Cremation Club: Nationwide Cremation Planning Membership
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Understanding Pre-Need Cremation Planning Options
When families face unexpected loss, they often confront cremation costs ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 or more, payable immediately when grief makes decision-making most difficult. Traditional funeral homes present complex pricing structures, add services many families don’t want or need, and operate with limited geographic coverage tied to specific locations.
Pre-planning cremation arrangements removes this burden, but several models exist, each serving different needs and budgets. Understanding these options helps families make informed decisions aligned with their circumstances and values.
Traditional Pre-Need Arrangements
Traditional funeral homes offer pre-need contracts where individuals select and often prepay for specific services at a particular location. These arrangements typically cost $2,000 to $5,000 or more depending on services selected. Benefits include locking in current prices and establishing clear instructions, but limitations include geographic restrictions (if you move, transferring arrangements can be complicated), facility-specific commitments (tied to one funeral home), and potential issues if the business changes ownership or closes.
Direct Cremation Providers
Companies like After.com focus on immediate-need direct cremation with transparent pricing, typically $895 to $1,500 for complete services. These providers offer straightforward transactions without long-term commitments, nationwide or multi-state coverage through partner networks, and clear, all-inclusive pricing. However, they require payment at time of need rather than spreading costs over time.
Cremation Membership Societies
Membership-based cremation societies operate on a subscription model where members pay recurring fees (monthly or annually) to maintain eligibility for guaranteed low-cost cremation services when needed. This model provides nationwide portability, locked-in future cremation costs, and predictable small recurring payments rather than large upfront expenses.
According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule guidance, consumers have the right to choose only the funeral arrangements they want, receive itemized pricing, and purchase goods and services from any provider. Understanding these rights helps families evaluate whether membership societies, traditional pre-need arrangements, or at-need services best serve their situations.
What is Cremation Club?
Cremation Club is a membership-based cremation planning service founded in 2015 by the team behind Funeralocity, a funeral and cremation comparison platform. The service operates on a subscription model where members pay monthly or annual fees to maintain eligibility for guaranteed $99 direct cremation services anywhere in the continental United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and Texas).
The company earned A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau in August 2024 and serves members through partnerships with licensed funeral homes and crematories nationwide.
How the Membership Model Works
Unlike traditional pre-need arrangements tied to specific funeral homes or immediate-need services requiring full payment at time of death, Cremation Club functions as ongoing membership providing future service access. The model resembles insurance or subscription services in other industries, where regular small payments maintain eligibility for larger future benefits.
Members join by subscribing monthly ($13.99) or annually ($119.99), with discounted rates for additional family members ($9.99/month or $109.99/year for second member). After maintaining continuous membership for 12 months, members become eligible for the guaranteed $99 cremation benefit. The membership price locked in at signup remains constant regardless of future price increases in the cremation industry.
What the $99 Cremation Benefit Includes
The guaranteed $99 cremation benefit covers direct cremation services through Cremation Club’s nationwide network of partner funeral homes and crematories. This includes:
Transportation of the deceased from place of death to funeral home or crematory (within reasonable service area). Secure storage and care of the deceased until cremation occurs. All required legal paperwork, permits, and death certificate filing. The cremation process itself in a licensed facility meeting state regulations. A basic cremation container meeting legal requirements. Return of cremated remains to family via standard delivery. Coordination through assigned Membership Navigator who guides family through the process.
The $99 benefit specifically covers direct cremation, meaning the body is cremated shortly after death without embalming, viewing, or ceremony beforehand. Additional services like upgraded urns, memorial products, or ceremony coordination cost extra.
Critical Membership Details
12-Month Waiting Period: The $99 cremation benefit only becomes available after 12 continuous months of active membership. Members who pass away before completing 12 months do not receive the $99 benefit, though their family may still access Cremation Club’s partner network at regular discounted member rates (typically higher than $99).
Geographic Coverage: Services are available in the continental United States excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and Texas. Members who pass away in excluded states may not receive the $99 benefit.
Age Requirements: Individuals must join before age 75, though they can remain members and access benefits after turning 75 if they joined earlier. This age requirement applies at signup only.
