Is funeral insurance worth it for married couples in Germany?
In short
For married couples in Germany, funeral insurance is mostly worth it for the second death. When the first partner dies, the pension insurer often advances three months of pension to the survivor, which covers part of the funeral. Joint policies are rare: two policies of EUR 7,000 each cost about EUR 70 to 78 a month together if you both start at 60.
Guide figures from published tariff examples, EUR 7,000 each, premiums until 85, 36 month waiting period. Couple figures added up by us.
Example
Typical range
One person, starting at 60
about EUR 35 to 39 a month
Couple, both 60
about EUR 70 to 78 a month
Couple, both 65
about EUR 87 to 97 a month
Couple, both 70
about EUR 111 to 125 a month
Typical range per person according to providers
about EUR 15 to 50 a month
Guide values from quoting practice (Richtwert aus der Angebotspraxis) as of October 2026,
based on published tariff examples; couple figures are doubled single figures,
ages in between are placed between published values.
Partner discounts not included.
Your premium depends on age, sum, payment term, waiting period and health;
we obtain the exact quote for you.
Worked example
Couple, he 72, she 64, pensions EUR 2,700 together
Both want to spare their children the funeral costs. They have EUR 9,000 in savings.
He dies first: advance on a EUR 1,700 pension
EUR 5,100
Plus joint savings
EUR 9,000
She dies later: savings after years as a widow
often much less
Funeral insurance for her only, starting at 64, EUR 7,000
about EUR 42 to 47 a month
The first funeral is usually covered. A policy for the younger partner secures the second. A second policy for him at 72 would be expensive and hardly needed here.
Why couples usually need two policies
Term life insurance can cover two lives in one contract. Funeral insurance (Sterbegeldversicherung) rarely does: couples normally take out two single policies, each with its own sum, premium and waiting period. A few providers give a discount if both partners sign up.
The upside for married couples: each partner is covered for life. When one dies, the other policy continues unchanged.
The first death is often already covered
If a spouse who was already drawing a German state pension dies, the survivor can apply at the post office within 30 days for an advance on the widow's or widower's pension. It equals three times the pension paid in the month of death, and the death certificate is enough as proof.
With a EUR 1,600 pension, that is EUR 4,800 within a few weeks. Add a joint account, and the first funeral is often not a money problem. Note: for marriages after 2001, the marriage usually must have lasted at least one year.
Situation
Where funeral money comes from
First death, partner was a pensioner
three month pension advance plus joint savings
First death, partner still working
savings, term life insurance, possibly funeral insurance
Second death
only the estate and funeral insurance, otherwise the heirs
Which couples it suits
Funeral insurance is worth it for married couples with little savings who do not want their children to pay for the second funeral. With health problems it may be the only cover still available.
It is rarely worth it if you are both healthy and have EUR 15,000 or more in easy access savings. Then you often pay in more over the years than is paid out.
Setting up the beneficiaries
Name your spouse as beneficiary and the children as backup in case the spouse has already died. Otherwise the money falls into the estate and payment can be delayed.
Look at the older partner's age. Starting at 72 costs almost twice as much as starting at 62. With a big age gap it is often smarter to insure only the younger partner, who is likely to trigger the second funeral.
The honest calculation for two
Two policies of EUR 7,000 each, starting at 60 with premiums until 85, cost about EUR 70 to 78 a month together. By 85 that is roughly EUR 21,000 to 23,300 for EUR 14,000 of cover. An early death makes it pay off, a long life makes it cost more.
Putting the same EUR 70 a month aside yourself reaches EUR 14,000 after about 16 years, without interest. Until then the couple carries the risk of an early death.
Step by step
Add up savings that are available straight away at the first death.
Check with the pension insurer whether a widow's or widower's pension applies.
Ask a local undertaker about funeral costs, usually EUR 5,000 to 10,000.
Decide whether you need policies for both or only one partner.
Set beneficiaries: spouse first, children as backup.
Checklist
Two policies with suitable sums or deliberately only one
Spouse and children named as beneficiaries
Waiting periods of both policies known
Total premiums until 85 compared with your savings
Asked about a partner discount
Common mistakes
Choosing equal sums for both although the first death is already covered
Insuring the older partner late and overlooking the high premiums
Not naming a backup beneficiary, so the money goes into the estate
Not applying for the three month pension advance
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is there joint funeral insurance for married couples?
Rarely.
Two single policies are standard.
Some providers offer a discount if both partners sign up.
How much does funeral insurance cost for a couple?
For EUR 7,000 each, about EUR 70 to 78 a month together at 60 and about EUR 111 to 125 at 70.
Who gets the money when my spouse dies?
The person named as beneficiary in the policy.
If that is you, you receive it directly without a certificate of inheritance.
What is the Sterbevierteljahr?
For the first three months after a death,
the German pension insurer pays the widow's or widower's pension at the full rate of the
deceased's pension.
Your own income is not deducted during this period.
Should we choose the same sum?
Not necessarily.
The policy matters more for the second funeral,
so a higher sum for the partner likely to live longer often makes sense.
