Why and How

Including Important Information for SSI/Medicaid Applicants & Recipients

Introduction

Many New York residents prearrange and prefund their funerals as part of regular estate planning. In fact, many consumer advocates applaud the concept. Reasons for preplanning one’s final expenses include peace of mind, relieving the burden on loved ones, or for purposes of SSI/Medicaid spend down. There are a number of advantages to preplanning and prefunding funeral expenses. The primary advantage is that it allows individuals the opportunity to make personal and specific selections for the funeral service that most closely meets their needs. For many, it is comforting to know that money has been set aside for their final expenses, which will in turn reduce the burden on family members at a difficult time. In addition, loved ones are not left guessing which type of funeral service would have been preferred. Another very important reason to establish a preneed burial trust is that SSI/Medicaid recipients are allowed to set aside money to fully fund the service of their choice before their funds are exhausted down to necessary eligibility levels.

Consumers in New York State benefit from the strictest, most comprehensive funeral preneed laws in the country. In New York State, 100% of the principal and interest must accrue to the benefit of the Trust (less a third party Trustee administrative fee), which must be deposited in an investment backed by the government of the United States. For this purpose, many New York funeral directors use NYSFDA’s funeral preneed trust program, the PrePlan^SM. PrePlan^SM is a commingled trust invested solely in FDIC insured certificates of deposit. Five Trustees, who are members of the New York State Funeral Directors Association and are carefully appointed by the NYSFDA Board of Directors, oversee the operations of the trust. PrePlan^SM currently services 60,000 consumer trust accounts for over 500 funeral firms.

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The Funeral Prearrangement Conference

Below is a description of what you should expect from a prearrangement conference.

The law requires the funeral director to provide the consumer with the following:

1. A General Price List with the current prices for any merchandise, services and facilities offered by the funeral home.

2. A Preneed Itemization Statement that lists the items of merchandise, services and facilities that have been chosen, and the price of each.

3. A Preneed Agreement that outlines all the terms, as well as a consumer’s rights as the Purchaser. It must also state how the principal and interest will be applied to the cost of the funeral services and merchandise at the time they are provided.

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Different types of Preneed Agreements

New York State Law mandates that prearrangements with New York funeral firms MUST be REVOCABLE, except for SSI/Medicaid recipients. This means that all prearrangements (except when prepared for Medicaid spend down) may be canceled at any time prior to death and the entire balance, including all accrued interest, must be refunded within ten days of the request.

New York State Law also mandates that preneed burial trusts for applicants or recipients of SSI/Medicaid MUST be IRREVOCABLE. This means that the prearrangement MAY NOT be canceled prior to death. It may, however, be transferred to a different funeral home at any time.

Aside from being revocable or irrevocable, there are essentially two types of preneed agreements. Following is a description of each:

(1) GUARANTEED

The funeral home may offer a guaranteed preneed agreement whereby the price of the funeral services and merchandise is guaranteed not to exceed the balance in your trust account at the time that the funeral is provided. The Guarantee will most likely be null and void if withdrawals are made from the trust account and generally will not apply to certain items such as cemetery costs, clergy fees, death certificate fees, etc. Please note, however, that the funeral home may not charge more than the actual cost for these third party items.

(2) NON-GUARANTEED

A non-guaranteed agreement indicates that the funeral home will provide the funeral services and merchandise selected at the cost of those items at the time of your funeral. If the total cost of the funeral exceeds the amount in the trust account, the additional expense will be due. If the total cost is less than the balance in the account, the excess funds will be refunded (except irrevocable trusts). The cost of the items at the time of your funeral must correspond with the funeral home’s printed General Price List at that time.

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How Preplanning Works

• Purchaser selects the funeral home of their choice.
  
• Purchaser meets with a funeral director.
  
• Purchaser selects desired services and merchandise while reviewing the funeral home’s General Price List.
  
• Funeral director prepares a fully itemized statement and preneed agreement.
  
• Both the funeral director and Purchaser sign the documents.
  
• Purchaser submits a check for the cost of the funeral made payable either to the funeral home or a funeral trust program. If cash is remitted, the Purchaser should obtain a cash receipt at the time of the transaction.
  
• Purchaser receives copies of all signed documents and a General Price List for retention.
  
• Within ten days, the funeral director forwards the funds to a funeral trust program (i.e., PrePlan^SM) or deposits the money directly into a government backed, interest bearing account in a New York financial institution.
  
• Within 30 days, the Purchaser should receive acknowledgment in the mail indicating where the money has been deposited.
  
• Funds are paid directly to the funeral director once the funeral services have been provided.

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Taxation of Preneed Funeral Trusts

The Internal Revenue Service has determined that Purchasers of preneed funeral trusts are responsible for any income tax (if the Purchaser is required to file) resulting from interest earned on the trust account. The funds, although set aside as payment for funeral expenses, always remain the property of the Purchaser. With the exception of irrevocable trusts, a Purchaser always maintains the right to withdraw the funds at any time prior to the performance of the funeral. Although withdrawals are not permitted from irrevocable trusts, the funds may be transferred to a different funeral firm at any time.

