Option Tariff Special Class After Accident Austria 2026

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What this guide is about

You're under 35, in good health and considering taking out a special class supplementary insurance policy. The full premium feels too high right now, yet you want to secure the favourable terms for later. That's precisely what the option tariff is designed for, often called "special class after accident with option" as well.

This guide separates myth from reality. You'll learn what the option tariff actually covers, which Austrian providers offer it, how much you genuinely save over the years and which pitfalls insurers hide in the terms and conditions. If you want a broader overview of special class insurance, you'll find it in the Special Class Insurance Guide 2026.

One thing upfront: the option tariff is no magic bullet. It's a tool. For young, healthy people with a long planning horizon, it makes sense. For others, it barely pays off. We'll explain the differences with concrete numbers.

What is an option tariff?

The option tariff is the cheapest form of supplementary health insurance in Austria. It consists of two building blocks:

1. Special class cover for emergencies: You're immediately insured if an accident sends you to hospital. Some tariffs extend cover to narrowly defined serious illnesses, such as cancer or stroke.
2. Right to upgrade later without a new health check: Within an agreed timeframe or until a maximum age, you can switch to the full special class tariff. Insurers won't ask you about your medical history again.

According to Insurance Wiki, the premium is roughly one quarter to one third of the full special class premium. Depending on provider and age, the range runs from 8 to 18 EUR per month.

Option tariff is not the same as special class after accident

There's often confusion here. Two related but distinct products exist on the Austrian market:

Feature	Option Tariff	Pure Special Class After Accident
Cover after accident	Yes, immediately	Yes, immediately
Right to upgrade without health check	Yes, that's the core feature	No
Cover for illness	Limited, depending on tariff	No
Typical monthly premium	8 to 18 EUR	10 to 20 EUR
Who offers it (examples)	UNIQA, Merkur, Generali, Wiener Städtische	ERGO, Donau, UNIQA

The distinction matters for your decision. If you want to switch to full special class long-term, you need the option tariff. If you're looking for permanent accident-only cover in hospital, you can opt for pure special class after accident, for instance the ERGO tariff at around 12.12 EUR from age 18.

Which Austrian insurers offer an option tariff

The market is manageable. We've checked the tariff overviews of the largest providers; each insurer calls the product something different.

Provider	Product Name	Special Feature
UNIQA	Special Class Pure (Option Module)	Own variant with elective doctor option
Merkur	Option Tariff for Novum Line	Upgrade to special class plus elective doctor
Generali	Option Tariff for Special Class	Cover for childbirth after upgrade also included
Wiener Städtische	Option Tariff Special Class	Choice of nationwide or regional cover
Muki	Accident Special Class Plus with Option Tariff	Tyrolean insurer with Austria-wide cover

Tariff names as of April 2026, own research from providers and durchblicker.at. Exact terms, premiums and cover depend on your chosen tariff, federal state, deductible and entry age.

A detailed side-by-side comparison of the two market leaders for health insurance can be found in our guide UNIQA and Merkur Health Insurance Comparison.

What is actually covered during the option phase

Most option tariffs are pure accident policies with an upgrade right. What that means in practice:

Covered immediately after accident:

• Special class in public or private hospital (single or double room, depending on tariff)
• Free hospital choice throughout Austria
• Treatment by your principal consultant or elective doctor
• No waiting period for accidents

Not covered during the option phase:

• Hospital stays for illness (unless the tariff specifically includes serious illnesses)
• Planned operations without accident connection
• Childbirth in special class
• Outpatient treatment, elective doctor visits outside hospital

What counts as an accident? A sudden, externally caused event that results in physical injury. Examples from insurance terms: falls, car accidents, sports or workplace injuries. Strain damage from sport often doesn't count as an accident; check your terms.

Some insurers extend the option phase to serious illnesses such as cancer, heart attack or stroke. This extension costs a small surcharge, but is rarely a separate tariff name.

How much you genuinely save over the years

The key question is: does the option tariff work out better over the long term than taking out full special class cover later? We'll work it through soberly, based on the widely cited model from FiP-S.

Sample calculation: Sandra (25) starts with option tariff

Sandra takes out an option tariff at age 25 for 16 EUR per month. At 35, she uses her upgrade right and switches to the full special class tariff. For her entry age, she pays roughly 80 EUR per month from then on.

Phase	Age	Monthly Premium	Cumulative Cost
Option tariff	25 to 34	16 EUR	1,920 EUR (10 years)
Full special class after upgrade	35 to 90	80 EUR (entry age 25)	52,800 EUR (55 years)

Sample calculation: Franz (35) takes out full cover directly

Franz waits until 35, then wants full special class. His entry age is now 35, and the monthly premium is around 110 EUR.

Phase	Age	Monthly Premium	Cumulative Cost
Direct full cover	35 to 90	110 EUR (entry age 35)	72,600 EUR (55 years)

What the difference amounts to

Sandra's total cost over 65 years: 1,920 EUR + 52,800 EUR = 54,720 EUR. Franz comes to 72,600 EUR.

Sandra's advantage in this model: roughly 17,880 EUR over her lifetime. Had Franz received risk surcharges at 35 because of a pre-existing condition, say 25 per cent, the difference would be around 36,000 EUR.

Important limitation: This is a model calculation with constant premiums and without inflation, tariff adjustments or interest effects. Real premiums will rise over the years, often three to five per cent annually in recent years. The logic remains the same though: those who enter early and lock in their entry age pay less over the long term.

Option exercise: deadline, age and the cut-off date

Insurers govern option exercise in two different ways. You should know which version applies to your tariff.

Option 1: Time-limited option

You have three, five or ten years from the start of the contract to trigger the upgrade. After that, the right expires. This is the stricter variant and you'll find it often in starter tariffs.

