Imperfect Beauty - Connecticut Funeral Directors Association

ssociate
A
the
CFDA
Publication of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
Est. 1889
Imperfect Beauty
September/October 2015
Volume 47 • No. 5
Table of Contents
Volume 47 • No. 5
Page 3
Making Connections through
Education and Experience at Lincoln
College New England
by CFDA Executive Director
John F. Cascio
Page 4
Overcoming Industry Barriers:
Communicating our Value
by Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc,
2015 CFDA President
Page 5
VA Announces Final Rule on
Reimbursement of Casket and Urn
Costs for Indigent Veterans Being
Interred in a VA Cemetery
By T. Scott Gilligan,
NFDA General Counsel
Page 6
CFDA Update, In Memoriam
Page 8
2015 CFD-PAC
Page 9
Cremation & Burial News
Page 10
Medicare — What Baby Boomers
Need to Know
Page 18
NFDA Releases Results of 2015
Member General Price List Survey,
Burial Costs Increase 28 Percent
Page 22
Tips of the Day
Some of the Ways
We Help Your Families
by Timothy Bourdon, President
TJB Financial Services, Inc.
2015 CFDA Calendar
December 3 127th CFDA Annual Meeting,
Crowne Plaza, Cromwell, CT
Look for Your
Invitation
to the 127th
Annual Meeting
of the
Connecticut Funeral
Directors Association
in your U.S. Postal Mail
Delivery Soon!
Register by
November 25th
the Associate
CFDA Mission Statement
To advance the profession of funeral service
in Connecticut through Public Awareness,
Education, Advocacy and High Ethical
Standards.
Publication of the Connecticut
Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
364 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 06109
John F. Cascio, editor, executive director
phone (860) 721-0234
Noelle Frechette, administrative assistant
fax (860) 257-3617
Beverly Matthews, graphic design, production, photography
website: www.ctfda.org
member services, bjmdesign1@cox.net
email: connfda@aol.com
2015 CFDA Officers
President Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc
Howard K. Hill Funeral Services
New Haven, Hartford, CT
Phone
(203) 624-4477
howard@hkhfuneralservices.com
Vice President Erin V. Hastings, cfsp
Beecher & Bennett, Inc.
Hamden, CT
Phone
(203) 288-0800
erin@beecherandbennett.com
Treasurer Matthew R. Adzima
Adzima Funeral Home, Inc.
Stratford, CT
Phone
(203) 375-2200
adzimafuneralhome@snet.net
Secretary Philip M. Pietras
Pietras Funeral Homes
Rockville, Tolland, Coventry, CT
Phone
(860) 875-0703
pietrasfhs@att.net
Past President Stephen M. King, cfsp
Mystic Funeral Home
Mystic, CT
Phone
(860) 536-2888
stephen@mysticfuneralhome.com
Policy Board Representative
William R. Molloy, cfsp
Molloy Funeral Home
West Hartford, CT
Phone
(860) 232-1322
rmolloy@molloyfuneralhome.com
Executive Committee
Robert L. Muccino, cpc
Funk Funeral Home
Bristol, CT
Phone
(860) 583-4107
bob.muccino@carriageservices.com
Rebecca C. Lautenslager
Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home
Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone
(203) 225-1031
rlautenslager@sbcglobal.net
John “Jay” C. Carmon, Jr. cpc
Carmon Funeral Homes
Windsor, CT 06095-0006
Phone
(860) 688-2200
jaycarmon@carmonfh.com
Edward J. Sheehy, Jr., cfsp
Riverview Funeral Home
Shelton, CT 06484
Phone
(203) 924-6800
ed.sheehy@riverviewfh.com
Robert L. Morton, cpc (Alternate)
Morton’s Mortuary, Inc.
Bridgeport, CT
Phone
(203) 576-0326
robert@mortonsmortuary.com
CFDA Support Team Call CFDA Office for contact information
Lobbyist
Michael Dugan
Capitol Consulting, LLC
Legal Counsel
John P. McHugh, Esq.
Cranmore, Fitzgerald & Meaney
2
Media and Public Relations
Laura Soll Public Relations, LLC
Trust Advisors
Victor Chigas, Chris Chigas or V.J. Chigas
Access Financial Group/ITS
State Board of Examiners for Embalmers &
Funeral Directors:
Darrell L. McClam, Embalmer, Chairperson
Gerald Bosak, Jr., Embalmer
Frank W. Carmon, IV, Embalmer
Agnes M. Pier (Public Member)
Making Connections through Education and
Experience at Lincoln College New England
by John F. Cascio, Executive Director CFDA
Over the years CFDA has featured an
annual theme that encompasses, among many
things, the focus and direction the Association
endeavors to accomplish in the upcoming year.
Community, Education, and Partnership have
been themes that “popped-up” time and again.
This year we have made great strides in partnering with our resources to provide educational opportunities to our membership and to
young people in our state who have made the
commitment to funeral service.