A Purchaser should receive a tax information statement each year by January 31^st, (i.e., 1099 or K-1Grantor Trust Statement) indicating the amount of interest earned on the account for the previous year. In addition, at any time upon written request, a funeral firm must provide a Purchaser with an accurate balance including principal and accrued interest.

Most funeral firms are extremely knowledgeable concerning all aspects of prepaid funerals in general, specifics on SSI/Medicaid, and often have the added benefit of local Social Services Department relationships which may make this part of the "spend down" process go more smoothly.

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Important Information for Applicants of Public Benefit Programs

"It was the judgment of Congress that persons should not have to choose between lifesaving welfare assistance and giving up their plan for the disposition of their bodily remains." A 1982 amendment to the Social Security Act implemented a program whereby SSI/Medicaid eligible persons can set aside funds for their funeral and burial expenses before their resources are exhausted by medical bills or their income declines to such a level that they need the cash assistance provided by the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. This program was implemented through specific resource exclusions for prepaid funeral contracts.

SSI, MEDICAID AND MEDICARE..... Which is Which?

There is often confusion about what each of these programs provide, specifically Medicaid and Medicare. Below are brief descriptions of each:

Medicare

Medicare is authorized under the Social Security Act and is part of a national health insurance program for the aged and certain disabled persons. Medicare is administered by the Health Care Financing Administration under the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint state-federal health insurance program for low-income individuals. It is administered by individual states with federal oversight and regulation by the Health Care Financing Administration. Currently, all resources placed in an irrevocable funeral fund are excluded when an individual applies for Medicaid. Revocable contracts as an excludable resource are limited to $1,500. Please note that the revocable $1,500 limit is reduced proportionally by any irrevocable funeral funds or insurance policies. State Medicaid plans are currently linked to federal SSI eligibility criteria, however, individual states make their own Medicaid determinations using the federal SSI criteria.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):

SSI is a means-tested, federally administered income assistance program that provides monthly cash payments to the needy, aged, blind and disabled in accordance with uniform nationwide eligibility requirements. SSI is administered by the Health Care Financing Administration under the US Department of Health and Human Services. The limit on countable resources for SSI is $2000 per individual and $3000 per couple. All irrevocable preneed funds are excluded and any revocable preneed funds of up to $1,500* for funeral expenses and unlimited burial space expenses (funeral merchandise) per individual are excluded, with limited exceptions, for SSI eligibility purposes.

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Prepaid Funeral Resource Exclusion

How to Qualify

Any individual who is an applicant or recipient of SSI/Medicaid, and in the "spend down" process, should meet with a funeral director. During a prearrangement conference, the individuals should select which funeral services and merchandise he or she desires as disclosed on a "General Price List." The funeral director will then note these selections on an itemized statement (commonly known as a "Preneed Itemization Statement") which will reflect the current retail value of the merchandise and services selected. The next step is funding the arrangements. Funeral prearrangements will qualify as a prepaid funeral resource exclusion if the funds are placed in an irrevocable prepaid funeral trust account.

Meaning of Irrevocability

A trust which is titled "irrevocable" means that any refund, withdrawal or other disposition of the deposits on account plus accrued interest, for any purpose, will and must legally be refused by the funeral director and/or funeral trust or financial institution.

Payments to Purchasers

Purchasers who have entered into irrevocable burial trusts may only use the funds for payment of funeral services and merchandise upon the death of the intended funeral recipient. Any excess in the trust account after payment of funeral expenses must be returned to the local county Social Services Department in which the intended funeral recipient resided and received assistance.

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Requirements

All documentation generated by this process must meet stringent federal and state requirements for resource qualification and funeral service disclosures. Social Services personnel require evidence that the funeral arrangements exist and that they are linked irrevocably to the funding vehicle. Additionally, all of the documentation generated by the funeral home must meet Federal Trade Commission standards for price and itemization disclosure, and all of the provisions of Section 453 of the New York State General Business Law.

Consumer Protections

The 1996 amendment to the Social Services law which allows the creation of irrevocable trusts for applicants/recipients of SSI and/or Medicaid also sets high business and ethical standards for prepaid funeral arrangements. The following consumer protections were built into the law with that amendment.

Portability

The law allows the consumer to change funeral homes at any time prior to death without effecting the irrevocability of the arrangements themselves. If such a transfer is desired, a new irrevocable preneed agreement with the newly selected funeral home must be generated. The transfer of irrevocable preneed funds may, however, ONLY be made payable to another funeral home, or another funeral trust program.

Can irrevocable preneed agreements be modified at the time of need?

Some funeral arrangements may be modified at the time of need, however, no additions or upgrades from the originally selected merchandise and services can be made. Any remaining funds in an irrevocable account must be returned to the Social Services Department in the county where the beneficiary resided and was receiving assistance.

