(Family Features) One of the most difficult conversations many people have in their lives involves the end of life. While often uncomfortable to think about or discuss with others, talking about and sharing end-of-life wishes should be a common occurrence.

In fact, 91% of Americans believe talking about death and dying is healthy and normal, but 1 in 4 (27%) are uncomfortable actually doing it, according to a first-of-its-kind survey commissioned by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the world’s leading and largest funeral service association.

With nearly one-third (31%) of survey respondents admitting they’re uncomfortable thinking about their own mortality, Remembering A Life, the organization’s online resource for accessing grief resources and funeral planning information, is offering a free downloadable guide, Start the Conversation, to help family and friends have meaningful conversations about loved ones and how they’d like to be remembered. By requesting the free download, you’re eligible to win a deck of Have the Talk of a Lifetime Conversation Cards, which help families start the conversation in a fun, informal setting.

The survey revealed a need for finding healthy ways to discuss death and end-of-life plans with friends and family, as well as new generational trends, highlighting Gen Z’s unique perspective about end-of-life matters. Consider these notable survey insights:

• Talking about death: While 9 out of 10 Americans surveyed believe talking about death and dying is healthy and normal, Gen Z (18%) is significantly more likely than older adults to believe it’s not healthy and normal – bucking the generation’s reputation as open and willing to discuss difficult and controversial topics. Those uncomfortable with talking about death cited not wanting to upset others (37%) and considering it too depressing (34%).
• Preferences for burial and cremation: Over the past several years, the U.S. cremation rate has increased steadily (60.5% in 2023) and the trend is forecasted to grow to 81.4% by 2045, according to NFDA’s 2023 Cremation and Burial Report. While cremation is still a top preference for Baby Boomers (66%), Gen X (50%) and Millennials (42%) – and half of all Americans overall – Gen Z stands alone with traditional burial as its top preference (37%).
• Importance of funerals: Americans strongly agree funerals provide time to reflect on another’s life (59%) and are for the living to help them grieve and heal (57%). What’s more, 68% of Gen Z believe it’s important to commemorate the life of a loved one with a funeral or memorial service compared to 44% of Baby Boomers.
• Comfort with the idea of death: According to the survey,2 in 3 adults (69%) are at least somewhat comfortable thinking about their own eventual death and 7 in 10 (73%) are at least somewhat comfortable talking with others about death. More Baby Boomers (33%) are comfortable thinking about their mortality than Gen Z (24%) and Millennials (28%).
• Communicating preferred funeral plans: Nearly two-thirds of adults (62%) have discussed their preferred funeral plans with family members. Similarly, 64% have had family members communicate their preferred plans to them. Baby Boomers (75%) are most likely to have shared plans while Gen Z (59%) are most likely to have not communicated their funeral plans.

To access the free download and additional free resources for discussing end-of-life plans, including checklists and brochures, visit RememberingALife.com.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
National Funeral Directors Association

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Debt.com’s fifth annual medical debt survey found an overwhelming number of Americans struggling with medical debt – forcing many to go into collections.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — The number of Americans facing medical debt is at its highest level since 2020 – which is when Debt.com began polling 1,000 Americans on the topic each year.

The latest survey findings show more Americans are being crushed by medical debt, forcing more of them into collections while others avoid seeking health care top save money.

• This year, 79% say inflation has made it harder to pay their medical bills; a jump from 57% in 2022, the first year the question was asked.
• The number of people who have outstanding medical debt is up 66% from 46%, five years ago.
• Half of the people polled have medical debt in collections; an increase from 28%, three years ago.
• More than half (52%) avoid medical care because of their debt. Only 28% said the same in 2022.

“Other forms of consumer debt fluctuate with the times, but not medical debt,” says Debt.com president Don Silvestri. “Credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans have seen their debt levels rise and fall with recessions and the pandemic. But medial debt is on a steady climb – with no end in sight.”

Dealing with Medical Debt

The data shows one generation in particular is struggling with medical debt more than others, millennials.  Millennials (77%) are most likely to have outstanding medical bills or debt compared to other generations. 

More millennials (62%) than other generations have had medical bills sent to collections, and 62% of millennials avoid medical care because of their debt.