By bringing together our endorsed partners
at Federated Insurance and the managment and
financial professionals from Ignition Business
Coaches (brought to us by CFDA accountants
Filomeno & Co. and YardZone Inc.) we were
able to offer two affordable seminars to both
our membership and students from Lincoln
College New England. By utilizing the Southington Campus location costs were effective
and by making the presentations available to
both members and the students from Lincoln,
a connection with mortuary science students
and experienced funeral directors was made.
This successful seminar was, I believe, the
first of many collaborations with Lincoln College and the companies who provide CFDA
with Member Benefits. These companies offer advice and services that members may, no
should, be well informed about and inclined
to take advantage of their individual expertise.
From insurance and financial services to
legal and legislative concerns it is part of our
mission to keep the membership educated,
aware and ethically involved in all aspects of
funeral service.
In a conversation with Daniel Shlatz, Federated Insurance Market Representative,
at Wednesday’s seminar, he has offered the
names, territory and contact numbers of all
the Marketing Representatives for Federated.
Keep this list handy. Cut it Out. Make a Copy.
And when you have a question about Property/
September/October 2015
Left to right: Presenters: Paul Decelles, Coach and Partner,
Ingnition Business Coaches, LLC; Dan Shlatz, Federated
Insurance. Presenter: In a Blink of an Eye - Distracted
Driving, Shel Myers, Attorney, Kainen, Escalera & McHale;
George Thomson Coach and Partner, Ingnition Business Coaches, LLC; Phyliss Rizy - Coach and Partner, Ingnition Business
Coaches.
Liability, Workers’ Compensation, or Financial Protection Services — call your area representative and get the answers you need.
Your dues pay for this. — John
Federated Regional Representatives
Dan Shlatz – Hartford County
860-716-6815
Andrew Halstead – Tolland County
860-508-4546
Matt Gunn – Middlesex County
860-716-4713
Eric Boisse – New London County
860-418-3274
Eddie Pricolo – New Haven County
203-889-8554
Nick Savino – Fairfield County
203-470-8016
Dave Mihalov – Litchfield County
(Bridgeport and Stratford)
203-814-4985
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
3
VA Announces Final Rule on Reimbursement of
Casket and Urn Costs for Indigent Veterans Being
Interred in a VA Cemetery
A Message from the President
Overcoming Industry Barriers:
Communicating Our Value
by T. Scott Gilligan, NFDA General Counsel
by Howard K. Hill, cfsp, cpc, 2015 CFDA President
Today’s society is moving so fast that it seems that the desire for immediate results now drives
innovation. This has created a microwave mentality and an environment where people expect
their issues and challenges to be resolved in 30 seconds. Our industry appears to be following
that same path with the increasing choice of cremations as a form of final disposition. According
to the NFDA cremation has become a household name now accounting for more than 45% of all
funerals conducted.
As the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Convention for 2014 closed their meeting in Nashville (10-15-2014), the NFDA published a report highlighting that by (2015), cremation would surpass burials as the preferred funeral option for the majority of Americans. The
report stated that this would require the funeral industry as a whole to re-align its strategies for
future stability. (2014 NFDA Cremation and Burial Report: Research, Statistics and Projections)
Cremation as a final disposition impacts our entire industry including casket companies, vault
companies, funeral supply companies, flower shops, cemeteries, etc. I often wonder if we, as front
line industry leaders, whether we drop the ball when helping families see the value proposition
in choosing burials versus cremation? I also ponder whether
families are seeking low cost over value because they see little
value in our role as funeral directors.
Our consumers assume cremation is much simpler and
more affordable. In fact cremation can be quite complicated
at times and it is up to us to educate families. We know there
are many reasons why cremation is selected over a burial including affordability, disconnection from family, and trend,
however, a reality is that people have become more transient
these days, and as a result cremation is their preferred choice.
However, our job should be to ensure that families have a
healthy grieving process by having a funeral ceremony with
the body present.
What Can We Do?
As Funeral Directors, we need to fully understand and effectively communicate the value proposition funeral services
offer? Together, we will have to do more for our families in
order to remain relevant as an industry. In adconsumer. We must identify our collective and
dition to addressing the conflicts within our
individual value proposition and market that
industry, such as the one with the Catholic
to our communities.
Cemetery Diocese, we should also be discussShould We Be Marketing Our Value More?
ing how we can provide more value to the
Understanding that many funeral homes
bereaved by enhancing their graveside experiare not in the position to afford an effective
ence.
marketing campaign, would members of the
As an industry we should share the same
association be open to creating and funding a
concern of the impact of cremation on the
collective marketing campaign for all CFDA
way we do business. We must evolve with
members?
consumer trends, but more importantly guide
We must become more assertive in driving
the decision process in a direction that values
the narrative about the value that funeral sera traditional funeral ceremony or we run the
vice brings to people, community, and society
risk of becoming irrelevant to the grieving
as a whole. The funeral (continued on page 16)
4
The Associate
On April 13, 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published the Final
Rule on reimbursement of caskets and urns used for the interment or inurnment of
the remains of indigent veterans in VA cemeteries. To qualify for reimbursement, the
following criteria must be met:
• Reimbursement is only available for veterans who die on or after January 10, 2014, and
whose remains are interred or inurned in a national VA cemetery.
