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Insurance for Couple without children: what you really need
When you move in together, merge contracts: one couple policy for liability and one contents policy for the shared flat replace two of each. Unmarried partners can usually be included if they live at the same address. If one of you depends on the other's income or you buy together, add term life.
You can skip
- Two separate liability policies
A couple policy covers both partners in the same household. Keeping two is paying twice.
- Travel luggage insurance
Contents insurance covers burglary and robbery while travelling up to a limit.
The policies one by one
Personal liability
In Germany, anyone who negligently causes damage to someone else pays for it in full, with no upper limit. Private liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) pays justified claims and fights …
Occupational disability
Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung, usually shortened to BU, pays a monthly pension if illness or injury leaves you unable to work in your own occupation. It is the closest German equivalent to …
Contents insurance
In Germany, the insurance for your belongings is called Hausratversicherung. It pays new-for-old after fire, burst pipes, burglary, storm and hail. Unlike renters insurance in the US, it …
Term life insurance
A Risikolebensversicherung pays a fixed sum if the insured person dies during the term. It has no savings element and is inexpensive. For expats, it often matters more than for Germans, …
Legal expenses insurance
Legal expenses insurance pays for lawyers, court fees and experts when you need to enforce your rights or defend yourself. In Germany it is widespread and sold in modules: private life, …
Travel insurance
German insurers sell up to six different travel policies, but only one is essential: Auslandsreisekrankenversicherung, travel health insurance. Statutory health insurance pays only partly …
Dental insurance
German public health insurance covers check-ups, fillings and basic treatment well. For crowns, bridges and implants it pays only a fixed subsidy based on the simplest solution, and the …
Why this order
The rule: existential risks first, expensive ones second, comfort last
First insure what could ruin you financially: unlimited liability towards others under the German Civil Code, the loss of your income through illness, and your house if you own one. Then losses that hurt but will not ruin you, such as replacing the contents of a flat. Comfort cover such as dental top-ups or travel extras comes last.
Pay small losses yourself. Every premium carries administration costs, so insuring a phone or glasses costs more over the years than it pays out. Compulsory in Germany are health insurance with long-term care cover for everyone, motor liability for every registered vehicle and, in several federal states, dog liability.