Ed Markin

Caring.com Expert

About

Ed Markin, BS, MBA, PhD, is the director of research for the Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation and author of more than a dozen books. For the past 15 years, Markin has operated the Funeral Help Program, a clearinghouse for consumer information. He has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows and has been published or quoted in hundreds of magazines and newspapers.

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Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Tuesday March 22, 2011

    1. How do prepaid cremations work?

      Answer - Prepaid cremation costs will vary according to your location, the goods/services included, and the crematory or funeral home's policies. There could be an insurance policy involved, and with it an 'exclusionary period'. Typically, the longer the pay-in period (and lower the installments) the longer...

  2. Tuesday February 15, 2011

    1. If Medicare and Medicad offer funeral benefits, are there restrictions if someone committed suicide?

      Answer - Medicare and Medicaid vary from state to state, so for an exact answer you'll need to contact a benefits adviser in your state. That said, Medicare and Medicaid do not, as a rule, pay death benefits beyond the Social Security program's $255 one-time payment to surviving spouse or children...

  3. Monday January 24, 2011

    1. If you find your spouse has died, who do you call?

      Answer - You asked 'who do I call if my spouse dies?' and the answer will largely depend upon how death occurred. If it was an anticipated death, say the spouse had in-home hospice care for a terminal disease or condition, your hospice care provider should be able to advise...

    2. How Much Does Cremation Cost?

      Answer - In a survey of Cremation Costs last year, in a Texas community near Dallas, we found the charge for a direct cremation ranged from $710 to a high of $3820, depending on which funeral home one used. What makes these numbers even more amazing is; all these funeral homes use the SAME CREMATORY and pay the same fee...

    3. Who

      Answer - You asked "If the wife leaves her husband and kids and stays estranged for five years then dies, who is responsible for her funeral costs?" That is a good question and the answer will likely depend on what actions, if any, you have taken in her absence...

  4. Wednesday September 22, 2010

    1. How do I obtain an obituary?

      Answer - The obituary can be written by a relative, a friend, a journalist or ... the guest of honor herself! Contact the newspapers in which you want the obituary to run and get their guidelines. Some will have a checklist or even a form to help organize the information...

  5. Wednesday September 15, 2010

    1. Are prepaid cremation plans tax deductible?

      Answer - Funeral arrangements of any sort are not typically tax deductible on the Federal level. State tax codes vary widely but think, what would you list it under on a tax form? Too late to be a medical expense. Too cheeky to refer to it as a second home. Perhaps as a 'relocation expense'...

  6. Wednesday June 16, 2010

    1. Is public assistance available to cover funeral costs? My...

      Answer - Is there public assistance for funeral costs? Since I run the Funeral Help hot line I get this question several times daily and wish I could give you a more solid answer than "Maybe". Most states and some cities have an Indigent Burial Fund (or something similar) to assist those who die without assets for a funeral...

  7. Thursday April 01, 2010

    1. Any tips for how to figure out how to choose a funeral home?

      Answer - Tips on Choosing a Funeral Home

  8. Tuesday December 22, 2009

    1. What happens if Mom dies in a different state from which she made arrangements?

      Answer - Dying in one state with arrangements made in another is getting more and more commonplace. We are a much more mobile society these days. The answer will ultimately depend on your mother's wishes.