Planning a cremation can be emotionally challenging, especially when unexpected costs arise. In Tucson, cremation services are an increasingly popular choice due to their affordability compared to traditional burials. However, there are a few key factors you need to consider to get a dignified low-cost cremation in Tucson, AZ, and avoid surprise charges.
Cremation Cost in Tucson, AZ
Cremation options vary widely in terms of cost and services provided. Knowing the types available can help you make a decision that fits in your budget:
- Direct Cremation: This is the most cost-effective option, involving only the cremation, without a funeral or memorial service. Direct cremation in Tucson averages about $1,500 although you can often find services around $800.
- Cremation with a Memorial Service: Families can opt for a service either before or after the cremation, which may involve added costs for venue rentals and other arrangements. A memorial cremation costs between $2,000 and $4,000 depending on the services you choose.
- Cremation with Traditional Funeral: This includes embalming, a casket, and a viewing, making it the most expensive cremation option, averaging in cost between $4,000 and $8,000.
Understanding your preferences and budget can help you avoid paying for unnecessary services.
Avoiding Surprise Costs
You may think you’re choosing a low-cost cremation in Tucson, AZ, and get a shock when it’s time to pay the bill. There is a wide range of services and fees that you may be required to pay. During a time of grief, it’s easy to overlook the fine print and end up with a surprise.
The best way to avoid this situation is to request a General Price List (GPL). Under the Funeral Rule, funeral home and cremation providers are legally required to provide you with a GPL when you ask about prices. This list itemizes each service and costs.
This allows you to:
- Compare pricing between different service providers
- Identify all fees or services
- Ensure transparency in billing
You can choose the services you want, although you can often get a better deal by choosing a bundle of services.
Ask About Additional Fees
While you may have heard stories about unscrupulous funeral directors, most service providers are ethical and honest. They will disclose any additional fees that are required. Some common fees may include:
- Transportation of the body to the crematory
- Copies of death certificates
- Removal of pacemakers or other medical devices
- Expedited services or after-hours service
- Taking care of extremely overweight individuals
Costs can also vary depending on the extra items you choose, such as a more expensive urn to hold the remains, or if you choose to bury the remains in a cemetery, which requires purchasing a plot.
Examine the Contract Carefully
Once you decide which services you want, ask for a contract that details all of the services and options you want and includes the final cremation cost in Tucson, AZ, before proceeding. The contract authorizes the funeral service provider to proceed with the cremation and is a legally binding document.
Consider Alternatives for Low-Cost Cremation—Tucson, AZ
You may want to consider other alternatives for a low-cost cremation in Tucson, AZ.
For example, instead of purchasing an urn through the funeral home, you can provide your own container. You can find a wide variety of options online, often at reduced prices. If you plan to scatter the remains, you can also skip the fancy urn and use the temporary container provided by the crematorium.
Many families choose to skip the formal memorial ceremony at a funeral home and opt for a do-it-yourself memorial, held at home or a public park. This can save on venue rental fees and administrative costs while allowing you to create a more personal memorial.
Another option is to donate your body to science. When you donate a body to medical science, you are making an important contribution to help educate medical students, train surgeons on innovative techniques, research new drugs and treatments, and test medical devices. Many families take great comfort in knowing that the passing of a loved one is helping advance medical science and contribute to the greater good.
United Tissue Network is a non-profit organization that coordinates whole body donations throughout Arizona. UTN pays for the cremation cost in Tucson, AZ, along with any costs for transportation, placement with a reputable research or educational facility, and return of the cremated remains upon request.
You can call United Tissue Network to learn more about whole body donation and how to get free cremation in Tucson at (877) 738-6111 or register online.