• Reimbursement will be made on any casket
that is metal and any urn regardless of the materials of which it is made. However, the dollar
amount of the reimbursement will be capped
at the average price of a 20-gauge casket and
the average price of a plastic urn. The VA has
determined that the maximum reimbursement
amounts for applications submitted in 2015
will be $1,967 for a casket and $172 for an urn.
• Applications for reimbursement may be
submitted by an individual or a business. The
director of the VA cemetery is required to visually inspect the casket or urn that is presented to
determine that it matches the description of the
burial receptacle listed on the invoice.
• To apply for reimbursement, the individual or business must submit VA For 40-10088
and supporting documentation. A certification
is required by the individual or business that,
to the best of their knowledge, there are insufficient resources available to purchase the casket
or urn. The applicant must also certify that they
cannot locate the next-of-kin or that the nextof-kin is unwilling or unable to assume the cost
of disposition for the deceased veteran.
NFDA, as the only funeral service association
to comment on the regulations when they were
proposed in July 2014, was instrumental in persuading the VA to revise and/or clarify several
requirements in the proposed regulation which
helped make it easier to obtain reimbursement
under the Final Rule.
When the regulation was first proposed, a
September/October 2015
funeral home or family member seeking reimbursement would have been required to certify
that they could not identify a next-of-kin and
that VA records do not show a next-of-kin.
NFDA pointed out to the VA that funeral
homes do not have access to VA records so the
certification that was being mandated would be
impossible in most cases. We also argued that
the identity of the next-of-kin is often known,
but locating their whereabouts is the problem.
The VA agreed with the logic of NFDA’s
comments. In the Final Rule, it dropped the
original requirement that the funeral home certify that there was no next-of-kin and that the
VA record did not show a next-of-kin. Instead,
under the Final Rule, all the funeral home has
to certify is that it could not locate a next-ofkin after performing whatever search is required
in the state for locating the person holding the
right of disposition.
The VA also made another important clarification to the Final Rule based on NFDA’s
comments. NFDA pointed out that even when
the next-of-kin can be located, they are often
unwilling or unable to pay for the disposition
costs. Accordingly, the VA revised the language
in the Final Rule to allow reimbursement if the
next-of-kin is unwilling or unable to assume
financial responsibility for the veteran’s burial
costs.
Another major concern for NFDA was that
the proposed regulation appeared to limit reimbursement only to those cases where a 20-gauge
steel casket is used for interment or a plastic
urn is used for inurnment. The VA explained
that this was not its
(continued on page 21)
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
5
CFDAUpdate...
CFDA Scholarship
Golf Tournament
September 26, 2015
Seven Connecticut Funeral Homes Honored with
National Awards For Excellence in Service to Families
and Communities
Seven (7) Connecticut funeral homes have earned the national 2015 Pursuit of Excellence
Award from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). All seven are members of the
Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA). The national award is presented by NFDA
annually to firms that have demonstrated a commitment to raising the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to strict ethical and professional standards and providing outstanding service
to families and communities.
Only 155 funeral homes in the U.S. are being recognized with a 2015 NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award for innovative community service programs, dynamic public relations efforts and
professional integrity. All seven Connecticut recipients are members of the Connecticut Funeral
Directors Association. They are:
• Burritt Hill Funeral Home in New Britain, Conn.;
• Carmon Community Funeral Homes in Windsor, Conn.*;
• D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel in East Hartford, Conn.*;
• D’Esopo Funeral Chapel in Wethersfield, Conn.*;
• Howard K. Hill Funeral Services in New Haven, Conn.;
• Newington Memorial Funeral Home in Newington, Conn.*;
• Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home in Fairfield, Conn.
*Previously inducted into the NFDA Hall of Excellence
In Memoriam
Leonard P. Audette
August 19, 2015
Sales Representative
Messenger Corporation
Florence Casket Company
Lionel J. Lessard, Sr.
August 28, 2015
Father of Lionel J. Lessard, Jr.
D’Esopo Funeral Chapel
East Hartford
Kathleen Holmes Dowd
September 28, 2015
Mother of Gerald Dowd
Former Owner of
Bassinger & Dowd Funeral Home
East Windsor
Lois E. Lewis
September 8, 2015
Mother of Michael & Steven Lewis
M. Solomon Casket Co.
Updates & Changes to the CFDA Membership Directory
If you have printed your copy of the 2015 CFDA Membership Directory here is a changes that has been
reported. If you have additions, changes, omissions, or updates, please call or let us know by sending
them to the CFDA office via email at connfda@aol.com attn: Beverly Matthews, Member Services.
6
Change: Abraham L. Green & Son, Fairfield, Change Wayne Seman’s email to:
wayneseman@sbcglobal.net
The Associate
Gold Sponsors
Batesville Casket Co.
Federated Insurance
Matthews Casket Co.
