If public assistance was involved, where do excess funds from insurance-funded preneed go?

In the context of Missouri funeral laws, when public assistance is involved, any excess funds from insurance-funded preneed contracts are directed to the State of Missouri. This regulation is in place to ensure that any resources that may not be utilized for funeral expenses do not benefit the deceased's family or private entities, such as funeral homes or local government agencies. Instead, these funds are utilized to support the state's financial responsibilities related to public assistance programs.

Missouri law mandates that if public assistance has been provided for burial or funeral expenses, any additional funds from preneed insurance should revert to the state. This mechanism serves two purposes: it helps to recover some of the costs incurred by the state in providing public assistance, and it prevents the potential misallocation of funds that could otherwise be used for the benefit of the deceased's family at the expense of the state's financial obligations.