Illinois offers an array of burial services to honor and commemorate the life of a loved one. From traditional burial services to cremation, there are many different options available to families in Illinois. Traditional burial services typically include a funeral service, burial in a cemetery, and a headstone or marker.
While, cremation services may include a memorial service, scattering of ashes, or an urn burial. In addition to burial services, families may also purchase cemetery plots, monuments, and other memorial items to mark the final resting place of their loved one. The Illinois Department of Public Health provides information about death certificates and other regulations related to burial services in Illinois.
How Much Does Life Isurance Cost?
Illinois Public Assistance Funeral Services
The State of Illinois provides public assistance with funeral services to eligible residents of the state. These residents are unable to pay for the funeral and burial expenses of a deceased family member. This assistance includes the costs of a casket and funeral as well as a burial plot and opening/closing of the grave.
However, eligibility is based on the financial resources of the applicant and their ability to pay for funeral expenses. Assistance may be provided up to a maximum of $3,200. So, candidates must submit their applications within 30 days of the death of the deceased. Furthermore, they must include a death certificate and proof of financial need.
Burial Services Laws in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates most burial services and funerals. The IDPH provides license status to all funeral directors. The state requires funeral directors to follow certain laws when providing burial services.
Funeral Director Licensing: All funeral directors must obtain a license from the IDPH to legally provide funeral services in Illinois. To obtain a license, funeral directors must complete an approved apprenticeship program and pass a written exam.
Embalming: The law requires embalming in certain cases, including at the time of body transportation across state lines or if burial will take place more than 24 hours after death.
Transport: Funeral directors are responsible for transporting the body from the place of death to the funeral home and from the funeral home to the place of burial. Under Illinois law, they must enclose the casket in a vehicle that is separate from the vehicle that carries the family and friends of the deceased.
Cremation: Cremation cost is allowed in Illinois, but there are certain rules that you must follow. For instance, you must place the body in a combustible container and the cremation must take place in a licensed crematory. The crematory must also provide an identification card with the name and address of the deceased, the name of the funeral home, and the name of the crematory.
Burial: The burial of a body must take place in a cemetery that is licensed by the IDPH. The cemetery must provide a deed that is signed by the owner of the cemetery. The deed must also include the name and address of the deceased, the name of the cemetery, and the date of burial.
These are the general laws governing burial services in Illinois. Funeral directors and cemeteries must also abide by any additional state and local regulations.
Does Medicare Cover Funeral Expenses?
No, Medicare does not cover funeral expenses. However, it does cover certain end-of-life expenses such as hospice care and related services. Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for a one-time payment of up to $255 from Social Security to help pay for funeral or burial costs. This benefit is typically used to help pay for a funeral, cremation, or burial. Group Term Life Insurance is our best plan to cater to your loved ones’ final wishes. Just take a look at it.