Norwalk Vault Co./Kryprotek
Silver Sponsors
We enjoyed a beautiful early autumn day at
Connecticut Eye Bank
Wethersfield Country Club. Fourteen teams,
M. Solomon Casket Co.
made up of members, suppliers, friends and
Whitmore Group
family, spent the afternoon playing a scramble
Bronze Sponsors
course, followed by the Suppliers’ Cocktail
Access Financial/ITS
Reception and a delicious dinner. Awards were
Aurora Casket Co.
given out and a raffle was held where particiConnecticut Casket Co.
pants picked from among many prizes, includDirectors Choice Credit Union
ing a flat-screen television, golf equipment and
Howard K. Hill Funeral Services Closest to the Pin
Pasquale Folino
Liberty Casket Co.
bottles of wine. To find out who came in deadMooney-Keehley
last and what they won turn to page 16.
TJB Financial Services, Inc.
Hole-in-One Sponsor
Park Superior Sales
Skills Competition Sponsors
Connecticut Funeral Supply
TJB Financial Serives, Inc.
Beverage Sponsor
Rocky Hill Vault &
Connecticut Valley Crematory
Scholarship Sponsors
Adzima Funeral Home, Inc.
Longest Drive Women
American Academy
Andrea Wasley
McAllister Institute
Beecher & Bennett, Inc.
Capitol Consulting, LLC
First Place: Frank Connelly, Howard Hill,
Patrick Lavin. Erin Hastings just dropped in. Carlson Funeral Home
Carmon Funeral Homes, Inc.
Castiglione Funeral Home
Cook Funeral Home, Inc.
Cooperative Funeral Fund
Cranmore, Fitzgerald & Meaney
D‘Esopo Funeral Chapel, Inc.
Dodge Company
Doolittle Funeral Services
ELM-CAP Group
Ferncliff Cemetery Association
Hartford Courant
Longest Drive Men
Laura Soll Public Relations, LLC
Dan Goldstein
Molloy Funeral Home, Inc.
Newington Memorial Funeral Home
Riverview Funeral Home
Scott Digris
Second Place: Marcel Poulin, Nathan Holmes, Shaughnessey-Banks Funeral Home
Thomas L. Neiland & Sons
Abner Oakes and Richard Holmes.
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
7
UUUUUUU 2015
CFD-PAC
O V
H
ur oice in artford
and Washington
It Only Works If Everyone Participates
Gold Club, Contributions of $500 to $750
Timothy M. Cook
Robert R. Fournier, Jr.
Richard P. Holmes
Jeffrey S. Klarman
Morton L. Weinstein
John C. Carmon
Howard K. Hill
David T. Warren
R. Thomas Abbate (S)
Kent E. Carlson
Christopher J. Duhaime
David S. Larson
Richard J. Miller
Holly Mullins Hart
George F. Sullivan, III
Silver Club, Contributions of $250 to $499
Gerald S. Baxter, Sr.
JoAnn Brennan
John C. Carmon, Jr.
Ronald & Leena Charron
Howard M. Holmes
John P. Klarman
David W. MacDonald
Carl J. Miller, III
William R. Molloy
Cyril F. Mullins, II
Philip & Jessica Pietras
Christopher E. Ryan, Sr.
Bronze Club, Contributions of $50 to $249
Glenn Blumenstein
Timothy J. Bourdon (S)
B. Patrick Callahan
John F. Cascio
Clement L. DeLucia
Erin V. Hastings
Robert C. Havens (S)
Joseph R. Introvigne, Sr. Rebecca C. Lautenslager
Kevin M. Lesko
Lissa Lovetere-Stone
James A. Mengacci
Robert L. Muccino
Nicole I. Paquette
Brian K. Romanowski
Edward J. Sheehy, Jr.
Total as of October 2015 - $10,875.00
The CFD-PAC helps us keep members of the General Assembly who support our state interests in office.
Virtually every other professional group in the country is trying to do the same thing, and their interests may be
very different than ours.
Associations and corporations are prohibited by law from making state campaign contributions.
All CFDA contributions to political campaigns are derived exclusively from personal CFD PAC
contributions.
Contributions to the CFD PAC are used to support candidates running for the State Senate and House of Representatives.
Together, we send these important messages to the State of Connecticut:
• CFDA is sustained by a politically aware and active membership base.
• We hold our elected officials accountable for their actions.
• We are active participants in the election process.
• We appreciate the great volunteers who serve on the Legislative and PAC Committees.
• We thank our lobbyist, attorney and staff for all their hard work and efforts.
All contributions are voluntary and are not a condition for CFDA membership. The amounts listed are merely
guidelines. You may contribute more or less without concern of reprisal.
Note: State Election Committee regulations prohibit CFD-PAC from accepting contributions from your funeral
firm. Personal Checks only, made payable to CFD-PAC are acceptable.
(S) indicates suppliers
8
The Associate
Cremation & Burial News
Rate of cremation continues to increase;
projected to surpass burial in 2015
According to the 2013 final data in the
2015 NFDA Cremation and Burial Report:
Research, Statistics and Projections, the rate
of cremation was 45.4 percent and the rate of
burial was 48.7 percent. By the end of 2015,
the rates of cremation and burial are projected
to be 48.5 percent and 45.6 percent respectively.
Should the 2015 projections bear out, the
cremation rate will have increased by more
than 50 percent over the last 10 years.