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Mandatory Contract Disclosures

New York law mandates that every irrevocable preneed agreement contain, in a minimum of 12 point type, the following consumer disclosure:

"New York Law requires this agreement to be irrevocable for applicants for receipt of supplemental security benefits under section two hundred nine of the Social Services Law or of medical assistance under section three hundred sixty-six of the Social Services Law, and for the moneys put into a trust under this agreement to be used only for funeral and burial expenses. If any money is left over after your funeral and burial expenses have been paid, it will go to the county. You may change your choice of funeral home at any time."

All literature promoting prearranged funeral and burial services prepared after January 1, 1997 must contain language disclosing the irrevocable nature of burial trusts established for an applicant or recipient of supplemental security income benefits or medical assistance. Following are some samples of the language that could be used:

"New York State law mandates that all contracts for prefunded funerals executed by applicants for or recipients of Medicaid be irrevocable."

"New York State law mandates that funeral trust funds for Medicaid recipients pay for funeral and burial expenses only. These contracts must be irrevocable."

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Summary of N.Y.S. Irrevocable Trusting Statute (NY Social Services Law, Section 209)

** All preneed funeral agreements for applicants for or recipients of Medicaid must be irrevocable.

** No other type of preneed contract may be irrevocable. All others remain completely revocable for the purchaser, which means monies must be refunded upon demand.

** There will be one irrevocable account with an unlimited dollar amount for SSI/Medicaid applicants or recipients.

** Irrevocable burial trust Purchasers may not receive a refund prior to the death of the beneficiary, at which time the money must either be spent on funeral expenses or be paid to the county Social Services Department where the beneficiary resided and received assistance.

** All irrevocable accounts must remain portable to any funeral home in any state, and upon the purchaser’s request, the monies must be paid to a newly selected funeral home or funeral trust within ten business days.

** All preneed agreements for applicants for or recipients of SSI/Medicaid must contain a mandatory disclosure regarding the nature of the irrevocability of the contract and the portability aspects.

** All literature printed after January 1, 1997 which promotes prefunded funerals must contain language disclosing the irrevocable nature of preneed agreements executed by applicants for or recipients of SSI/Medicaid.

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Commonly asked questions regarding preneed arrangements for applicants or recipients of SSI/Medicaid.

Can a Medicaid applicant apply life insurance towards an irrevocable funeral trust?

No. Life insurance cannot be used in an irrevocable trust.

Which items are to be excluded from the burial trust?

An applicant or recipient of Medicaid/SSI may prearrange reasonable and common funeral merchandise and service expenses. Airline tickets, luncheons, charitable donations and cash gifts are not considered reasonable and common funeral expenses. For an individual opening a revocable account, who is not an applicant or recipient of Medicaid/SSI, all funeral prearrangements may be fully prefunded.

Which county Social Services Department would receive the overage in an irrevocable trust?

The county in which the Medicaid applicant or recipient resided (most likely the county in which they applied for assistance).

Must I send the overage of existing revocable contracts held by Medicaid recipients to the county Social Services Department?

No. The overage to existing revocable contracts of Medicaid recipients should be returned to the Purchaser or to their estate.

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Who may authorize a transfer of funds to another funeral home before death occurs?

The Purchaser or their legal representative must authorize a transfer of the irrevocable trust to another funeral home.

Can I create an irrevocable trust if the person is not yet an SSI or Medicaid applicant?

No. Only SSI/Medicaid applicants/recipients may set up irrevocable preneed trusts in New York State.

Can an applicant or recipient change an existing revocable contract to an irrevocable trust?

Yes, but they must sign a new irrevocable preneed agreement.

Does the law affect pre-existing contracts of Medicaid recipients?

No. If a consumer had both a pre-existing agreement and was receiving Medicaid benefits prior to January 1, 1997, their account may remain revocable, and must still be recertified on an annual basis by County Social Services personnel.

Can additional funds be added to an irrevocable trust?

Yes.

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Can irrevocable preneed agreements be modified at time of need?

Some funeral arrangements may be modified at the time of need, however, no additions or upgrades from the originally selected merchandise and services can be made. Any remaining funds in an irrevocable account must be returned to the Social Services Department in the county where the beneficiary resided and was receiving assistance.

Can we still use the personal needs account to fund the burial trust?

No. The funeral director should not be involved in the use of the Personal Needs Account. A Purchaser of an irrevocable burial trust may still maintain the maximum allowable Medicaid eligibility personal resource level, in addition to the irrevocable trust. That level is currently $3,550 per individual or $5,150 per couple.

Are there disclosures that must be printed on a funeral firm’s advertising materials regarding prearrangements?

Yes. Any promotional material printed must contain language disclosing the irrevocable nature of burial trusts established for individuals receiving or applying for supplemental security income or Medicaid assistance.

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Additional Information

**Listing of funeral homes by county, that participate in PrePlan, NYSFDA’s prepaid funeral trust program.

**Before Prepaying Your Funeral, Know Your Rights, prepared by the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Funeral Directing.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) also has information on funeral preplanning that may be obtained by writing to AARP at 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20049.