I need ideas. It is kind of an emergency. I just found out that one of my parents do not have enough coverage for a very basic funeral. Loans are also on these policies. Agent says once this parent makes 81, they will not write a new policy. Called a few other companies and they will not write at 80. We have three months to get something in place. Between the two incomes they take in less than $1200. After expenses they receive just over $120 a piece for the month.
I am trying to find the money to cover this extra policy without reducing their take home pay. Idea one: rid home phone and get cell phone. Idea two: lower ifire policy. Cancel accident policy . I do not see any other expense that can be lowered unless I no longer pay credit cards. But you know the creditors will drive them nuts and then they will drive me nuts.
Thus, never ever remove a landline from an elder's house. Anytime someone calls 911 using a landline the home address shows up seconds after the dispatcher answers the phone, and the EMT's are on their way over to the house while you are still on the phone.
With a cellphone, if your parents calls 911, the dispatcher may not know where the call is coming from, and what if your parent had a stroke and can't give clear information. It is very difficult to trace a location of a cellphone... I know there is new technology out there, but it probably is in the more expensive cellphones. When it comes to an emergency, like a heart attack, seconds count.
It's almost impossible to get everbody to change the set pattern of enabling. You or someone else in the family is just going to have to draw the line on the draining of parents assets and will need to have guardianship to do this. Good luck - its not going to be easy. But make it your mantra that "all this is needed for mom & dads future security".
Even with all the advances in cell phones and GPS, 911 service is unreliable from a cell phone, to say nothing of cell service in general. Cell calls are routed to different towers on a need base, and those towers send the signal to their local 911 operators. Might even be in the next county. Not good in an emergency situation.
Please consider cremation.
If they have credit card debt that they cannot comfortably pay, first you need to take the cards away for awhile. Then you need to call the companies that issued the cards and see if you can negotiate a lower payment schedule. Sometimes they will do that once, as good will.
What kind of accident insurance policy are you referring to? Auto? Home?
Look for things that can be sold for quick money. It's too cold for a garage sale, but perhaps you could use Craig'sList?
Rather than look into buying an insurance policy for burial, go to the funeral home and see what they have in the way of pre-paid plans. You can select low cost options.
Good Luck!
Sometimes remaining family take care of the final expenses. Is there more family than just you who could/would split the costs?
pamstegma: Even after the loans, one of them will not have enough coverage.
So as much as I do not want to change from a land phone, this is the only place that will help us the most.
Sigh