“Cremation isn’t just a trend — it’s a service
that funeral professionals like me have been offering for years,” said NFDA President Robert
Moore, IV, CFSP, CCO. “Whether a family
chooses a viewing and funeral before cremation
or a memorial service after, our duty
is to help families understand
their options so they can
gather to honor the life of their
loved one in a meaningful way.”
In addition to statistical information
for the United States and countries
around the world for which reliable
data is available, the 2015 Cremation
and Burial Report also contains data
about consumer perceptions of end-of-life
ceremonies and cremation.
There are many reasons why consumers
choose cremation, including cost considerations, environmental concerns, fewer religious prohibitions, and changing consumer
2005 Final
Cremation(%)32.3
Burial (%)
61.45
201034%
201542%*
202049%*
2030 63%*
* Projected, 2015 NFDA
Cremation & Burial Report
preferences, such as a desire for less ritualized
funerals.
The majority of families who choose cremation also commemorate their loved one’s
life: 28 percent choose to have a funeral with
viewing before cremation and 37 percent have
a memorial service after.
When talking about their own funerals,
more than one-half of adults 40 and older
would encourage their loved ones to plan a funeral or memorial ceremony. Only 17 percent
of adults would discourange loved ones
from commemorating their life.
The state and national death,
cremation and burial projections
contained in the Report were
compiled with the assistance of
experts from the University of
Wisconsin. Other findings presented
in this report are from the 2015 NFDA
Consumer Awareness & Preferences
Study and 2015 NFDA General Price
List Survey.
The 2015 NFDA Cremation and Burial
Report: Research, Statistics and Projections
is available to NFDA members at no charge.
It can be downloaded from the NFDA
website, www.nfda.org/tools/cremation.
2010 Final 2013 Final 2015 Projected 2020 Projected 2030 Projected
40.4
45.4
48.5
56.2
71.0
53.3
48.7
45.6
37.9
23.2
Formaldehyde Study
In the July 2015 issue of the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, researchers
concluded that those whose jobs required continual exposure to formaldehyde in embalming
fluid were three times more likely to develop
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), compared to those never exposed to the chemical.
ALS is a fatal neurological disease for which
September/October 2015
Cremation Statistics
there is no cure. While the disease is comparatively rare, it is known to affect around 12,000
people in the United States.
Researchers determined that funeral directors have about three times as much a chance
of developing ALS. The data showed that men
are four times as likely to develop the disease.
Ventilation is key to limit exposure to the
chemical, said Jessica Koth, a spokeswoman
for the National
(Continued on page 21)
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
9
Medicare
What Baby Boomers Need to Know
Don’t look now, but the baby boomers are
starting to retire. Between 8,000 and 10,000
of them will turn 65 each day for the next 15
years. As more and more Americans near this
milestone age, important decisions about when
to retire and when to sign up for Medicare benefits will be on the minds of millions of Americans.
This new generation of retirees is living and
working longer than the generations before.
Increasingly, new seniors are looking for guidance on health insurance options, including
Medicare benefits, as they consider delaying retirement or continuing to work part-time past
age 65.
In an effort to inform Americans nearing
their mid-60s (and their families) about Medicare benefits, enrollment deadlines and tips for
avoiding penalties, the Transamerica Center
for Health Studies (TCHS) has developed a
helpful guide that lays out the key information
in one place.
Medicare Open Enrollment
Anyone else seeking to sign up in the program or make changes to his or her Medicare
benefits can do so only during an eight-week
period every fall known as Open Enrollment.
The period typically begins in early October
and runs until early December.
Medicare ABCs
There are two essential options for Medicare coverage. One option is to obtain Part A,
B and D coverage. Part A covers hospital insurance, Part B is medical insurance. Part D is
prescription drug coverage. These three parts
work together to create an insurance package
that is similar to a fee-for-service/PPO model
that many health plans offer.
The other option is to obtain coverage under Part C. This model is more like a tradition-
10
al HMO. The coverage is more expansive than
the Part A/B/D model, and there are caps on
how much an individual will be asked to pay
out-of-pocket, unlike the Part A/B/D model, which has no out-of-pocket cap. But with
Part C, this is less patient control over doctor
choice. The trade-offs essentially mirror the
HMO vs. PPO trade-offs we make in the private insurance market.
To avoid penalties, anyone turning 65 must
choose to enroll in Medicare A, B, and D, or
Medicare C. Part A is free to anyone who has
worked for at least 10 years. There are monthly
payments associated with Parts B and C.
There are a number of different coverage
plans under Part D, each with a different level
of coverage and patient co-pay for prescription
drugs.
Those who do not enroll in Medicare within three months of their 65th birthday are subject to penalties and higher monthly fees after
enrollment. For example, if someone misses
the initial enrollment period for Part B, he or
she faces an additional monthly premium of
10 percent for every full 12 months he or she
was eligible but did not enroll.
Registration for Part C is available during
initial enrollment period or during annual enrollment periods, without penalty, once Medicare coverage is in place.
What Does Medicare Cover?
