Quick answer
Call two or three funeral homes and ask for prices for the same type of service: direct cremation, cremation with memorial service, or burial with viewing. You do not need to make an appointment just to ask basic price questions.
Write the answers down. The goal is not to shop forever. The goal is to know whether a $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $25,000 policy actually matches your local costs.
A simple phone script
Try this: I am planning ahead for my family. Can you tell me the price range for direct cremation and for a funeral with viewing and burial? What items are not included in that number?
Then ask: How much would be due before the service? That one question matters because final expense insurance is meant to help with bills that arrive before the estate is settled.
Write down these five numbers
- Basic service fee — The funeral home's basic service charge.
- Cremation or burial — The main disposition cost you are comparing.
- Cemetery extras — Plot, opening and closing, vault, marker, or burial of ashes.
- Cash advance items — Obituary, flowers, clergy, death certificates, or third-party items.
- Due first — The amount the family may need before the service happens.
Price comparison questions
Do funeral homes have to give prices by phone?
The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to give price information by phone.
Should I buy the cheapest option?
Not automatically. Choose what fits your wishes and family, then plan for the cost honestly.
How does this help with insurance?
It gives you a real local target instead of guessing a benefit amount.
Get a Clear Answer Before You Buy
Once you have a local price range, Howe Insurance Services can help you compare final expense quotes around that number.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission - The FTC Funeral Rule · National Funeral Directors Association - funeral cost statistics