Funeral Plan
No one wants to leave their loved ones alone with funeral arrangements and costs at what is already a difficult time. That's why AXA Sun Life Services PLC, trading as Sun Life Direct has joined forces with The Co-operative Funeralcare to offer you Funeral Plan, one of the options in the Simple Choice Funerals range. It enables you to put essential cremation funeral services in place that could suit your needs - and your pocket. You're guaranteed to be accepted, with no medical or health questions asked.
How funeral costs have risen
Cremation funeral costs have risen by more than 32% over the last 4 years* so putting some plans in place means you can take a weight off your loved ones' shoulders. With Funeral Plan, you can be certain you'll have paid for the most essential elements of your cremation funeral when the time comes. Funeral Plan includes transportation of the deceased, a dignified resting place, a cremation funeral service, plus the payment of disbursements - which means you'll have paid the crematorium fees as well as the minister's and doctor's fees. With so much already taken care of, your loved ones can then add any special touches of their own and simply pay for them when the time comes.
You can feel reassured that loved ones will also have sensitive support and guidance from The Co-operative Funeralcare, one of the most experienced funeral directors in the UK.
* Source: Average of quotes provided by a sample of funeral directors across the UK for standard cremation funeral arrangements including disbursements. Mintel Custom Solutions, Average Funeral Pricing Survey, September 2008. This report has been commissioned by and produced exclusively for Sun Life Direct.
What's included in Funeral Plan?
- Transport of the deceased to a suitable resting place within a 50 mile radius
- Support for the family including advice on the registration of death, preparing documentation, plus sympathetic bereavement advice and assistance
- A dignified resting place - a fully lined and fitted coffin, viewing for family members at the chapel of rest
- Arrangements for a Cremation Funeral - cremation funeral, plus hearse and attendants
- Payment of disbursements - this includes crematorium fees, doctor's medical certificate fees (up to the maximum amount set by the British Medical Association) and minister's/officiant's fees
What's not included?
Extras such as refreshments, floral tributes, newspaper notices and transportation outside a 50 mile radius are not included in Funeral Plan. However, they can be arranged by your loved ones for an additional cost at the time of the funeral.
Paying for Funeral Plan
Paying for Funeral Plan is straightforward. You simply pay a fixed monthly premium into a life insurance policy from AXA Sun Life. With a monthly premium you can pay for funeral costs little by little and because the monthly premiums will never go up, you won't have to worry about Paying for Funeral Plan is straightforward. You simply pay a fixed monthly premium into a future price rises, so if you apply this year, you'll always be paying 2009 prices. You need to be sure you can pay your premiums as if you stopped your chosen funeral services wouldn't be provided and you won't get anything back.
As long as you're aged 50 to 80 you're guaranteed to be accepted onto the Plan without answering any medical questions. Then, after you've had the Plan for 2 years, your funeral services will be provided when the time comes
Funeral Assist
If Funeral Plan isn't quite what you're looking for, but you would still like to contribute something to funeral arrangements, we also offer Funeral Assist - a lower cost Plan that allows you to do this.
Funeral Assist offers the same services as Funeral Plan except importantly, it does not include disbursements, which means loved ones will need to meet the cost of the crematorium fee and the fees for the doctor's certificate and the minister / officiant when the time comes.