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Medicare Part A covers hospitalization expenses, including hospital care, nursing home
care, hospice and home health services. It is free
if you already receive or are eligible to receive
Social Security benefits, if you or your spouse
has worked and paid taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years), or if you are the parent of a fully
insured deceased (continued on page 12)
The Associate
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
11
Medicare (continued from page 10)
child. There may be other circumstances, such
as special medical conditions, that allow an individual to qualify for Medicare Part A before
he or she turns 65.
Part B (Medical Insurance)
Medicare Part B covers medical and preventive care services, such as lab tests, flu shots,
ambulance services, clinical research, medical
bills and medical equipment. The majority of
Part B benefits are subject to a yearly deductible ($147 in 2015) and out-of-pocket co-payments, co-insurance and monthly premiums.
The standard Part B monthly premium for
2015 will be $104.90.
Your actual payment will depend on your
income and assets. Those with a lower income
or assets may be eligible to receive assistance
with Part B payments through a variety of programs, such as Medicaid.
Part C (Medicare Advantage)
Medicare Advantage Plans are offered by
private companies approved by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services and are similar to private insurance that’s available through
the traditional health insurance marketplace.
Medicare Advantage Plans cover emergency and urgent care needs and may offer extra
coverage for vision, hearing, dental, and health
and wellness programs. Most Medicare Advantage Plans include prescription drug coverage
similar to Medicare Part D.
Monthly premiums for a Medicare Advantage Plan are separate from the Part B monthly
premium. Medicare Advantage Plans, by law,
have an out-of-pocket maximum of no more
12
than $6,700 per year, while Original Medicare
(Parts A and B) does not have an out-of-pocket
maximum.
Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Enrollment in Part D is not automatic
and there is a late enrollment fee for signing up
after the initial enrollment period. All the prescription drug plans vary in cost and coverage
options.
Medigap
IF you decide to go the Part A/B/D route,
it’s important to know that Medicare doesn’t
cover everything, and there is no cap on what
you might be asked to pay out-of-pocket. To
help, you have the option of buying what is
called a Medigap plan. These are supplemental policies that cover services not covered by
Medicare Parts A, B. and D. These are not a
government benefit, but rather insurance policies sold by private companies.
Medigap plans are not necessary if you are
covered under Part C.
Affordable Care Act
It is important to note that individuals who
use Medicare are not affected by the ACA and
DO NOT HAVE TO CHANGE their coverage.
Editor’s Note: For the complete Medicare
Guide, visit: www.transamericacenterforhealthstudies.org/affordable-care-act/medicare-guide.
The Associate
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
13
Treat Yourself as You Treat Your Families
You offer your families your in-depth knowledge and
support in finding out what best suits their individual needs.
At TJB Financial Services, Inc.,
we also believe that our
clients’ needs come first.
Our Goal: To help you feel comfortable
seeking help with your financial goals,
and to assist you in a knowledgeable,
courteous, and professional manner.
TJB Financial Services, Inc. and the CFDA
We are proud to be the Preferred Provider of Financial Services
to the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association and its Members.
Happy Halloween
Please let us know how we may assist you
and the families you serve.
Tim Bourdon and Bob Havens were awarded the Five Star Professional Wealth
ManagersSM Award for 2014. They are both multi-year recipients.
Based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria including:
minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional,
favorable regulatory and complaint history, fulfillment of firm’s internal
review, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, number of client
households, education and professional designations. The award is not indicative of the wealth
managers’ future performance.
For more information please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Approximately 14% of the award candidates in Connecticut were named 2014 Five Star
Wealth Managers.
Main Office: 9 School Street, Suite 6, P.O. Box 1020, East Granby, CT 06026
www.TJBFinc.com • (860) 844-0300 • Toll Free: 1-877-573-2226
Branch Offices: 18 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029
110 Washington Avenue, North Haven, CT 06473 • (203) 936-7125
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth
Financial Network, member FINRA/SiPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
Fixed insurance products and services offered through TJB Financial Services, Inc.
are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth.
14
The Associate
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
15
Howard Hill (continued from page 4)
gathering is one of the last events that slows
us down enough to draw families together to
celebrate a life and reinforce family bonds and
community ties. The cost to do this is relatively inexpensive and visitation of the body is an
integral part of the restoration process to the
bereaved. Why haven’t we communicated this
message?
We do have a challenge but we also have
an opportunity to help families select value in
services versus cost savings. We must sustain
the quality of our industry by re-defining who
we are, what we do and how we deliver those
services. We are poised to compete in this ever
evolving market and it is up to us to act now. I
encourage you to make decisions that will expand your value proposition and initiate col-
lective membership action. We recognize and
look to the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association in assisting us in creating a sustainable
future and we thank you for your innovative
approach to remain relevant in the days ahead.
As your CFDA President I am committed to
doing everything I can to help us help our families, so we each have an opportunity to thrive.
I would like to hear your ideas about what we
should do individually and collectively as an
industry to sustain ourselves. In a couple of
weeks I will be traveling to our national convention in Indianapolis to represent CFDA.
Armed with your feedback I will communicate
to our national leaders how they can assist in
providing more value to your funeral business
and to the people of your community.