Cancellation Terms: Members can cancel anytime with no penalties, though canceling means losing eligibility for the $99 benefit. If reinstating membership later, the 12-month waiting period restarts.
Service Limitations: Cremation Club is not a funeral home but connects families to licensed funeral home partners. Service quality and responsiveness may vary by location and specific partner provider.
Additional Membership Benefits
Beyond the core $99 cremation benefit, Cremation Club membership includes several complementary services designed to support end-of-life planning.
Free Attorney-Approved Will
Members receive access to online will creation tools producing attorney-approved legal documents. These basic wills cover essential elements like asset distribution, guardian designation for minor children, and executor appointment. While not a substitute for comprehensive estate planning with an attorney for complex situations, these tools provide foundational documentation many Americans lack.
Estate Planning and Digital Tools
Membership includes access to estate planning resources helping members organize financial information, identify accounts requiring closure after death, document final wishes beyond just cremation preferences, create advance healthcare directives, and store important documents securely.
Account Discovery and Closure Support
After a member passes, Cremation Club provides guidance helping family members identify and close financial accounts, subscriptions, and services. This administrative support reduces burden during early grief when families must handle numerous logistical details.
Partner Discounts
Members receive discounts on memorial merchandise (upgraded urns, memorial jewelry, keepsake items), funeral flowers and memorial arrangements, grief counseling and support services, and memorial website creation.
Specific discounts vary and members should verify current offerings through their Membership Navigator.
Membership Navigator Support
Each member is assigned a Membership Navigator who serves as primary contact for questions about membership benefits, guidance when member passes away, connection to appropriate partner funeral home, and general cremation planning support.
Understanding Cremation Costs and Value Analysis
Evaluating whether Cremation Club membership provides value requires understanding typical cremation costs and how they’ve changed over time.
National Cremation Cost Trends
According to National Funeral Directors Association data and industry reports, average direct cremation costs have risen significantly. Five years ago, average direct cremation cost approximately $1,100. Current national averages range from $2,000 to $3,000 for basic direct cremation. Full-service cremation with viewing and ceremony averages $5,500 to $6,280. Traditional funeral with burial exceeds $8,300 nationally.
Regional variations create substantial price differences. Urban areas with higher real estate costs typically charge more. Rural areas with limited provider competition may also have elevated prices. Some states like California and New York average $3,000 to $4,000 for direct cremation, while other regions offer services for $1,500 to $2,000.
Cost Comparison Analysis
For someone joining Cremation Club at age 60 who passes away at age 80:
Total membership cost: 20 years × $167.88/year (monthly plan) = $3,357.60. Cremation benefit received: $99. Total cost for cremation: $3,456.60. Versus paying $2,500 average direct cremation cost at time of need: Membership costs $956.60 more over 20 years.
However, if cremation costs continue rising at historical rates, this calculation changes. If average cremation costs reach $4,000 by the time of death, membership saves approximately $544. If costs rise to $5,000, membership saves approximately $1,544.
For someone joining at age 65 who passes away at age 75:
Total membership cost: 10 years × $167.88/year = $1,678.80. Plus $99 cremation = $1,777.80 total. Versus current $2,500 average: Savings of approximately $722.
When Membership Provides Value
Cremation Club membership makes economic sense primarily for:
Individuals planning 10+ years in advance who believe cremation costs will continue rising significantly. Families desiring predictable small recurring payments rather than large future lump sum. People who value additional benefits (will creation, estate tools, partner discounts) beyond just cremation cost. Individuals who travel frequently or relocate and want nationwide coverage portability. Those seeking peace of mind from having arrangements locked in regardless of financial changes.
When Direct Payment at Time of Need Makes More Sense
Paying for direct cremation when needed may be more economical for:
Individuals in poor health unlikely to maintain 12+ months of membership before passing. People with immediate or short-term planning horizons. Those living in areas where direct cremation providers charge $1,000 to $1,500, making membership less cost-effective. Families with sufficient funds set aside who prefer not committing to recurring payments. Individuals over 75 who cannot join new membership.
