Psychotherapy Insurance Austria: Costs and Coverage 2026

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Psychotherapy in Austria: What Does Health Insurance Pay?

Demand for psychotherapy in Austria is continuously increasing. But cost coverage is complex: statutory health insurance (ÖGK) covers only a fraction, and waiting times for publicly funded therapy places are long. Supplementary insurance can help.

ÖGK Subsidy for Psychotherapy: The Reality

What Does Statutory Health Insurance Pay?

The ÖGK offers two paths to psychotherapy:

1. Full Cost Coverage (rare)

• With contract psychotherapists (very few)
• In certain institutions with ÖGK contract
• Requires prior approval
• Waiting time: often several months

2. Cost Subsidy (more common)

• With private psychotherapists
• Fixed subsidy per session
• No approval required
• Pay the difference yourself

Current ÖGK Subsidy Per Session

Therapy Type	ÖGK Subsidy	Typical Price	Out-of-Pocket
Individual Therapy (50 min)	approx. €33	€80-150	€47-117
Group Therapy	approx. €12	€30-50	€18-38
Children/Adolescents	approx. €45	€80-150	€35-105

Example Calculation: One Year of Psychotherapy

Item	Amount
Sessions per year (weekly)	48 sessions
Cost per session	€100
Total cost per year	€4,800
ÖGK subsidy (48 x €33)	€1,584
Out-of-pocket without supplementary insurance	€3,216

Private Supplementary Insurance for Psychotherapy

How Does Supplementary Insurance Help?

Private health insurance can close the cost gap between ÖGK subsidy and actual costs.

Typical Benefits:

• 80-100% cost reimbursement
• Annual maximum amount (sublimit)
• Often combined with private doctor insurance

Example of Reimbursement

Item	Without Supplement	With Supplement (80%)	With Supplement (100%)
Session cost	€100	€100	€100
ÖGK subsidy	€33	€33	€33
Supplementary insurance	-	€54	€67
Your out-of-pocket	€67	€13	€0

What to Consider When Choosing Insurance

1. Check Annual Sublimit

Many tariffs have maximum limits for psychotherapy:

• Basic tariffs: €300-600/year (approx. 3-6 additional sessions)
• Mid-range tariffs: €900-1,500/year (approx. 10-15 sessions)
• Premium tariffs: €2,000-5,000+/year

2. Note Waiting Periods

Most insurances have a waiting period of 8-12 months for psychotherapy. This means: You must take out the insurance in good time.

3. Which Therapists Are Recognized?

Check whether only certain therapy forms or therapists are reimbursed:

• Only licensed psychotherapists?
• Which therapy methods (CBT, depth psychology, etc.)?

Alternatives and Supplements

Clinical Psychological Treatment

Besides psychotherapy, there is also clinical psychological treatment:

• Somewhat different approach than psychotherapy
• ÖGK subsidy: approx. €28 per unit
• Can be covered separately by supplementary insurance

Psychiatric Treatment

Psychiatrists are doctors and subject to different regulations:

• With contract psychiatrists: full cost coverage by ÖGK
• With private psychiatrists: reimbursement like other private doctors
• Private doctor insurance covers private psychiatrists

Tips for Reducing Costs

1. Use ÖGK Quota

Ask the ÖGK about publicly funded places. The waiting time can be long, but treatment is then free.

2. Institutions with ÖGK Contract

Certain clinics and institutions have contracts with the ÖGK:

• Psychosocial services
• Counseling centers
• Hospital outpatient clinics

3. Social Scaling

Some therapists offer reduced fees for low earners. It doesn't hurt to ask.

4. Tax Deductibility

Psychotherapy costs can be tax deductible as extraordinary expenses if a deductible is exceeded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a Referral for the ÖGK Subsidy?

No, for the cost subsidy with private psychotherapists you don't need a referral. You simply submit the invoice.

How Many Sessions Are Reimbursed?

The ÖGK sets no upper limit on the number of subsidized sessions. Private supplementary insurances often have annual maximum limits.

Is Online Therapy Reimbursed?

The ÖGK also reimburses online sessions if the therapist is licensed in Austria. With private insurances, you should clarify this in advance.

What If I'm Already in Therapy?

If you're already in therapy, you can still take out supplementary insurance. But for ongoing treatments the waiting period applies – reimbursement only begins after it expires.

Conclusion: Psychotherapy Costs in Austria

Statutory health insurance covers only a small part of psychotherapy costs. With regular therapy, out-of-pocket costs can add up to several thousand euros per year.

Summary:

• ÖGK subsidy: approx. €33 per individual session
• Typical out-of-pocket: €50-100+ per session
• Supplementary insurance can largely close the gap
• Watch out for sublimits and waiting periods

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Disclaimer: The amounts mentioned are guidelines and may vary. Ask your health insurance for current subsidy amounts. Insurance benefits depend on the chosen tariff. CheckEverything.at assumes no liability for the accuracy of the information.