It’s not always a pleasant thing to consider, but if you are over fifty, you are probably going to want to start thinking about what you want to happen to you after you pass, and how you are going to cover the cost of your final expenses. It’s not a fun thing to take time out of your busy life to deal with something so morbid, but your family will thank you for having prepared for the worst.

Cemetery costs can be very high, with the average price tag of funeral – including a casket and vault – running over seven thous and dollars. If you include the costs of funeral expenses like funeral notices and flowers, the costs begin to rise to as high as ten thous and dollars, which is a hefty price that your loved ones would be better off not having to deal with unexpectedly.

There are a lot of high costs associated with being buried and with cemetery services, and you may not always have time to plan ahead. For example, if you choose to pre-pay for your funeral expenses, some funeral directors will offer a price guarantee, allowing you to lock your price in at the current rate and potentially save money, but this is not always an option for everyone, especially if their passing comes unexpectedly or at a time of financial insecurity. With how pricey hospital bills can be for end of life care, it is more important than ever to plan ahead.

You may want to consider whether or not you want to cremate your remains, though this remains a less popular option among Americans. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, in 2011 only 42% of adults chose to have their remains cremated. This is a personal decision that should be made with your loved ones, but it is worthwhile to know all of the options available to you. According to the same NFDA statistics, the average cost of a funeral – including a vault – is around $7755, but that does not include miscellaneous costs like flowers or obituaries. By comparison, to cremate your remains may cost as little as $1500.

Depending on whether or not you want to cremate your remains or be buried in a cemetery, there are options available to you in the realm of final expense life insurance, which you should strongly consider, even if you are in excellent health. This kind of life insurance policy will pay out and cover your cemetery and funeral expenses, and can cost as little as ten thous and dollars. There are options available for everyone, and a final expenses life insurance plan can save your already bereaved loved ones a lot of money, saving them stress and grief in an already unpleasant time.

You have undoubtedly planned ahead for medical or automobile emergencies by buying health and car insurance, so if you’re over fifty, even if you’re healthy and intend to live forever, it’s not a bad idea to look into final expense life insurance – your loved ones will thank you.