How Cremation Club Compares to Other Options
Understanding how Cremation Club fits within the broader cremation planning landscape helps families choose appropriately.
Cremation Club vs. Traditional Pre-Need Contracts
Traditional funeral home pre-need contracts typically require $2,000 to $5,000 upfront or through payment plans, provide services at one specific funeral home location, may have complicated transfer processes if you move, and are governed by state-specific preneed trust regulations.
Cremation Club charges small recurring fees totaling less over time, works nationwide through partner networks allowing relocation flexibility, requires no large upfront payment, but includes a 12-month waiting period before benefits activate.
Cremation Club vs. Direct Cremation Providers
Services like After.com charge $895 to $1,500 for direct cremation with no membership fees or waiting periods, provide immediate arrangements when death occurs, operate in multiple states through partner networks, and include transparent all-inclusive pricing.
Cremation Club requires ongoing membership payments and 12-month waiting period, guarantees $99 cremation (after waiting period), spreads costs over time through small payments, and includes additional planning benefits beyond just cremation.
Cremation Club vs. Life Insurance
Life insurance pays lump sum to beneficiaries weeks after death, requires medical underwriting for most policies, provides funds family can use for any purpose, and delivers payment after claims processing and verification.
Cremation Club requires no medical underwriting, provides direct service arrangement rather than cash payment, delivers cremation coordination immediately when needed, and includes planning tools life insurance doesn’t offer.
Many families use both: life insurance to provide financial support to survivors and cremation membership to handle specific funeral logistics without burdening beneficiaries with arrangements.
Important Limitations and Considerations
Geographic Exclusions
Cremation Club explicitly excludes Alaska, Hawaii, and Texas from coverage. Members who pass away in these states do not receive the $99 benefit and must make alternative arrangements. Individuals who travel frequently to excluded states or have health conditions requiring medical care in those locations should consider whether nationwide coverage truly serves their needs.
12-Month Waiting Period
The mandatory 12-month continuous membership requirement before $99 benefit activation creates risk for individuals with serious health conditions or advanced age. Someone joining at age 74 with deteriorating health may not survive the waiting period, meaning their family pays membership fees without receiving the primary benefit.
Service Quality Variability
Because Cremation Club connects members to partner funeral homes rather than operating its own facilities, service quality, responsiveness, and professionalism vary by location and specific provider. Members have limited control over which funeral home serves them, though Membership Navigators attempt to match families with appropriate providers.
Membership Persistence Requirement
The $99 benefit only remains available while membership stays active. Canceling means losing eligibility even if you’ve paid for years. Financial hardship or changing circumstances that force cancellation result in losing invested membership fees without receiving benefits.
Additional Costs Beyond Basic Cremation
The $99 benefit covers only direct cremation essentials. Additional costs families may encounter include:
Death certificates beyond what’s included (typically $15 to $30 each). Upgraded urns or memorial products (basic scattering urn included, decorative urns cost extra). Transportation beyond standard service area (long-distance transfers may incur fees). Expedited services if needed faster than standard timeline. Memorial ceremonies or gatherings (not included in direct cremation).
Families should understand the $99 benefit covers cremation only, not full memorial services.
The Role of Advance Planning in End-of-Life Preparation
Regardless of which cremation service or model families choose, advance planning provides undeniable benefits that extend beyond just cost considerations.
Reducing Family Decision Burden
When death occurs unexpectedly, grieving family members must make dozens of decisions within days while managing acute emotional pain. Should we cremate or bury? Which funeral home? What services? How much should we spend? Research shows decision quality deteriorates under time pressure and emotional distress.
Pre-planning removes these burdens by establishing clear instructions. Family members know arrangements are handled, can focus on grief processing and mutual support, avoid potential conflicts about appropriate choices, and make decisions without financial pressure or sales tactics.
Memorial Merits provides a comprehensive What to Do When Someone Dies checklist covering the critical first steps families must navigate, which pre-planning significantly simplifies.
