Pre-planning

Pre Need Planning 

Pre-planning has become an important part of estate planning, and is a means of sparing the emotional stress of making decisions during a difficult time. By pre-planning funeral arrangements, any doubts of your loved one's wishes are eliminated. It also gives your loved ones peace of mind knowing that they have spared you the additional stress of worrying about funeral expenses. 

Pre Need Guarantee 

Levine Memorial Chapel is able to offer a unique opportunity for those who wish to pre-pay a funeral. If a family chooses to completely fund a pre-need funeral, we will guarantee that 100% of the funeral home expenses are covered, other than cash advances, regardless of when the funeral actually occurs. Your funds will sit safely in an account, earning interest, and will remain in your name until they are needed. Levine Memorial Chapel offers both Irrevocable (Medicaid) and Revocable accounts. 

SSI/Medicaid Irrevocable Account 

Only SSI or Medicaid recipients or applicants can establish irrevocable accounts. Applicants or recipients of SSI/Medicaid who wish to pre-pay their funeral expenses during the process of spending down may set up an irrevocable burial trust inclusive of funeral services and merchandise with no dollar limit as long as the funds are put aside for legitimate funeral expenses. The account is irrevocable because neither the consumer nor the funeral director may remove funds prior to the occurrence of death. These funds are transferable to another funeral home in or out of the state. Levine Memorial Chapel will guarantee that the interest earned in these accounts will cover any funeral home price increases that may occur over time if the funeral is paid in full (including cash advances/3rd party charges). As required by law, any excess funds in the account at the time of death will be passed onto Medicaid. The overage cannot be refunded to any surviving family members. 

Revocable Account 

Families are also allowed to pre-pay, even if they are not on Medicaid. This is done through a more flexible account, known as a revocable account. Simply put, any money placed in a revocable account can be removed prior to death. Think of it as a savings account. A funeral can be pre-paid in full at the time of arrangements, or families can pre-pay over time. If the funeral is pre-paid in full within 30 days of the date of arrangements, Levine Memorial Chapel will guarantee the funeral home charges, but only the funeral home charges. If there are excess funds in the account at the time of death, the overage can be refunded to the estate.