Report a Death to the Health Insurance Fund: Deadlines, Documents and Important Steps for Bereaved Relatives
28.04.25
7
Minutes
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
The loss of a loved one is an emotionally difficult situation. Nevertheless, those left behind must also report the death to the health insurance provider. This article explains the necessary steps, deadlines and which documents you need.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Please notify the health insurance provider of the death promptly and submit a copy of the death certificate if required.
Clarify the insurance status of family members who were previously covered under family insurance within two months.
Destroy the deceased person's health card and arrange the return of medical aids.
Immediate measures: The first steps after a death
Immediately after a death, a number of urgent formalities must be dealt with. This includes a doctor issuing the medical certificate of death. If a person dies at home, a doctor must be called immediately; in a hospital or nursing home, the staff will take care of it. Within 36 hours of the death, a funeral director should be contacted, as they can help with many formalities. The death certificate is applied for at the registry office in the place of death, for which the medical certificate of death and other personal documents of the deceased are required. It is advisable to request several copies of the death certificate straight away, as these are needed for various deregistrations. These initial steps are essential before you notify the health insurance company of the death.
Informing your health insurance provider: process and required documents
Notification of the death to the health insurance fund should be made promptly. Many health insurance funds, such as IKK Südwest or BARMER, require a copy of the death certificate for deregistration. Some funds, such as Techniker Krankenkasse, state that they do not require the death certificate; a telephone notification may be sufficient here. It is advisable to ask the relevant health insurance fund directly about the exact requirements. The deceased’s membership ends on the date of death. Any contributions paid in excess are usually refunded up to the end of the month following the death, or reimbursed on a pro rata basis. The deceased’s health card does not need to be returned, but should be destroyed for data protection reasons, for example by cutting through the chip. Also clarify what happens to any outstanding benefit payments, such as care allowance.
Deadlines and implications: What you absolutely need to bear in mind
Although the health insurer often only speaks of “promptly” when reporting a death, there are other deadlines in the event of death that must be observed. For example, the application for the death certificate usually has to be submitted by the third working day after the death. Very short deadlines of 48 to 72 hours may apply when notifying life or accident insurers. Failure to meet deadlines can lead to a reduction or rejection of benefits. With the death of the main policyholder, any family insurance cover for dependants also ends. They often have to notify the health insurer within two months to clarify their own cover, which usually continues as voluntary membership. Also find out about a possible survivor's pension.
Practical section: step-by-step guide to registering with the health insurer
To report the death to the health insurance provider, it is best to proceed as follows:
Contact the deceased person's health insurance provider by phone or in writing (by email or post). Have the insurance number ready.
Ask which documents are required exactly. In most cases, this is a copy of the death certificate.
Submit the requested documents using the preferred method (by post, digitally).
Inform the provider of a contact person for any follow-up questions or the collection of aids.
Clarify the future insurance status of relatives who were previously covered under family insurance. A two-month deadline often applies here.
Ask about the arrangements regarding contributions already paid and any refunds.
Destroy the deceased person's health card.
This structured approach will help you keep track and address all the necessary points when you the report a death to the health insurance provider.
Expert depth: legal aspects and special cases
With death, membership in statutory health insurance (GKV) ends automatically in accordance with Section 190, paragraph 1 of Book V of the Social Code (SGB V). Formal notice is not required; reporting the death serves for information and processing. Care allowance is often paid for the full month of death, provided entitlement existed on at least one day of the month. Costs for the medical examination of the body and the issuing of the death certificate are private expenses and are not covered by the health insurance provider. For privately insured persons (PKV), insurance cover also ends with death. Contributions are often due until the end of the month, while some insurers refund them pro rata. [ö,] Family members who were co-insured through the deceased usually have the right in private health insurance to have the contract transferred into their name within two months. [ö] For comprehensive preparation for death, an organised filing system for the deceased's documents is a great help.
Our expert tip: Clarify early on whether any benefits are payable under a funeral benefit insurance policy in order to cushion the financial burden.
Handling care benefits and aids after death
If the deceased person was receiving care benefits, there are a few points to bear in mind. As mentioned, the care allowance is often paid for the full month of death. If it has not yet been paid for that month, payment is made to the heirs. It may happen that care allowance already transferred for the following month is reclaimed if death occurred at the end of the month. Aids provided on loan by the health insurance fund or long-term care insurance fund, such as a nursing bed or rollator, are usually collected by the commissioned medical supply company by appointment. The costs of return transport are covered by the fund. Consumable care aids such as disposable gloves do not have to be returned. Unopened packs of medication must not be used further and must be disposed of properly, usually with residual waste. A term life insurance policy can help cover such unexpected costs and administrative effort.
If relatives were covered free of charge under family insurance through the deceased person, this co-insurance ends with the death of the main insured person. However, cover for the surviving dependants usually continues automatically as voluntary membership with the same health insurance fund in order to meet the statutory health insurance obligation. This means that the previously co-insured persons who were exempt from contributions must then pay their own contributions. As a rule, those affected must contact the health insurance fund within two months to clarify their situation and determine the new contribution arrangement. It is important not to miss this deadline in order to ensure continuous insurance cover and, if necessary, to check alternative insurance options, such as inclusion in another family member’s family insurance or checking entitlement to a survivor’s pension, which can also have an impact on health insurance. The cover for children is a particularly important aspect in this context.
Further important deregistrations and cancellations in the event of death
Besides the health insurance provider, numerous other organisations must also be informed in the event of death, and contracts must be cancelled or amended. This is often a process that can extend over several weeks. The most important include:
Pension insurance: To apply for a possible widow's, widower's or orphan's pension.
Life and accident insurance: These often have very short notification deadlines of just a few days.
Banks and savings banks: Accounts must be transferred or closed.
Landlord: The tenancy agreement must be cancelled or taken over by the heirs.
The deceased's employer or appointing authority.
Utility providers (electricity, gas, water, telephone, internet).
Other insurance policies such as liability, household contents or car insurance.
Subscriptions and memberships (newspapers, clubs, streaming services).
A careful review of all the deceased's documents helps to avoid missing any important cancellation deadlines. Managing the digital estate is also becoming increasingly important. Many funeral directors offer support with these deregistrations. Bear in mind that the payout of a life insurance policy can also take time.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific suggestions for optimisation.
More useful links
The Deutsche Rentenversicherung provides comprehensive information on survivors' pension in Germany.
The Bundesministerium der Justiz provides the German Civil Status Act (PStG).
Wikipedia offers an article on death in the German context.
The Bundesgesundheitsministerium provides information on health insurance in Germany.
FAQ
Who must report the death to the health insurance company?
The surviving dependants (e.g. spouse, children, heirs) are responsible for reporting the death to the health insurance provider.
Does health insurance end automatically with death?
Yes, membership of the statutory health insurance scheme ends automatically upon the death of the insured person. The notification is used for administrative processing.
What happens to the family insurance if the main insured person dies?
Family insurance ends with the death of the main insured person. Co-insured family members must reorganise their insurance cover, often through voluntary continued insurance, and usually notify the health insurance fund within two months.
Does health insurance cover the costs of the death certificate?
No, the costs of the medical examination of the body and the issue of the death certificate are not covered by statutory health insurance and must be paid privately.
What happens to aids such as a care bed after death?
Aids provided on loan are collected by the health insurance provider or the contracted medical supply company by arrangement. The costs for this are covered by the insurer.
How long is care allowance paid after death?
Care allowance is often paid for the full month in which the person in need of care died, provided there was entitlement on at least one day of the month.
