Preplan
Although no one really wants to think about death, we all realize that it is an eventuality that we ought to be prepared for and when you Pre-Plan or Pre-Arrange your funeral you provide peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.
In the Pre-Planning process, one of our trained pre-planning specialists will assist you in completing information about the kind of funeral you would like and the type of merchandise you would prefer. Once the forms are completed, we will keep a copy for you in our files and we will give you a copy for you to store with your other important papers.
We also suggest that you inform a family member or close friend where the plan can be found. There is no financial obligation for this service. Please call us to set up a time when we can meet with you. We would be happy to meet with you at our facilities or in the comfort of your own home.
Call us at Flower Funeral Home to let us know how we can help you with your pre-planning needs
800-2-FUNERAL or 914-963-4137.
Pre-Need, Pre-Pay, Pre-Fund and Pre-Finance – these four terms mean the same thing – it means that you pay for your funeral service in advance. If you select your service and pay for it in full today, with one of our service plans, funds are placed in a “Trust Account”. All funds we hold are held exclusively in United States Treasury Bonds insured by the FDIC or directly by the United States government and Flower Funeral Home will guarantee to provide the same service in the future at today’s price.
Funds invested for a selection made at this time will be protected by the interest earned on the account. Pre-paying allows an individual to pay for their funeral at today’s prices rather than the higher prices of the future. By Pre-Paying, you relieve your family of any financial burden at the time of your death. Also, as stated in our section about Medicaid, pre-payment can provide real benefits when you are applying for Medicaid in the U.S.
Medicaid
In order to qualify for New York State Medicaid, the state will look back at your income for a period of five years and ascertain whether your income level qualifies. In order to qualify you must have assets below a certain level. Any assets unjustly transferred might disqualify you for Medicaid. When qualifying for Medicaid the funds must be put into an irrevocable trust.
Some social workers use the term “Spend Down” in order to help you qualify for Medicaid. Because entering a nursing home can deplete your assets very rapidly, “spending down” allows you to prepay for some of the things that you or your family will eventually have to pay for. By helping you preplan and prepay for your funeral, we are able to “Shelter” some of your assets legally.
How Do I know if I quality for Medicaid?
You may be covered by Medicaid if:
- You have high medical bills
- You received Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
- You meet certain income, resource, age, or disability requirements.
How do I apply for Medicaid?
You can apply for Medicaid in any one of the following ways: Write, phone, or go to your local department of social services.
In New York City, contact the Human Resources Administration by calling (718) 557-1399. Residents of the five boroughs of New York City may call toll free at 1-877-472-8411.
Pregnant women and children can apply at many clinics and hospitals. Call your local department of social services to find out where you can apply.
How do I know if my income and resources quality me for Medicaid?
The chart below shows how much income you can receive in a month and the amount of resources you can retain and still qualify for Medicaid. The income and resource levels depend on the number of your family members who live with you.
| 2014 Income & Resource Levels* | |||||
| Family Size | Net Income for Individuals who are Blind, Disabled or Age 65+ | Medicaid Income Level for Single People, Couples without Children | Resource Level (Individuals who are Blind, Disabled or Age 65+ ONLY) | ||
| Annual | Monthly | Annual | Monthly | ||
| 1 | $9,700 | $809 | $16,105 | $1,343 | $14,550 |
| 2 | $14,300 | $1,192 | $21,708 | $1,809 | $21,450 |
| 3 | $16,445 | $1,371 | $27,311 | $2,276 | $24,668 |
| 4 | $18,590 | $1,550 | $32,913 | $2,743 | $27,885 |
| 5 | $20,735 | $1,728 | $38,516 | $3,210 | $31,103 |
| 6 | $22,880 | $1,907 | $44,119 | $3,677 | $34,320 |
| 7 | $25,025 | $2,086 | $49,722 | $4,144 | $37,538 |
| 8 | $27,170 | $2,265 | $55,325 | $4,611 | $40,755 |
| 9 | $29,315 | $2,443 | $60,927 | $5,078 | $43,973 |
| 10 | $31,460 | $2,622 | $66,530 | $5,545 | $47,190 |
| For each additional person, add: | $2,145 | $179 | $5,603 | $467 | $3,21 |
*Effective January 1, 2014
Income and Resource Levels are subject to yearly adjustments.
**Excludes irrevocable burial account, house, car, life insurance with face value of $1500 or less.
A new additon allows the applicant to set aside funds in an irrevocable burial account for certain family members and such funds will not be considered an asset when determining Medicaid eligibility.
This information was updated directly from New York State Department of Health website.
Our team of elder care specialists has the right forms, trust accounts and knowledge to help you through this process. We specialize in this and will work on your behalf with the nursing home.
To learn more about Pre-Paying, please contact us at 800-2-FUNERAL or 914-963-4137.