120 likes | 129 Views
Funeral Consumers Alliance of Sarasota - Manatee. Annual Meeting 2016. Discussion Topics. Update on local provider service pricing Local and National pricing surveys State of Florida Board of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services Pre-Need Sales.
E N D
Funeral Consumers Alliance of Sarasota - Manatee Annual Meeting 2016
Discussion Topics • Update on local provider service pricing • Local and National pricing surveys • State of Florida Board of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services • Pre-Need Sales
Survey of local Funeral Services Pricing Sarasota Manatee Oct 2015 $=K
What’s happening to the marketplace ? http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-10-24/is-funeral-home-chain-scis-growth-coming-at-the-expense-of-mourners
Local vs National Pricing Survey Cremation Type 1 Direct Burial Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Brown and Sons 1895 3490 TBD TBD Good Earth Crematory 845 ------ Griffith-Cline 1695 3337 Jennings Funeral 1085 2889 Shannon Funeral 1530 2560 Wiegand Bros 1295 1695 All Vets & families 995 2535
Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Serviceshttp://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/FuneralCemetery/Consumers/default.htm
Who They RegulateREGULATED CATEGORIES, and NUMBER OF LICENSEES
Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Serviceshttp://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/FuneralCemetery/Consumers/default.htm
Pre Need What you should know….. • The Funeral Home Industry loves these contracts… • So where is the money I pay into this contract? • Who else knows I have this contract? • Will I get the funeral I paid for? • Alternatives to Pre Need contracts - Life Insurance policy for final expenses – beneficiary? - Pay on death account – beneficiary - Irrevocable trust – beneficiary • What about MEDICAID qualifications?
THE FUNERAL RULE • The Funeral Rule is implemented and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission to protect funeral consumers. The following rules must be followed by funeral homes: • If you visit a funeral home in person, the funeral provider is required by law to give you a general price list itemizing the cost of the items and services the home offers. • If the general price list does not include specific prices of caskets or outer burial containers, the law requires the funeral director to show you the price lists for those items before showing you the items. • The Funeral Rule requires funeral directors to provide price information over the phone to any caller who asks for it. • Many funeral providers offer various "packages" of commonly selected goods and services that make up a funeral. But when you arrange for a funeral, you have the right to buy individual goods and services. That is, you do not have to accept a package that may include items you do not want. • The funeral provider may not refuse, or charge a fee, to handle a casket you bought elsewhere. • A funeral provider that offers cremations must make alternative containers available.