01
Basic funeral policy
Fixed sum, waiting period, premiums for life. Simple and without health questions.
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Funeral insurance in Germany: covering burial or repatriation costs for your family
Germany has had no statutory death grant from health insurance since 2004, and German burial rules are strict and often expensive. Sterbegeldversicherung is a small life policy that pays a fixed sum for the funeral. For expats, the question of repatriation to the home country often matters as much as the funeral itself.
The question almost everyone asks first
Who pays for a funeral in Germany?
The heirs pay, from the estate or from their own pockets. German states also oblige close relatives to arrange the burial, in a set order starting with the spouse, and they can be charged even if they refuse the inheritance. There is no general state death grant. The social welfare office only steps in if those responsible cannot afford a simple funeral. Funeral insurance makes a fixed sum available quickly.
German burial rules that surprise newcomers
Burial in Germany is regulated by the federal states. Most require that urns and coffins are buried in a cemetery or approved burial forest, and keeping ashes at home or scattering them freely is generally not allowed, with limited exceptions in a few states. Burial usually has to take place within days to a few weeks, depending on the state.
Costs vary widely with the type of burial, the grave and the municipality, and typically run to several thousand euros. Cemetery fees alone differ considerably between towns. Until the end of 2003 statutory health insurance paid a small grant, which the 2004 health reform abolished without replacement.
Repatriation: the cost many expat families do not plan for
Transferring a body from Germany to another country requires a sealed coffin, a transport licence, translated documents and often airline freight. Depending on distance and destination, this can cost as much as a funeral in Germany, and sometimes more. Cremation and transfer of the urn is usually much cheaper, but not acceptable in every faith.
Some funeral insurance policies include repatriation as a separate benefit, others simply pay the sum, which the family can use as it wishes. If burial in your home country matters to you, check the policy wording and make sure the sum covers it.
Waiting periods and paying in more than you get
Because most policies do not ask health questions, they have a waiting period. If the insured person dies of illness during that time, most policies only refund the premiums paid. Accidental death is usually covered in full from the start.
If you start at 50 and pay premiums for life, you may pay in more than the sum insured. That is the price of a fixed amount being guaranteed from day one. Policies with premiums limited to a certain age, or a single premium, reduce this risk.
What is covered
- Payout of the agreed sum on death to the named beneficiary
- Full benefit after the waiting period
- Accidental death, usually in full or doubled from the start
- Refund of premiums if death from illness occurs during the waiting period
- Repatriation costs as an additional benefit, depending on the policy
- Organisational help for relatives, depending on the insurer
What is not covered
- The full sum for death from illness during the waiting period
- Automatic increase in line with rising funeral costs, unless agreed
- Long-term grave maintenance, unless arranged separately
- Care costs during your lifetime
- Payment to people who are neither beneficiaries nor heirs
Who needs it
- Expats who want to be buried in their home country and want the transfer paid for
- Older people without savings for a funeral
- People who live alone and want to arrange their own funeral
- People with health conditions who cannot get other life insurance
Who can do without
- People who already have enough savings set aside and have told their family
- Younger people with a family, for whom term life insurance offers more protection
Wheel of misfortune
Spin the wheel of bad luck
Six things that really happen. The wheel picks yours and shows who pays.
Cost:
Budget policy
Strong policy
See all six cases
- Body flown home for burial, repatriation from Germany: several thousand euros, more for long haul. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Basic policies only pay the sum, which then has to cover both funeral and transport. Strong ones include repatriation as a separate benefit.
- Illness in the waiting period, a funeral of several thousand euros, only premiums refunded. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. Policies without health questions refund premiums during the waiting period. Strong ones with simple health questions pay the full sum from the start.
- Fatal accident in year one, the full sum, double with strong policies. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Accidental death is almost always covered from day one. Strong policies double the benefit in that case.
- Urn taken back to the home country, urn transport: far cheaper than a coffin. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Most policies pay a sum the family can use freely, so an urn transfer is no problem. Check that cremation is acceptable in your faith first.
- Grave upkeep for 20 years, ongoing costs, year after year. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Funeral insurance pays once. Long-term grave maintenance needs its own contract, usually with a cemetery gardener.
- Sum from 2010 no longer enough, gap to today's funeral costs, often four figures. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. Basic policies only grow from profit participation, if there is any. Strong ones offer guaranteed increases.
What it costs
Premiums depend mainly on age at entry, the sum insured and how long premiums are paid. Without health questions, the cover costs more than term life insurance with the same sum.
What drives the premium
- Age at entry
- Sum insured
- Premiums for life, until a set age, or a single premium
- Waiting period and what is paid during it
- Extras such as repatriation or double benefit on accidental death
- Profit participation
We do not quote a premium range, because age and premium term change the price considerably. Your premium is only fixed in the quote.
The policy levels on the market
02
Limited premium term
Premiums only until a set age, then paid up. Reduces the risk of paying in more than the payout.