Not Such A Bad Thing Being “Dead Last” at the
CFDA Scholarship Golf Tournament . . .
For the first year participants who didn’t fare
as well on the fairways were recognized for
their efforts.
Duffers V.J. Chigas, Nick Savino, Ed Sheehy
and Rob Clark had the dubious honor of having the highest score at the September 21st
Tournament.
Bob DeGemmis, ever the generous haberdasher, awarded each one a Navy Blue Sports
Jacket from Dressed to The Nines.
TJB (continued from page 22)
Their personal financial affairs. It is advisable
to avoid major changes for at least six months
after a partner’s death, or until they feel that
they can make sound financial decisions.
• Take time to consider any proposals from
family, friends, and your professional advisors.
• Ask as many questions as necessary and
have a trusted advisor look over any financial
decision they are considering during this stressful time.
• Review the beneficiaries of your own in-
16
surance policies, IRA’S and other retirement accounts and make appropriate changes.
• Let your families know that help is available. Offer to call us on their behalf for a confidential, no cost phone call to them. We can assure you, there are definitely families that need
this kind of help, and you are in the unique position of being able to provide it to them. You
should call us if you have any questions, or if
you need clarification prior to referring us to a
family.
The Associate
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
NFDA Releases Results of 2015
Member General Price List Survey,
Burial Costs Increased 28 Percent
Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) released the
results of its latest Member General Price List Study today, which includes the median cost of a funeral with burial. For the first time, the report includes a calculation of
the median cost of a funeral with cremation.
Median Cost of a Funeral With Burial
Since the 1960s, NFDA has calculated the
median cost of a funeral with burial by totaling the costs of the following items: basic services fee, removal/transfer of remains to funeral home, embalming and other preparation of
the body (casketing, cosmetology, dressing and
grooming), a metal casket, use of facilities and
staff for viewing and a funeral ceremony, use
of a hearse, use of a service car/van, and a basic memorial printed package (e.g., memorial
cards, register book, etc.).
The national median cost of a funeral for
calendar year 2014 was $7,181. If a vault is in-
cluded, something that is typically required by
a cemetery, the median cost is $8,508. The cost
does not take into account cemetery, monument or marker costs or miscellaneous cash-advance charges, such as for flowers or an obituary.
Over the past decade, the median cost of an
adult funeral in the United States has increased
28.6 percent. This is similar to the 2000-2009
period when the median cost of a funeral increased by 26.6 percent. The percent increase
during the 1980s (1980-1989) was significantly
higher (87 percent), reflecting the significantly
higher inflation rates during that decade.
National Median Cost of an Adult Funeral with Viewing and Burial: 2004 vs. 2014
Item2014*2004*% Change
Nondeclinable basic services fee
$2,000
$1,460
37.0%
Removal/transfer of remains to funeral home
$310
$195
59.0%
Embalming$695$49839.6%
Other preparation of the body$250$17442.9%
Use of facilities/staff for viewing
$420
$339
23.9%
Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony
$495
$395
25.3%
Hearse$318$22541.1%
Service car/van$143$10042.5%
Basic memorial printed package$155$9563.2%
Metal casket$2,395$2,10014.0%
Median Cost of a Funeral With Viewing and Burial $7,181
$5,582
28.6%
Vault$1,327$99833.0%
Total with vault$8,508$6,58029.3%
2004 prices have not been adjusted for inflation
* Median Price – The amount at which half of the figures fall below and half are above.
(Continued on page 20)
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The Associate
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
19
National Median Cost of Funerals (Continued from page 18)
VA Final Rule (Continued from page 5)
National Median Cost of a Funeral With Cremation
The national median cost of a cremation in
2014 was $6,078. NFDA calculated the median cost of a cost of an adult funeral with cremation by totaling the costs of the following
items: basic services fee, removal/transfer of
remains to funeral home, embalming and other preparation of the body, use of facilities and
staff for viewing and a funeral ceremony, use of
a service car/van, basic memorial printed package, cremation fee, cremation casket and urn.
The cost does not take into account vault, cemetery monument/marker costs or other miscellaneous cash advance charges.
National Median Cost of an Adult Funeral with Viewing and Cremation
Item2014*
Nondeclinable basic services fee Removal/transfer of remains to funeral home Embalming Other preparation of the body Use of facilities/staff for viewing Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony Service car/van Basic memorial printed package Cremation fee (if firm uses a third-party)** Cremation casket $
Urn Median Cost of a Funeral with Viewing and Cremation $2,000
$310
$695
$250
$420
$495
$143
$155
$330
1,000
$280
$6,078
* Median Price – The amount at which half of the figures fall below and half are above.
**65% of respondents use a third-party crematory (i.e., the funeral home does not own a crematory)
intent, but that they could see how the regulation could be interpreted that way. So the Final
Rule makes clear that any metal casket and any
urn that is used qualifies for reimbursement,
but that the dollar amount of reimbursement
will be capped at the average price of a 20-gauge
casket or a plastic urn.
