What Are Low or No Cost End of Life Options?

Of the top five reasons people don’t plan ahead for their end of life, concern about money is #2. If you are searching for low or no-cost end-of-life options, you may already know that a traditional funeral and burial is expensive. In 2023, the average funeral costs across the US range from $6684 to $14,975. For many families, particularly those struggling financially or dealing with an unexpected loss of a loved one, these costs pose a significant burden. And people do not want to pass that financial burden on to their families.

According to a 2021 estimate by the National Funeral Directors Association, 57.5% of people choose cremation as their end-of-life option over traditional burial, and they project that number will go up to as much as 80% over the next twenty years.  While there are many reasons why the number of people choosing cremation is increasing, there is no doubt it is due in part to the high cost of funerals and burials.

How Much Does Cremation Cost?

Like traditional funerals, cremation costs vary from state to state and are based on the type of cremation you choose. In general, however, the average cost of cremation is significantly lower than traditional end-of-life options. The three most typical cremation services are:

• Traditional Cremation is like a traditional funeral and burial including a casket, body preparation, and a memorial service. The cost can run as high $7,000.
• Direct Cremation, where the body is cremated shortly after death and does not include any body preparation or service, is much less expensive. is $2,183.
• Whole-Body Donation to Science means that the body is donated to science and is followed by cremation. These services are free; this is the lowest-cost option.

 How Can I Get Help with Cremation?

According to Mainlinehealth.org, 95% of Americans approve organ and tissue donation, but just half are registered donors.  What is behind this disparity? People do not like to talk about death and dying or what will happen when their life is over. A conversation about donating a body to science might also be challenging, but if you are asking yourself, “how can I get help with cremation?”, consider all the incredible benefits this choice provides.

Whole-body donation has important advantages.  It is the lowest-cost cremation service. It is an uncomplicated way to leave a legacy, allowing you to help others through the medical training and scientific research your donation supports. Consider how wonderful it would be to help cure a disease that took your loved one from you. Whole-body donation is easy to set up, and it buys you time, time to grieve, and time to decide how to honor your loved one best.

Whole-body donation’s contribution to science cannot be overstated. Research breakthroughs in diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease, and more have been made possible because individuals chose to donate. Scientific research and our understanding of how diseases begin, progress, are treated, are cured, and are sustained using human tissue.

Body donation is also critical in helping health and medical science students master their comprehension of the anatomy of the human body. Medical students and other healthcare professionals study deceased human bodies to acquire and perfect the skills that will one day benefit all of us.

United Tissue Network provides help with cremation. Unlike other providers, UTN is the only true non-profit (501C3) organization providing this important service. It is also the only provider that has a simple online donation process.  The caring and experienced staff who help you access cremation services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, are not outsourced operators but local Donor Services Coordinators who understand the challenge of losing someone and will help you navigate a difficult time. United Tissue Network began providing services in 2009 Phoenix, Arizona, and since then, it has helped close to 12,000 families make end of life choices and find comfort in knowing that they have both honored their loved ones and left an important legacy. United Tissue Network is now providing help with cremation in Florida, too.

How Do I Get Help Paying for Cremation?

It is easy to get help with cremation costs. Just visit UTN for more information about cremation services and whole-body donations. Start the process now with UTN’s easy online, self-directed registration process, or call toll-free at 1-877-738-6111.  In Arizona, you can also register here.  For Florida, you can also register here.