03
Funeral policy with services
Adds repatriation, help with arrangements, a record of your wishes and assignment to a funeral director.
How to recognise a good policy
| Criterion | Minimum standard | Strong policy | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waiting period | three years with premium refund | one year, or none with simple health questions | During the waiting period your family only gets back what you paid. |
| Premium term | for life | until 85 or a single premium | Paying for life often costs more than the sum insured if you live long. |
| Accidental death | full benefit from the start | double benefit from the start | A sudden death then does not fall into the waiting period gap. |
| Repatriation | not included | transfer to any country included | A transfer abroad can use up most of an ordinary funeral sum. |
| Indexation | increases from profit participation only | guaranteed increases | Funeral costs rise, and a fixed sum loses value over decades. |
| Assignment to a funeral director | possible | explicitly provided for and simple | The funeral is then paid without relatives having to advance money. |
Insurers on the German market
Funeral insurance in Germany is offered by life insurers and some specialised burial funds. This is a market overview, not a statement about which insurers we work with.
| Insurer | Background |
|---|---|
| IDEAL | Berlin mutual focusing on older customers and funeral cover |
| Nürnberger | part of the Nürnberger group, also sold through funeral directors |
| Volkswohl Bund | mutual from Dortmund, sells through brokers |
| HanseMerkur | part of the Hamburg-based HanseMerkur group, agents and brokers |
| LV 1871 | mutual from Munich, sells through brokers |
| CosmosDirekt | direct insurer of Generali Deutschland, sells mainly without intermediaries |
From the BaFin register
103
103 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance. (Lebensversicherer, Sterbekassen)
Show all 103 names from the register
- ACM Lebensversicherung AG
- AGER Lebensversicherung AG
- Aioi Nissay Dowa Life Insurance of Europe Aktiengesellschaft
- Allianz Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- Alte Leipziger Lebensversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
- Athora Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- AXA Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Baloise Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft Deutschland
- BASF Sterbekasse VVaG
- Bayer Beistandskasse VVaG
- Bayern-Versicherung Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- BL die Bayerische Lebensversicherung AG
- Bochumer Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
- BY die Bayerische Vorsorge Lebensversicherung a.G.
- Concordia oeco Lebensversicherungs-AG
- Condor Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- Continentale Lebensversicherung AG
- Cosmos Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- Credit Life AG
- Debeka Lebensversicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit Sitz Koblenz am Rhein
- Delta Direkt Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft München
- Deutsche Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- Deutsche Ärzteversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- DEVK Allgemeine Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- DEVK Deutsche Eisenbahn Versicherung Lebensversicherungsverein a.G. Betriebliche Sozialeinrichtung der Deutschen Bahn
- Dialog Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- DIREKTE LEBEN Versicherung AG
- Dortmunder Lebensversicherung AG
- Entis Lebensversicherung AG
- ERGO Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- ERGO Vorsorge Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Erste Kieler Beerdigungskasse
- EUROPA Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Feuerbestattungsverein VVaG
- Frankfurt Münchener Lebensversicherung AG
- Frankfurter Lebensversicherung AG
- Fürsorgekasse von 1908 vormals Sterbekasse der Neuapostolischen Kirche des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
- GE.BE.IN Versicherungen Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
- Generali Deutschland Lebensversicherung AG
- Gothaer Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Hannoversche Lebensversicherung AG
- HanseMerkur Lebensversicherung AG
- HDI Lebensversicherung AG
- HDI Vorsorge Lebensversicherung AG
- Heidelberger Lebensversicherung AG
- HELVETIA schweizerische Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- Hilfskasse BVG
- Hinterbliebenenkasse der Heilberufe HDH Versicherungsverein a.G. in München
- HUK-COBURG-Lebensversicherung AG
- Höchster Sterbekasse VVaG
- IDEAL Lebensversicherung a.G.
- IDEAL Sterbekasse Lebensversicherung AG
- INTER Lebensversicherung AG
- InterRisk Lebensversicherungs-AG Vienna Insurance Group.
- Itzehoer Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- KölnVorsorge-Sterbeversicherung VVaG
- Lebensversicherung von 1871 auf Gegenseitigkeit München
- Lifestyle Protection Lebensversicherung AG
- LPV Lebensversicherung AG
- LVM Lebensversicherungs-AG
- Mecklenburgische Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- myLife Lebensversicherung AG
- MÜNCHENER VEREIN Lebensversicherung AG
- neue leben Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- NÜRNBERGER Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Protektor Lebensversicherungs-AG
- Provinzial Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Provinzial Lebensversicherung Hannover
- Proxalto Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft c/o Viridium Group GmbH & Co. KG
- R + V Lebensversicherung a.G.
- R + V LEBENSVERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
- SIGNAL IDUNA Lebensversicherung a. G.
