For many families, the main benefits of planning ahead come down to reducing emotional and financial burdens on loved ones. People who preplan want peace of mind that their wishes will be honored and clarity so family members won’t have to guess what they would have wanted or make detailed decisions when the time comes.

An away-from-home protection plan like Simple Return fits naturally with those goals and can be easily integrated into your existing preneed processes. The key is to present the protection in a way that helps families understand its benefits as part of a comprehensive funeral plan.

Below are some tips to help you confidently share this coverage with families.

Start with the reasons, not the logistics.

Although the convenience and coverage details of away-from-home protection are important to share, they’re not the only elements to explore when talking to families. First, it’s important that they understand the reasons why people choose it and the benefits an insurance-backed option like Simple Return can bring them.

Simply put, when death occurs away from home the cost to return their loved one can quickly add up to thousands of dollars for families. Plus, this leaves them with the added burden of managing unfamiliar logistics during an already difficult time. Away-from-home protection through Simple Return alleviates transportation costs and the burden of having to coordinate complex travel arrangements.

When you meet with families, they’ve already taken the thoughtful step of planning ahead. This coverage is one more way to make sure their loved ones are protected, no matter where death occurs. People who choose this option reduce future stress and confusion over how their arrangements will be carried out.

Share common, relatable situations.

Some families may have the perception that they “don’t travel” enough to need this type of coverage. But the reality is that people often leave their homes for both leisure and necessary reasons. Those can include common activities like:

• Attending a medical appointment in a different county.
• Cheering on grandkids at sport events.
• Making a weekend visit to family.
• Taking a quick getaway.
• Driving a few hours for holiday gatherings.

By discussing relatable examples, you can help people see that they probably go 75 or more miles away from home more often than they realize. With that groundwork in place, they’ll understand that the coverage is worth including.

Explain it as part of a complete funeral plan.

People who preplan often value being as prepared as possible, both for themselves and to help their loved ones. It’s important to share that away-from-home protection is part of a complete funeral plan. It can help to explain to families the many considerations that need to be taken into account if their loved one’s death occurs away from home, including:

• Coordinating with local officials and medical facilities to arrange for transportation.
• Obtaining transportation documentation.
• Arranging for embalming or cremation services.
• Taking care of costs associated with returning the body to a local funeral provider.

These burdens can be eased through the away-from-home protection program.

Revisiting the reasons people preplan their funerals — removing financial and emotional burdens — can help tie the away-from-home protection back to the things that matter most to families. The plan helps prevent unexpected expenses and relieves the additional headaches of coordination. This allows their family members, and the funeral professionals they trust to fulfill the plans, to focus on carrying out their wishes.

A simple conversation that brings value for families.

As coverage that can make a big difference in families’ experiences, away-from-home protection is a consequential element of planning. It should be part of the conversation to ensure that people have information about why families consider it, what’s covered and how it helps create a more complete plan.

As a funeral professional, your expertise will ensure families leave the planning meeting feeling confident in their decisions. You’re offering a helpful resource that gives families one more way to ensure their loved ones are cared for, no matter where life takes them.

To learn more about our exclusive, insurance-backed Simple Return coverage, contact your Homesteaders account executive or visit homesteaderslife.com/simple-return.