Option 2: Age-based option

You can exercise the upgrade until a set age, often 40, 45 or 50. From that cut-off date, the option lapses. This variant gives you more flexibility and is common with premium providers.

Some tariffs combine both or allow the upgrade at any time, but only on set dates, such as at the end of a month or year.

Waiting periods after upgrade

A point many comparison websites skip over. Even after exercising the option, many insurers have waiting periods in place:

• General illness: three months
• Planned operation, scheduled procedures: six months
• Pregnancy and childbirth: eight to ten months

Accident cover applies throughout, even during this period. If you have a planned operation or family planning in mind, you should trigger the upgrade well beforehand.

Who the option tariff suits, and who it doesn't

We've sorted the arguments for and against. Read this section honestly before you sign anything.

Makes sense for these profiles

• Career starters and students under 30. The premium doesn't hurt, and you lock in your entry age.
• Young families with plans for children in a few years. Later full cover including special class childbirth is possible through the option.
• Athletes and frequent travellers. The statistical risk of accident is higher. The tariff often pays for itself through active cover.
• Self-employed and freelancers in start-up phase. If your budget is tight now, you can upgrade later when cash flow improves.

Not really suitable

• People with known chronic illnesses. The valuable feature of the option tariff is locking in your health status. If you're not in good health anyway, that's not worth much.
• People over 50. The option window is short, the leverage small.
• Anyone needing immediate illness cover. A planned operation or known diagnosis makes the option tariff pointless.
• Pessimistic planners. If you never plan to switch to full special class, you'll pay for ten years for a right you'll never use.

The five most common pitfalls

What insurers hide in the terms and what advisers often don't like explaining:

1. Option expiry. Miss the cut-off date and you've lost the right. Note the expiry date before you sign anything.
2. Risky sport exclusions. Climbing, off-piste skiing, motor sport or diving are excluded in many tariffs. Check the list in the terms.
3. Limited tariff choice on upgrade. Some insurers offer only one full line as an upgrade target. If you'd prefer a different model later, you'd have to reapply, with a health check.
4. No cancellation if you don't exercise the option. A few providers grant a special cancellation right if you decide not to upgrade. Others keep you tied to the option tariff. Read the clause.
5. Waiting periods after upgrade. As mentioned above, three to ten months are standard. Pregnancy shortly after upgrade is usually not covered.

What the authorities say

The Financial Market Authority (FMA) lists licensed health insurers in Austria and publishes guidance on insurance contracts. The Chamber of Labour consumer advice recommends checking terms in writing before signing and not relying solely on adviser information. Both organisations are independent and free to contact.

For a broader view of the Austrian health system and all supplementary insurance, see our Health Insurance Guide Austria 2026. For the question of whether special class cover with or without a deductible makes more sense, try the Special Class Insurance Deductible Comparison with concrete break-even examples.

Frequently asked questions about option tariff special class

What does a special class option tariff cost in Austria?

The monthly premium ranges from 8 to 18 EUR, depending on provider, entry age and tariff scope. Young adults under 30 usually pay the lower end, older starters the upper end. For your exact premium, use the calculator at durchblicker.at or contact providers directly.

When does the option expire?

Depending on the tariff, either three, five or ten years from the contract start, or when you reach a certain age, often 40, 45 or 50. The expiry date is in your policy. Note it before you sign the contract.

Do I have to take a new health check when I upgrade?

No, that's the whole point of the option tariff. You switch to the full tariff with no new questions. The condition is that you exercise the option on time and comply with the terms.

Is the full premium calculated on my current age?

No, it's calculated on your entry age, your age when you took out the option tariff. Someone who starts at 25 and upgrades at 35 pays the full premium for a 25-year-old. That's where the saving comes in.

Am I covered for illness during the option phase?

In most tariffs, no. The option phase is accident cover only. A few insurers include serious illnesses like cancer or heart attack, but that's tariff-dependent. Read the clauses carefully.

What happens with waiting periods after I upgrade?

Most providers have three months' waiting period for general illness, six months for planned operations and eight to ten months for pregnancy. Accident benefits apply throughout. If you're planning an operation or birth, request the upgrade well in advance.

Can I take out an option tariff for my child?

Yes, many providers allow entry from the first year of life. The premium is low and the option window long. An alternative is the parents' baby option, which covers the child without a health check after birth; read more in our guide Baby Health Insurance Without Questions.

Can I cancel the option tariff if I upgrade?

Usually yes, many insurers grant a special cancellation right if you decide against the upgrade. Others keep you bound to the remainder of the term. You'll find the clause under "Cancellation" in your insurance terms.

Conclusion: A tool, not a cure-all

The option tariff is a sensible option for young, healthy people with a long planning horizon. It cuts the entry barrier to roughly one third of the full premium and locks in your entry age for later. Over a 25-to-90-year span, the saving can be five figures.

If you don't plan to move to full special class later or already have pre-existing conditions, you'll pay with the option tariff for a right that's no longer worth anything. In that case, either a direct full-cover purchase or a pure accident-only special class without the option module is the more honest choice.

Three points for your decision:

• Check which provider with which option window fits your life plan
• Read the waiting periods after upgrade and the risky sport clauses
• Get two or three quotes and compare not just the premium but also the option terms

A broader decision guide, including a ten-question checklist, is in our guide Special Class Insurance: Is It Worth It?. If you want a quick market overview, check the tariffs directly on the neutral calculator.

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Disclaimer: This guide provides general orientation and does not replace individual insurance advice. Premiums, option deadlines and terms vary by provider, tariff, federal state and personal situation. For binding information, contact your insurance provider or an independent insurance broker. CheckEverything.at accepts no liability for accuracy, completeness or up-to-dateness of the information provided.