Financial Protection
Unexpected funeral costs create financial hardship for many families. According to consumer surveys, approximately 40% of Americans cannot cover a $1,000 emergency expense from savings. A $2,500 cremation bill represents catastrophic expense for millions of families who must choose between honoring their loved one appropriately and maintaining financial stability.
Pre-planning through membership societies, pre-need contracts, or dedicated savings removes this crisis by ensuring funds are available when needed, protecting families from debt or depleted emergency reserves, eliminating high-pressure sales environments where expensive decisions happen quickly, and allowing comparison shopping and informed decision-making with clear minds.
Ensuring Personal Wishes Are Honored
Without documentation, family members must guess about appropriate arrangements based on limited conversations or assumptions. This leads to:
Potential misalignment between what the deceased would have wanted and what family chooses. Conflicts among family members with different opinions about appropriate arrangements. Guilt or regret about choices made hastily during grief. Unnecessary expense on services the deceased wouldn’t have valued.
Pre-planning documents exact wishes, gives family permission to follow simple instructions even if they personally prefer something different, prevents misunderstandings, and ensures the deceased’s values guide arrangements.
Integrating Cremation Plans with Broader Estate Planning
Cremation arrangements represent one component of comprehensive end-of-life planning. Complete preparation includes:
Legal documents (will, powers of attorney, healthcare directives). Financial account organization and beneficiary designations. Digital asset management and passwords. Final wishes documentation beyond just funeral arrangements. Grief support preparation for family members.
If you are looking for help speaking to your family and keeping open communication, please read this article on family conversations about estate and end-of-life planning.
Cremation Club’s included will creation tools provide a starting point, though individuals with complex estates, significant assets, blended families, or special circumstances should consult estate planning attorneys for comprehensive guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cremation Club charges $13.99/month ($167.88/year) or $119.99/year if paid annually for the first member. Additional family members cost $9.99/month or $109.99/year. The monthly rate you sign up for remains locked in and won’t increase over time, even if you remain a member past age 75 or if industry prices rise. You can cancel anytime without penalties, though canceling eliminates your eligibility for the $99 cremation benefit. Using discount code MEMORIAL10 (available through Memorial Merits) provides 10% off membership when joining online or mentioned by phone.
The $99 cremation benefit activates only after 12 continuous months of active membership. Members who pass away before completing 12 consecutive months do not receive the $99 rate, though their families may still access Cremation Club’s partner network at standard discounted member rates (typically higher than $99). If you cancel membership and later rejoin, the 12-month waiting period restarts from your new join date. This waiting period is critical for individuals with serious health conditions or advanced age to understand before joining.
The $99 benefit covers essential direct cremation services: transportation of the deceased from place of death to funeral home or crematory within reasonable service area, secure refrigerated storage until cremation occurs, all required legal permits and death certificate filing, the cremation process itself in a licensed facility, a basic cremation container meeting legal requirements, and return of cremated remains to family via standard delivery (local courier where available, otherwise USPS with tracking). The benefit specifically covers direct cremation only, meaning no embalming, viewing, or ceremony beforehand. Additional services like upgraded urns, extra death certificates, expedited services, memorial ceremonies, or long-distance transportation may cost extra.
Cremation Club provides nationwide coverage throughout the continental United States, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and Texas. Members who pass away in these three excluded states cannot access the $99 cremation benefit and must make alternative arrangements. The service operates through partnerships with licensed funeral homes and crematories across covered states rather than owning facilities directly. Your assigned Membership Navigator connects your family to appropriate providers in the location where death occurs. Service quality and responsiveness may vary based on specific partner funeral home serving your area.
No. You must join before your 75th birthday to become a Cremation Club member. However, if you join before age 75, you can remain a member and access all benefits after turning 75. Your membership and locked-in pricing continue indefinitely as long as you maintain active membership regardless of age. This age requirement applies only at initial signup. There are no medical requirements or health questions, meaning anyone under 75 can join regardless of health status, pre-existing conditions, or life expectancy.
