Have you thought about what to do with your body when you die? More Americans arechoosing cremation over traditional burials, says a new survey.<\/p>\n
A new report by insurance firm Choice Mutual found 44% of Americans plan on being cremated, a 40% increase from the 1960s. Traditional burials were the second most popular choice, with 35% of Americanspreferring the method.<\/p>\n
Choice Mutual surveyed 1,500 people in the U.S. on their burial preferences and practices.<\/p>\n
Other burial preferences includedonating their bodies to science at 6%and natural burials being buried without a casket in the ground at 4%.<\/p>\n
Cremation is becoming a popular choice for people in Florida.(Photo: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
\"People donate their bodies to science now because they want to help improve medical practices, and with the eco-friendly burials people are a lot more conscious of the environment,\" said Morgen Henderson, researcher at Choice Mutual, in a statement.<\/p>\n
Americans arealso opting for moreunique arrangements for their cremated remains, including launching them into space or having them compressed into a diamond.<\/p>\n
The most popular option among Americans was having their ashes spread in a specific location (40%),followed by their ashes being kept by a family member (36%). Onein 10 Americans who plan to be cremated want to be planted as a tree.<\/p>\n
As burial preferences have changed significantly over the years,more Americans are shifting towardmore non-traditional plans such as sea burial or plastination, a process that involves removingall fluids from the body and replacingit with a polymer or plastic-like substance.<\/p>\n
\"With the improvements and developments in technology that has opened up a lot of different burial options,\" said Henderson.<\/p>\n
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Burial Preferences: Cremation is making death a little cheaper<\/p>\n
These alternative burial methods aren't cheap, however.<\/p>\n
The costliest, mummification, which involves the preservation of the skin and the flesh of a corpse, starts at $67,000, says Choice Mutual.By contrast, the average cost fortraditional burials is$7,360, which doesn't include a burial plot or headstone. Cremations start around $500 but could cost thousands more with viewing or memorial services.<\/p>\n
And, for those looking to be frozen rather than burned, cryonics freezing the bodyto a temperature low enough that it wont decompose starts at an average cost of $28,000.<\/p>\n
The survey found 47% of Americans opt for burial plans based on personal beliefs, while 24% say family traditions influence their decision. Only 14% of Americans ascribe financial reasons as the determining factor for their choice.<\/p>\n
The choices vary across generations, with family traditions becoming increasingly more important to younger generations while financial reasons are more important to older generations, said the survey.<\/p>\n
According to a report by National Funeral Directors Association,62.5%of Americansfelt it was very important to communicate their funeral plans and wishes to family members before their own death, yet only 21.4% had done so.<\/p>\n
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