What a funeral costs in Ohio
NFDA doesn't publish funeral prices by state. Nationally, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023, and $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation. Cemetery costs such as a plot, vault, and headstone are extra, and prices vary widely between funeral homes.
In Ohio, about 53.2% of deaths resulted in cremation as of 2020. Source: NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report, state table (final 2020 data)
Federal law (the FTC Funeral Rule) requires funeral homes to give you an itemized price list, so you can compare. Estimate your own total with our funeral cost calculator.
Consumer protections in Ohio
If a life insurer licensed in Ohio becomes insolvent, the Ohio Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association covers up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash value per insured life. Source: OLHIGA — Frequently Asked Questions
Questions or complaints about an insurer or agent go to the Ohio Department of Insurance (800-686-1526). Funeral homes are licensed by the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Help paying for a funeral
When a body goes unclaimed, or is claimed by a family member with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, Ohio law requires the township or city where the person lived to pay for burial or cremation; the county pays when the person had no known Ohio residence. Source: Ohio Revised Code 9.15
Veterans may qualify for VA burial allowances and a free burial in a national or state veterans cemetery — see benefits for Ohio veterans. A small final expense policy is one way families make sure the rest is covered; learn how final expense insurance works and how guaranteed issue waiting periods work.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my life insurance in Ohio if the insurance company fails?
The Ohio Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association protects Ohio policyholders if a licensed insurer becomes insolvent, up to $300,000 in life insurance death benefits and $100,000 in cash value per insured life under state law. Coverage above those limits isn't protected.
See final expense optionsHow common is cremation in Ohio?
About 53.2% of deaths in Ohio resulted in cremation as of 2020, according to NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report, state table (final 2020 data).
See final expense optionsWho regulates life insurance in Ohio?
The Ohio Department of Insurance licenses insurers and agents and handles consumer complaints; its consumer line is 800-686-1526. Funeral homes are licensed by the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
See final expense options