Funeral Insurance in Spain — Is It Worth It?

A Clear, Honest Guide for Expats Living in Spain

1. Introduction — Why Funeral Insurance in Spain Confuses Expats

Funeral insurance — seguro de decesos — is extremely common in Spain.
More than half of all Spanish families have it. But for expats, it often raises more questions than answers:

• Do I need this if I already have savings?
• Is it the same as a prepaid funeral plan?
• Can I choose my own funeral provider?
• What if I move regions or return home?

This guide breaks everything down clearly, using plain English, real costs, and practical examples — so you can decide what makes sense for your own situation.

2. What Exactly Is Funeral Insurance (Seguro de Decesos)?

Funeral insurance is a monthly subscription that covers funeral costs and practical arrangements when someone dies.

What it typically includes

• Collection & transport of the deceased
• Doctor’s certificate & paperwork
• Cremation or burial
• Coffin/urn
• Funeral home services
• Registry & official documents
• Basic ceremony arrangements
• Sometimes repatriation (not always)

What it almost never includes

• Your choice of funeral home
• Upgraded urns, flowers, music
• Repatriation unless explicitly stated
• English-speaking support
• Transparent pricing

Funeral insurance is convenient — but not always cost-effective.

3. How Much Does Funeral Insurance Cost in Spain?

Spanish insurers use age-based pricing, which increases over time.

Typical costs:

• Under 40: €10–€20/month
• 40–60: €20–€45/month
• 60–70: €40–€80/month
• 70+: €80–€120/month or higher

📌 Important insight

Many expats discover that although monthly payments feel small, over a lifetime they may pay €15,000–€30,000+ for a service that would cost €1,600–€2,250 with direct cremation.

Insurance is not savings — it is convenience.

4. Pros and Cons of Funeral Insurance

✔ Pros

• Everything is organised automatically
• Very quick response in hospitals & care homes
• Helpful for elderly people or those living alone
• Spanish families are culturally familiar with it
• No upfront cost

✘ Cons

• Long-term financial cost is high
• You usually cannot choose your funeral provider
• Prices can increase with age
• Not a savings product — you don’t “get it back”
• Foreign families may struggle with Spanish-only communication
• Some policies are unclear about repatriation

5. Who Is Funeral Insurance Good For?

Funeral insurance may make sense if:

• You live alone
• You prefer everything to be pre-arranged
• You want minimal decision-making for your family
• You don’t mind paying more over time for convenience

Funeral insurance makes less sense if:

• You have savings
• You prefer transparency
• You want to choose your own provider
• You don’t want a long-term monthly commitment
• You prefer direct cremation or simplicity

6. Funeral Insurance vs Prepaid Funeral Plans vs Direct Cremation

This is where most expats feel overwhelmed — so here is a clean comparison:

Funeral Insurance

• Monthly payment forever
• Often costs more overall
• Insurer can choose a funeral provider
• May include burial
• Repatriation: sometimes

Prepaid Funeral Plans

• One upfront cost
• Locks today’s price
• Limited to plan partners
• Quality varies massively
• Repatriation: sometimes included

Funeral Service Paid for when Needed

• One low cost at the time of need
• Full transparency
• You choose the provider
• Repatriation separate

7. Can You Use Funecon.es If You Already Have Funeral Insurance?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no — and this is where many families get caught out.

If the policy allows choice of provider

→ You can use Funecon.es
→ The insurer may reimburse part of the cost
→ This is more common with international policies

If the policy assigns a funeral home

→ Families cannot choose Funecon.es
→ The insurer selects their partner
→ Changing providers may not be allowed – but should be requested if there is a particular provider you would like to use.

We can help check your policy

Many expats aren’t sure what their policy includes.
We can review it with you (free, no obligations) and explain what’s covered.

8. Real Examples

Example 1 — British couple in Málaga

Couple pays €42/month each.
After 18 years = €18,144 paid.
Direct cremation with Funecon.es would cost €1,650 (at the time of this article).
Conclusion: They paid for convenience, not value.

Example 2 — Irish expat living alone in Alicante

Pays €31/month for 14 years.
Lives alone and prefers everything arranged automatically.
Conclusion: Insurance is sensible for the peace of mind.

Example 3 — German couple with savings

Prefer transparency.
Don’t want long-term contracts.
Choose direct cremation.
Conclusion: Savings + direct cremation makes more sense.

9. Is Funeral Insurance Worth It?

The honest answer:

It depends on your situation.

Funeral insurance is worth it if:

• You value simplicity above cost
• You live alone in Spain
• You want everything arranged automatically

Funeral insurance is not worth it if:

• You prefer transparency
• You want to choose your provider
• You dislike long-term payments
• You prefer direct cremation
• You have savings

And even when it is worth it, it’s vital to know exactly what your policy includes.

10. How Funecon.es Helps (No Pressure, No Contracts)

We help expats by:

• Explaining funeral costs clearly – 3 simple steps to get your price click here – Guaranteed for min 6 months. Refund guaranteed on request.
• Checking insurance policies
• Offering transparent direct cremation and burial prices
• Supporting families 24/7
• Providing English & Multilingual-speaking assistance
• Helping with paperwork & local procedures

We believe you should always understand your options before making a decision.

11. FAQ

12. Speak With Us Anytime

if you want clear advice about your options in Spain,
we’re here to help — with no pressure.

or register for a coffee morning and we can come to you.

📞 Call or WhatsApp (+34) 640 034 791
📧 support@funecon.es
🌐 https://funecon.es/contact/