Cremation Club’s nationwide coverage means your $99 cremation benefit follows you anywhere in the continental U.S. (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and Texas). If you relocate, your membership remains active and the benefit applies in your new location. This portability distinguishes membership societies from traditional pre-need funeral home contracts, which typically tie arrangements to specific facilities. When death occurs, your family contacts Cremation Club’s Membership Navigator who connects them with an appropriate partner funeral home near the location of death. Frequent travelers or snowbirds splitting time between multiple states benefit from this geographic flexibility.
Whether Cremation Club provides value depends on your planning timeline, health status, and beliefs about future cost trends. If you join at age 65 and pass away at 75, you’ll pay approximately $1,778 total (10 years membership plus $99 cremation) versus approximately $2,500 for average direct cremation today, saving roughly $722. However, if you’re in poor health and pass away within the 12-month waiting period, your family receives no benefit despite paying membership fees. If you’re joining in your 70s with limited life expectancy, direct cremation providers charging $895 to $1,500 with no waiting periods may provide better value. The membership model works best for individuals planning 10+ years ahead who value predictable small recurring payments, nationwide portability, and additional estate planning benefits beyond just cremation cost.
Yes, you can cancel Cremation Club membership anytime with no penalties. Simply cancel before your next billing cycle to avoid additional charges. However, canceling means you lose all eligibility for the $99 cremation benefit regardless of how long you’ve been a member or how much you’ve paid. If you later decide to rejoin, you’ll start fresh with a new 12-month waiting period before the benefit activates. This makes Cremation Club most suitable for individuals confident they can maintain membership long-term rather than those with uncertain financial situations who may need to cancel before receiving benefits.
When a Cremation Club member passes away, the family’s first step should be contacting Cremation Club immediately by calling the member’s assigned Membership Navigator or main support line. The Navigator will verify active membership (and that 12 months have passed), confirm the $99 benefit applies, and connect the family with an appropriate licensed funeral home partner near the location of death. The funeral home handles transportation, legal paperwork, cremation, and return of remains, with all costs covered by the $99 benefit for basic direct cremation. The family shouldn’t arrange cremation independently before contacting Cremation Club, as doing so may void the benefit. Your family should know you’re a Cremation Club member and have contact information readily accessible.
Memorial Merits Perspective on Cremation Club
Cremation Club represents one option within the broader cremation planning landscape, serving specific needs for certain individuals while being less suitable for others. The service earns recognition for transparent pricing disclosing all costs and limitations upfront, nationwide portability providing flexibility for individuals who relocate or travel, predictable recurring costs rather than large lump-sum payments, additional estate planning tools beyond just cremation arrangements, and no medical underwriting accepting all members under 75 regardless of health.
Limitations requiring consideration include the mandatory 12-month waiting period before benefits activate (creating risk for individuals with limited life expectancy), geographic exclusions for Alaska, Hawaii, and Texas, reliance on partner funeral homes resulting in variable service quality, and cost-benefit analysis showing membership may not provide savings for everyone depending on planning timeline and health status.
Cremation Club serves best individuals planning 10+ years in advance with healthy life expectancy, frequent travelers or potential relocators valuing nationwide coverage, people preferring small recurring payments over lump-sum expenses, and families seeking integrated estate planning tools alongside cremation arrangements.
Alternative options may serve better individuals over 75 ineligible for membership, people in poor health unlikely to survive 12-month waiting period, those living in Alaska, Hawaii, or Texas, individuals with short planning horizons preferring immediate arrangements, and families in areas with affordable direct cremation providers charging $1,000 to $1,500.
The decision depends on individual circumstances, health status, planning timeline, geographic location, financial preferences, and values regarding end-of-life arrangements.
CONTACT CREMATION CLUB
Use Discount Code MEMORIAL10 for 10% Off Membership
Visit Cremation Club online to review full membership details, pricing, and terms of service. When joining online, enter promo code MEMORIAL10 at checkout to receive 10% off membership. If calling to enroll, mention “MEMORIAL10” and “Memorial Merits” to ensure your discount applies.
Important: Use our special links below to automatically apply your MEMORIAL10 discount, or if calling, mention ‘MEMORIAL10’ and ‘Memorial Merits’ to ensure you receive the full 10% savings.
