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Life after death

As part of our GET ORGANIZED! series, here are some tips from local experts on how to prepare for the inevitable:
*  Pre-plan funeral arrangements — it can save your family time, money and heartache.
*  Work within a budget, pay it off over three to five years.
*  Everyone should have life insurance.
*  Get life insurance early, while you’re in good health.
*  When selecting insurance coverage, include funeral costs, annual salary, loans, mortgages, children’s education and other debts.
Sources: Risto Rubio of Mission Family Mortuary; Nathan Ortiz of State Farm Insurance


By Luz Peña, MÁS staff
No one likes talking about death.
     Abuelitas bless you after you mention it.
     However, with the high cost of funerals and other expenses left by the deceased, experts recommend making your funeral arrangements and setting up a life insurance policy while you’re in good health.
   “Hispanics don’t like talking about death because they think you’re calling death,” said Risto Rubio, a mortuary consultant for Mission Family Mortuary. “If you don’t talk about it, it won’t happen. Death comes when it wants to come, and sometimes it’s when you least expect it.”
Currently a funeral can easily cost a family an estimated $10,000.
Rubio said he sees far too many families select a funeral package when the person has just died.
“The family comes in the funeral home grieving and not with a clear head. The funeral homes tell them the prices ranges,” he said. “If they don’t get a fair funeral consultant, they can easily walk out with an overpriced funeral. Then months later some of them will still wonder if the funeral they chose was what their loved one(s) wanted.”
Rubio said some funeral homes offer reasonably priced funeral arrangements which include the body pick up, casket, and viewing or rosary.
At Mission, families on a budget can get a good package for under $3,000.
Regardless, it’s hard for families to come up with the money out of pocket.
“I see it time after time. You see families trying to raise money by having car washes. Who makes $5,000 from a car wash on a weekend?” said Rubio. “If we all could make that kind of money in a weekend, we would all (be tempted to) quit our jobs and start washing cars.”
Rubio recommends pre-planning your funeral arrangements because most plans are set up within individuals’ budgets and can be paid off in three to five years. Also, each person plans their own funeral, so they can incorporate their personality and last wishes.
“With the rising cost of funerals, I’m always trying to find ways to educate Hispanics about pre-planning their funeral arrangements because I’ve seen our generation — the ones in their 30 and 40s — having to make the arrangements,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s the adult kids making the arrangements for their parent(s) and lost loved ones.”
Rubio suggests you should start making your funeral arrangements within your first few years of marriage. First make arrangement plans for yourself and your spouse. Later arrange your children’s or start making payments for your plots — which includes the open and closing of the ground, your vault and placement.
“You have to work within your budget. Once you’ve gotten your funeral package paid for, then start paying for your plot,” he said. “It takes baby steps. If money gets tight, you’re going to pay your rent/house payment, car payment and groceries before your funeral package.”
Now that you’ve got your funeral arrangements covered, what about your other expenses you’ll leave behind upon your death? 
It was 23 years ago when Patricia Rodriguez, 41, got married. That’s when she and husband Angel, now 44, decided to set up a life insurance policy.
Recently, the couple updated their life insurance policy with State Farm Life Insurance.
“I always felt life insurance was very important. It was a must to make sure myself or my spouse wasn’t left hanging if one of us passed away,” said Rodriguez. “Now, it’s even more important for us because life insurance covers your expenses like your home, funeral, or other bills you leave behind when you pass away. You have to think about all that.”
Rodriguez has a Term Life Insurance, meaning the life insurance coverage is covered for a limited amount of time.
She and her husband will be urging their children, Angel Jr., 22, Veronica, 17, and Karla, 15, to set up a life insurance policy when they become of age or get married.
Angel, who’s currently in the U.S. Navy, has already created a life insurance policy.  
She suggests looking for a life insurance agent you trust and feel comfortable with.
Nathan Ortiz, an insurance agent with State Farm Insurance, said that through the insurance carrier there are three types of life insurance offered: Term Life Insurance, which provides short-term coverage; Whole Life Insurance, with premiums generally level with cash value growth through the life of the policy; and Universal Life Insurance, the same as Whole Life Insurance but with more flexibility, meaning coverage amounts and premium payments are flexible to help meet changing needs during the insured person’s lifetime.
Ortiz said life insurance should be set up as soon as possible, although many people wait until they’re married.
“Everybody should have life insurance. Life insurance should be set up at soon as possible because age and health are all factors when you buy life insurance,” he said. “It’s better to be covered before you get older or your health changes.”
When you’re looking for the amount of coverage, you should include funeral costs — if they haven’t been taken care of already — annual salary, loans, mortgages and other debts, children’s educational needs, and other final expenses you may have.
Most insurance carriers require a physical, lab work, and a health background check before deciding to grant insurance coverage. Monthly premiums will depend on health, age and amount of coverage desired. Once the monthly premium and coverage are selected, the policy holder is covered upon first payment.
“Life insurance coverage is needed because death comes when you least expect it,” Ortiz said. “Why leave your family with the financial burden when they’re already dealing with your loss?”