- SIGNAL IDUNA Lebensversicherung AG
- SIGNAL IDUNA Sterbekasse VVaG
- Skandia Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- SOLIDAR Versicherungsgemeinschaft Sterbegeldversicherung VVaG
- SONO Sterbegeld VVaG
- Sparkassen-Versicherung Sachsen Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Sterbe-Unterstützungs-Vereinigung der Beschäftigten der Stadt München
- Sterbekasse der Bediensteten der Stadtverwaltung Dortmund
- Sterbekasse der Belegschaft der Saarstahl AG Völklingen, Werk Völklingen und Werk Burbach
- Sterbekasse der Feuerwehren, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
- Sterbekasse der Saarbergleute VVaG
- Sterbekasse Evangelischer Freikirchen VVaG
- Sterbekasse für die Angestellten der Deutsche Bank Gruppe
- Sterbekasse Sozialversicherung- gegr. in der LVA Rheinprovinz - Düsseldorf
- Stuttgarter Lebensversicherung a.G.
- SV SparkassenVersicherung Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Swiss Life Lebensversicherung SE
- uniVersa Lebensversicherung a.G.
- VEREINIGTE POSTVERSICHERUNG VVaG
- Versicherer im Raum der Kirchen Lebensversicherung AG
- Versicherungsverein Rasselstein
- Volkswohl-Bund Lebensversicherung a.G.
- Vorsorgekasse der Commerzbank Versicherungsverein a.G.
- Vorsorgekasse Hoesch Dortmund Sterbegeldversicherung VVaG
- VPV Lebensversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
- WGV-Lebensversicherung AG
- WWK Lebensversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
- Württembergische Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Zurich Deutscher Herold Lebensversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
- Zurich Life Legacy Versicherung AG (Deutschland)
- Öffentliche Lebensversicherung Sachsen-Anhalt
Source: BaFin company database, retrieved 18 September 2026. Insurers from other EU countries selling through a branch or without a German office are not included.
Legal basis and sources
Products and add-ons
Funeral insurance
A small whole-of-life policy with a fixed sum, usually without health questions.
Pre-paid funeral contract
An agreement with a funeral director on the type and scope of the funeral, paid via a trust account or an assigned funeral policy.
Trust deposit
Money held in trust for the funeral. Not insurance, but no risk of paying in more than you get.
Term life insurance
Often cheaper for younger people, but it ends with the term and does not cover death in old age.
Myth or truth
True or false?
Five things people say about this insurance. Guess first, then see the answer.
Funeral insurance only makes sense for older people.
This is false.
False. It is mostly sold to people over 50, but for expat families repatriation can matter at any age. Younger people with dependants are often better served by term life with a higher sum.
Burial in a shroud without a coffin is allowed in many German states.
This is true.
True. Many states have relaxed the coffin requirement, mainly to allow Muslim burials. Each cemetery's own rules still apply, so the funeral director needs to check.
If the family cannot pay, the German state covers the funeral.
This is true.
Partly true. The social welfare office can pay for a simple burial if the person obliged to pay cannot reasonably afford it. It checks income and assets first, and pays for a basic funeral, not a chosen one.
The family pays income tax on a funeral insurance payout.
This is false.
False. A death benefit is not income. It may count for inheritance tax if the deceased owned the policy, but typical sums of a few thousand euros stay well below the allowances.
A German funeral policy can stay in force after you leave Germany.
This is true.
True for many policies, as long as premiums keep being paid, for example from a SEPA account. Check before moving, because some policies require German residence.
Common mistakes
- Assuming German health insurance pays towards the funeral
- Forgetting that repatriation can cost as much as the funeral itself
- Choosing lifelong premiums at 50 without adding up the total
- Not telling relatives that a policy exists or where the documents are
- Not naming a beneficiary, so the sum falls into the estate
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does German health insurance pay anything towards a funeral?
No. The statutory death grant was abolished on 1 January 2004. Some special cases remain, for example statutory accident insurance after a fatal accident at work, or the employer of a civil servant.
Can I be buried in my home country if I die in Germany?
Yes. A funeral director arranges the transfer, the required documents and the transport. The costs depend on destination and method and are paid by the family unless an insurance covers them.
Can ashes be kept at home in Germany?
Generally not. Most German states require urns to be buried in a cemetery or approved burial forest. A few states allow limited exceptions, and some families have ashes released abroad where rules are more relaxed.
What happens if I die during the waiting period?
If death is caused by illness, most policies refund the premiums paid rather than the full sum. Accidental death is usually covered in full from the start.
Up to what age can I take out funeral insurance?
Many insurers accept applicants up to around 80 or 85. The older you are, the higher the premium, and the more worthwhile it is to compare a single premium.
Who receives the money?
The beneficiary you name in the policy, or a funeral director if you assign the benefit to them. Without a beneficiary, the sum becomes part of your estate.
Is funeral insurance better than saving?
It depends on your age and situation. If you die early, the insurance pays more than you saved. If you live long, you may pay in more. Savings are flexible, insurance is earmarked and available quickly.
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