The one issue where NFDA was not successful in changing the VA’s position concerns the
plastic urn. NFDA argued in its comments that
most families select a wooden, metal or ceramic
urn and that plastic urns are rarely used. We
felt it was inappropriate to use the plastic urn as
the benchmark for reimbursement. The VA, after surveying VA cemetery personnel, disagreed
and reported that a plastic urn, while not selected by families, is an appropriate repository
for use in a VA cemetery.
If a funeral home has provided a casket or urn
for a veteran who died after January 10, 2014,
and was interred or inurned in a VA cemetery,
the funeral home may apply for reimbursement
if it has not been paid for the casket or urn. The
VA will use the 2015 reimbursement amounts
of $1,967 for a casket and $172 for an urn even
though the disposition took place in 2014.
Formaldehyde Study
(Continued from page 9)
Survey methodology
A paper-based survey was mailed to 5,829
NFDA-member funeral home owners on June
19, 2015, to gather General Price List and other related data for the calendar year ending December 31, 2014. For the first time, members
had the option of completing the survey online.
A link to complete the survey was posted for
three consecutive weeks in the NFDA Bulletin
(electronic newsletter), and a reminder to complete the survey was emailed to all main contacts with a valid email address.
20
Of the potential respondents, a total of 1,046
members anonymously completed the survey
(859 via mail and 187 online), which accurately reflects NFDA’s total membership (with
95% confidence) within a range of +2.8%.
Funeral professionals interested in purchasing a copy of the survey report should call
NFDA at 800-228-6332 or visit www.nfda.
org/resourcestore. The survey report is $75 for
members of NFDA and $175 for nonmembers.
The Associate
Funeral Directors Association, in a statement
to Laboratory Equipment magazine. But the
use of formaldehyde is not definitively proven
as an occupational hazard, she added.
“There have been several studies over the
years showing that exposure to formaldehyde
in any profession has potential health consequences. Funeral directors take these studies
very seriously. The authors of this study state
that results should be interpreted with caution.” Koth said.
CFDA will keep you apprised should more
definitive data about the connection between
formaldehyde and ALS be published.
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
21
Tips of the Day
Presented by Timothy Bourdon,
President, TJB Financial Services, Inc.
Some of the Ways We Help Your Familes
Timothy J. Bourdon
Robert C. Havens
The death of a spouse or life partner is difficult enough without having to make decisions
about a host of financial issues. To help minimize stress when this sad time arrives, the following list provides a framework of how TJB Financial Services can help your families at the
time of a loss of a loved one.
Insurance Policies. We will recommend they have on hand a list of insurance companies,
policy numbers, and social security numbers. Although they don’t need to produce the original copy of the policy to file for a death claim, it will speed up the process.
• For coverage written in the past 15 years, we may be able to help them locate missing
policies, a not uncommon occurrence. We can walk them through the process using a company that specializes in this area.
• We will recommend they look through their (and the deceased partner’s) checkbook
registers for records of insurance premium payments and contact the carrier(s) to ask about
possible benefits.
• They should contact the deceased partner’s most recent employer regarding group benefits.
• They should check with their credit card, bank, and loan companies regarding eligible
death benefits.
Bank and Brokerage Accounts. Inform them that jointly owned accounts are not tied up in
the probate process. Have them contact their bank and broker to change the account to their
name. Accounts owned individually by a spouse must be transferred to an estate account.
IRA’s and employer retirement plans. It may be beneficial to roll over their spouse’s IRA’s
into their own IRA. If they are under the age of 59 ½ and intend to use the IRA for living
expenses, they may decide to move the account to an inherited IRA to avoid early withdrawal
tax penalties. In addition, their spouse’s plan may offer a survivor annuity or a lump-sum
payout. To avoid unnecessary taxes, they should discuss the options with us, or a financial
advisor they are currently using.
(Article continued on page 16)
This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal
advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a tax preparer, professional tax advisor, or lawyer.
IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE:
To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained
in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the
purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending
to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.
TBJ Financial
Services, Inc.
“The Preferred
Provider of
Financial Services
for The CFDA
and its Members”
For IARs: Timothy Bourdon is a financial advisor located at TJB Financial Services, Inc. 9 School Street, Suite
6, East Granby, CT 06026. He offers securities and advisory services as an Investment Adviser Representative of
Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. He can be reached
at (860) 844-0300 or at tbourdon@tjbfinc.com.
For Registered Representatives: Robert Havens is a financial consultant located at TJB Financial Services, Inc. 9
School Street, Suite 6, East Granby, CT 06026. He offers securities as a Registered Representative of Commonwealth
Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC. He can be reached at 860-844-0300 or at rhavens@tjbfinc.com.
© 2015 Commonwealth Financial Network®
TJB Financial Services, Inc. 9 School Street, Suite 6, P.O. Box 1020, East Granby, CT 06026
www.TJBFinc.com (860)844-0300 Toll Free: (877) 572-2226
Branches: 18 Main Street, Ellington, CT 06029 and 110 Washington Avenue, North Haven, CT 06473 (203) 936-7125
Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network,
Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Rev.10/14
22
The Associate
September/October 2015
Respecting Our Past With A Vision For The Future
23