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Is there a waiting period for funeral insurance in Germany?

In short

Yes, there is a waiting period for most funeral insurance tariffs in Germany that ask no health questions. It usually lasts 6 to 36 months. If the insured person dies of illness during that time, the family normally gets back only the premiums paid. Accidents are usually exempt, and if you are healthy and answer health questions, you can often be covered from day one.

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Is there a waiting period for funeral insurance in Germany?

What it costs

Guide figures from published tariff examples showing how the waiting period changes premium and payout.

Example	Typical range
Age 60, sum EUR 7,000, 36 month waiting period	about EUR 35 to 39 a month
Waiting periods you can choose with one tariff	12, 18, 24, 30 or 36 months
Tariff without health questions and a short basic waiting period	6 months, full payout in stages up to 36 months
Refund on death in the first 6 months, by tariff level	premiums minus EUR 100 to 200
Waiting period by starting age	up to 49: 36 months, up to 59: 24 months, from 60: 12 months

Guide values as of October 2026 from publicly available tariff descriptions and policy terms.

The exact rule is in your policy terms; we obtain the right quote for you.

Worked example

Woman, 66, existing illness, tariff with a 36 month waiting period

She insures EUR 7,000 without health questions and pays about EUR 45 a month. This is how the waiting period works.

Death from illness after 20 months	refund of about EUR 900 in premiums
Death from an accident after 20 months	EUR 7,000, with some tariffs more
Death after 40 months, whatever the cause	EUR 7,000

For the first three years the policy is, in case of illness, little more than a savings account without interest. Only then does the actual cover begin. For that period the family should know where else the money for the funeral would come from.

Why there is a waiting period

Many funeral insurance tariffs accept everyone without asking about illnesses. So that nobody signs up only when death is already foreseeable, the insurer does not pay the full sum in the first months.

For people with health problems this is a fair trade: they get cover at all, but have to wait. If you are healthy, the waiting period is a drawback you do not need to accept.

What is paid during the waiting period

If the insured person dies during the waiting period, the insurer usually refunds the premiums paid so far. Some tariffs deduct a fixed amount, others add interest or a small extra.

Some tariffs pay in stages: part of the sum after a few months, the full sum once the waiting period ends. Read exactly which rule your policy uses.

Type of tariff	Health questions	Payout on death in the first months
Fixed waiting period	none	premiums refunded, sometimes with a small deduction
Staged payout	none	part of the sum, rising to the full sum
Waiting period by starting age	none	premiums only for 12 to 36 months, depending on age
Immediate cover	yes	full sum from the start
Accidental death, all types	irrelevant	usually full sum at once, sometimes double

Accidents are almost always exempt

The waiting period is meant to catch sign-ups by people who already know they are ill. An accident cannot be foreseen, so most tariffs pay the full sum at once after accidental death, some even double.

Check how the tariff defines an accident. A heart attack at the wheel usually counts as illness, not as an accident.

How to avoid the waiting period

If you can honestly answer no to the health questions, choose a tariff with immediate cover. The questions usually cover illnesses and treatment in recent years. These tariffs are often cheaper too.

Answer completely. Wrong answers can lead the insurer to refuse or reduce payment later. The questions are in German, so ask for help if anything is unclear rather than guessing.

If you have a serious illness, a tariff with a waiting period is the right choice. In that case sign up sooner rather than later so that the waiting period ends early.

When the waiting period hardly matters

If you already have savings for the funeral, they cover the first years anyway. You can then choose a long and therefore cheaper waiting period.

If you have nothing set aside and your health is poor, choose a short waiting period or a staged payout, even if the premium is a little higher.

Step by step

Check whether you can honestly answer no to the health questions.
If yes, ask for tariffs with immediate cover and compare them with waiting period tariffs.
If no, look for a short waiting period or a staged payout.
Read exactly what is paid during the waiting period.
Plan how the first months would be covered financially.
Tell your family when the waiting period starts and ends.

Checklist

Length of the waiting period is stated in the quote
Payout on death during the waiting period is confirmed in writing
Accidental death is exempt from the waiting period
Health questions are answered fully and honestly
Bridging for the first years is planned
Family knows the date from which the full sum applies

Common mistakes

Choosing a tariff with a waiting period although you are healthy
Glossing over health questions to avoid the waiting period
Assuming the waiting period also applies to accidents
Switching policies and triggering a new waiting period
Leaving the first years uncovered although there are no savings

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How long is the waiting period for funeral insurance?

Usually 6 to 36 months. With some tariffs it depends on your starting age, with others you can choose it.

Is there funeral insurance without a waiting period?

Yes, if you answer health questions. Then full cover applies from the start. Without questions and without a waiting period it practically does not exist.

What does my family get if I die during the waiting period?

Usually the premiums paid so far. Some tariffs deduct a small amount, others pay a staged partial sum.

Does the waiting period apply to accidents?

Usually not. After accidental death most tariffs pay the full sum at once, some double.

Does the waiting period restart if I raise the sum?

Often yes, for the increased part. Clarify this before any change.

Is a shorter waiting period worth a higher premium?

If you are ill and have no savings, often yes. If you have savings, the longer and cheaper option is fine.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

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