault), or do they remove the plastic bag from the black box, pierce the plastic, and cover the plastic bag with earth?
• Will FEMA reimburse families who have already buried their loved ones who have died from covid?
• up to total of three people three funeral costsmay be reembursed possible thirty thousand dollars possible or more
• when phone lines opened first days of program more than one million people called and phone lines shut down FEMA call center hired many more people
• An attorney read and looked at read specific details of the funeral reembursement program and attorney interpreted and  said the FEMA funeral program will reemburse for COVID related deaths even if the life insurance policy paid for the funeral. Can you comment on this are you familiar with this part of the reembursement program?
• Could you explain that 1984 Funeral Law again, thank you so much
• Not funeral prepaid for but paid for by the life insurance policy

Chat Transcript

12:11:01     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Here is the website https://www.funeralocity.com/

12:12:36     From  Ada Horsfall : Hiring: 

Are you tired of the same mundane job? Are you looking to be in control of your schedule? Do you like advocating for others navigating the highly fragmented health care system? 

If you answered yes to any of these, reach out, as I am looking to hire self-motivated independent Care Managers and Friendly Visitors for MD/DC & VA region.

Ada Horsfall (MD, MBA, MHA,) Director of Care Management at Lifematters. 301-615-0616 ahorsfall@lifemattersusa.com 

Lifematters is a home care company providing care management, homecare and social engagement concierge services in DC, MD & VA for seniors and adult children. 

We are healthcare advocates and provide enhanced advocacy and care coordination for seniors and adult children.

12:16:54     From  Cheryl Calvert : welcome Ada.  thanks for the info

12:18:21     From  Ada Horsfall : Great information Reggie! Awesome resource!

12:22:03     From  Rebecca Grayson : Medicaid punishes you for having a funeral trust.  You cannot have any resource over $2000 so this might be a big problem for a lot of people.  Do you have any other resources so people can work around it?

12:27:36     From  Memella Drake   to   Hosts and panelists : What is a green funeral?

12:33:03     From  Louisa Horne : Recompose is her company

12:33:42     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Let's talk about human composting | Katrina Spade | TEDxOrcasIsland https://youtu.be/PRsopS7yTG8

12:38:49     From  Tim Titus   to   Hosts and panelists : What happens to metal parts like titanium hips at cremation?

12:39:24     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Caring for Your Own Dead Paperback – July 1, 1987 https://www.amazon.com/Caring-Your-Dead-Lisa-Carlson/dp/0942679016

12:40:46     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : book gives step by step guide how to get death certificate family can do this if they choose

12:41:57     From  Joel Broida   to   Hosts and panelists : I would like to ask my question directly and I will wear my mask, no problem.  Joel broida

12:43:14     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook   to   Joel Broida and all panelists : great joel!  I will call on you after this segment - can you raise your virtual hand!

12:44:06     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : COVID-19 Funeral Assistance https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

12:51:40     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : COMPLYING WITH THE FUNERAL RULE https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-funeral-rule

12:59:08     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Contact information of our panel member Ed Michael Reggie (emreggie@futurefactory.com)

13:03:00     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Ed Michael Reggie 212-937-4744