On this site we have talked a lot about life insurance, preparing for when the unexpected happens. Check out this post if you’re wanting to learn about the difference between term and whole life insurance. When you’re raising a family, you may opt for life insurance for the entire family. What if something happens before your baby is born and they are stillborn? Where can you look in order to pay that expense?
October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day. A day set aside to remember those babies lost too early. As such I thought it was a fitting time to share some resources for families who may be faced with a stillbirth or infant loss. With stillbirth it is seen as a viable death, therefore many states will record a birth and death certificate. It also means if you birth your baby in the hospital it will be taken to the mortuary for burial or cremation.
Mortuary Options
Some families prepare for this day because they had a life limiting diagnosis for their baby prior to birth. Most families, however, do not plan on their unborn baby or infant to die. Along with the emotions of losing a child, figuring out how to financially cover end of life needs can be overwhelming.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the hospital staff. They will hopefully be knowledgeable of options local to you. Mortuaries are expensive, even for cremating a small child. Make sure you know if there are any that will offer a discount for babies and infants. Often they will offer no cost or low cost for children up to two years of age. They will often be connected with foundations that pay for those services.
If you do not have any luck with that, please reach out to the Tears Foundation for assistance. They are very compassionate when you reach out to them. If you’re in a rural area, they will be than willing to help you find any information needed. Another resource I would suggest is the Ada Jane Foundation. The couple who run Ada Jane are incredibly compassionate and understand the needs of loss parents.
Services and Support
When choosing to have a service for your baby there are numerous options for planning a funeral. The Morning is a wonderful resource for doing just that. Ashlee and her team have put together a guide for planning the funeral and many other ideas for putting together the perfect service for your little one. Many of the options are low cost and something you and your family can put together. Ashlee also has a podcast called The Joyful Mourning which has over one-hundred mourning topic podcasts.
Conclusion
If you or someone you know has experienced child loss, you know it can be incredibly challenging to overcome grief enough to be able to plan for a burial or cremation and a service. There are many resources out there that will gladly help families meet their needs during this incredibly challenging time without going into loads for debt.
What about you, if you have experienced stillbirth or infant loss, what was helpful for you?
it’s a tricky topic, but you’ve written good material on the subject. I think the issue of insurance in such cases is very important …
Yes, even so, many times insurance doesn’t cover all the expenses. There are many resources for loss families, this is just a small portion.
This is of course a sensitive topic. But nevertheless people need to be able to face the curve balls life sometimes throws at them. But you have written about it in an honest yet sympathetic manner. My sister-in-law had to face miscarriage and my brother faced infant loss. It was devastating for them.
I am very averse to risk. Hence I do have all types of insurance; I even take flight insurance whenever I travel.
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss in your family. The loss of a child is something no parent should have to experience, no matter how old. Infant and pregnancy loss brings on a whole different level of grief.
Health and accidental insurance are really necessary. I think we all should pay for it.
Hi Ryan,
Not all insurance will cover the cost of cremation and burial. That is true for adults as well, thus they often have life insurance. I know military benefits, I believe it’s through Tricare have benefits that will pay for the burial or cremation. However, many families have to pay for these expenses that happen outside of the hospital.
The topic is tricky, but no doubt you’ve written great quality content on the insurance topic.
This is of course a sensitive topic. But nevertheless people need to be able to face the curve balls life sometimes throws at them. But you have written about it in an honest yet sympathetic manner. My sister-in-law had to face miscarriage and my brother faced infant loss. It was devastating for them.
it’s a tricky topic, but you’ve written good material on the subject.
Thank you Victor. It is a subject close to my heart. I’m so sorry about the loss your family has endured. That is so difficult.