Other key data showed:

• 36% of Americans owe $250 – $500
• 26% say that diagnostic tests are the primary source of their medical debt
• 55% are currently on a payment plan to clear their debt

More than half (55%) of all respondents say medical debt holds them back from future life goals such as marriage, buying a home, and starting a family.  More than 1 in 5 say their medical debt has caused them to go further into debt with credit cards and personal loans.

“With the student loan crisis, national political leaders finally realized that personal debt could bleed into the macroeconomy. They need to understand that medial debt has now approached a similar inflection point,” says Debt.com chairman Howard Dvorkin, CPA. “The longer we wait to heal this particular diseases, the farther it will spread.”

To read the complete survey results visit: https://www.debt.com/research/medical-debt-survey/. 

Debt.com

About: Debt.com is a consumer website where people can find help with credit card debt, student loan debt, tax debt, credit repair, bankruptcy, and more. Debt.com works with vetted and certified providers that give the best advice and solutions for consumers “when life happens.”

SOURCE Debt.com

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 (Family Features) With temperatures forecasted to run at least 2 degrees higher than historical averages across more than half the country, according to projections from AccuWeather, heat waves may lead to soaring air-conditioning bills this summer.

“The summer is when we see homeowners strategizing about how to keep their homes cool and comfortable while sticking to their household budgets,” said Michael Williford, HVAC service manager at Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical. “We work with customers to keep their current HVAC systems running smoothly or upgrade to more efficient systems, which can make a huge difference in their utility bills. In addition, there are many other ways homeowners can keep their energy costs down during the hot summer months.”

Consider these smart, practical, cost-cutting tips for dialing down your energy bills.

Service HVAC Systems Regularly
To ensure the best cooling performance and efficiency possible, find a licensed contractor to keep your heating and cooling system well-maintained and serviced throughout the year. There are some tasks many homeowners can handle on their own, like keeping outdoor units free of debris and changing air filters. However, bringing in a professional 1-2 times a year for maintenance and to ensure proper function of ductwork and electrical components is also essential.

Use Appliances During Non-Peak Hours
Rather than using stoves, ovens and clothing dryers in the afternoon hours, consider doing so early in the morning or late in the evening. Peak time for many electricity providers is noon-6 p.m., meaning using appliances that heat up your home outside of this timeframe when conventional heating and cooling systems are likely running full throttle can help lower energy costs.

Upgrade Your Systems to an Energy-Saving Heat Pump
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentivizes homeowners who opt for energy-efficient HVAC upgrades, including qualified heat pumps, which can boost seasonal energy efficiency ratios and increase efficiencies. For example, Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps provide more energy-efficient cooling that may equal cost and energy savings as well as a reduced carbon footprint for homeowners. These systems are equipped with inverter or variable-speed technology that allows systems to automatically ramp up or down the required amount of energy depending on the room’s capacity. Although annual savings vary, some homeowners can save as much as $1,000 per year by switching to an all-electric heat pump.

Fire Up the Grill
When temperatures soar, use the grill for cooking to help lower energy usage and save on air-conditioning costs. Alternatively, toaster ovens, air fryers and slow cookers use less energy than larger conventional stoves or ovens. Get creative by cooking a pizza in a chiminea or smoking favorite meats as alternatives to using your oven.

Stop Cooling Empty Rooms
One mistake many homeowners make is forgetting to adjust their temperature settings when leaving the house. Whether you’re headed to the beach for the weekend or just headed to work for the day, blasting the air conditioner in an empty house can result in unnecessarily high utility bills. Multi-zone, all-electric heat pumps like those from Mitsubishi Electric allow homeowners to set the comfort level and adjust the temperature in each room, so you don’t have to waste energy cooling unoccupied rooms. With a smartphone app, you can even adjust the settings remotely.

Install a Smart Electric Panel
Installing a smart electrical panel alongside an all-electric heat pump enables homeowners to monitor and control energy consumption on-site or remotely using a smartphone for better overall efficiency and utility cost savings.

Harness the Sun’s Energy with Solar Panels
According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, the amount of sunlight that strikes the Earth’s surface in 90 minutes could power the world’s total energy usage for a full year. Investing in solar panels can help decrease energy bills and increase your home’s sustainability. Additionally, some utility providers and government entities, including the IRA, offer incentives to help reduce installation costs. Plus, solar-sourced power pairs well with all-climate heat pumps, which require minimal electricity to operate.

Find more ideas to dial down energy usage (and bills) this summer at MitsubishiComfort.com.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
Mitsubishi Electric

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