Free or Low Cost Cremation

When death strikes your family unexpectedly, can you afford the funeral or cremation costs? Funerals can reach the $10,000 range. Although cremation costs much less, you are still looking at the $2,000 and up range. Can you afford this? Most people can't. There is an alternative: Whole Body Donation. Most people do not know the facts of a whole body donation for medical research. Body donation is very simple to do. Below are some facts that you need to know before deciding if this is right for you or a loved one.

1. You can pre-register or simply make a phone call at time of death. If you don't pre-register, the next-of-kin can make the decision on your behalf.
2. Not everyone qualifies for body donations. You may be turned down if you are severely obese or if you have an infectious disease such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis or active TB.
3. Organ donors usually cannot be whole body donors. Whole body donors means exactly what it says: WHOLE body
4. Cremation is free. Although there is no charge for the cremation itself, some places do charge a small fee for death certificates and shipping the ashes back to you.
5. Entire process is done quickly. It normally only takes 4 weeks or less from time of death until you receive the ashes.
6. Death certificates are provided. It may take up to 2 months to receive the certificate, depending on the state the death occurred in.
7. Free transportation of body. A professional carrier service will be available to transport the body.
8. You can change your mind. If you have pre-registered and decide that you don't want to donate your body, you can cancel the registration in writing without any hassles.
9. Open 24 hours a day. There is always someone available to talk to you if you have questions or need to report a death.
10. Autopsy. If an autopsy has to be performed for any reason, you will not be eligible as a whole body donor.

There are many organizations that you can contact about whole body donations. Listed below are the 3 that I have chosen to recommend to family and friends.

1. LifeQuest: Costs up to $125, but transportation will be handled by your local funeral home at no charge to you.
2. BioGift: Accepts whole body donations from all states, but will also accept organ donor bodies from Oregon and Washington only. Cremation and return are free, but you will be charged a death certificate fee.
3. MedCure:NO CHARGE FOR ANYTHING! Cremation, return of ashes and copy of death certificate are all done with no charge to you.