How to Switch Health Insurance in Austria: 2026 Guide

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Switching Health Insurance: When Is It Worth It?

Switching private health insurance in Austria is an important financial decision. With premium increases of up to 8% per year, many insured people ask themselves: Is switching worth it? In this guide, you'll learn everything you need to know.

Reasons for Switching Insurance

Common Switching Motivations

• Premium increase: Annual contribution increases can be significant
• Better benefits: Another provider offers more for less
• Life situation: Family planning, job change, or retirement
• Dissatisfaction: Bad experiences with current insurer
• Tariff optimization: Cheaper tariffs with same coverage

When Switching Makes Sense

Situation	Switching Recommended?	Reasoning
Premium increases over 10%	Yes	Other providers often cheaper
Age over 50	Check	New health assessment can be expensive
Chronic illness	Rather not	New insurer may reject or exclude
Benefits unused	Yes	Cheaper tariff with fewer benefits
Family planning	Yes	Compare baby options and family tariffs

Cancellation Deadlines in Austria

Contract Duration and Cancellation

Most private health insurances in Austria have the following rules:

Minimum Contract Duration:

• Usually 1 year
• Then automatic renewal for 1 year each

Cancellation Period:

• Typically 1 to 3 months before contract end
• At the end of the insurance year (not calendar year!)

Example:

Contract start: March 1 Cancellation period: 3 months Cancellation must be received by November 30 at the latest

Special Cancellation Rights

In certain cases, you can cancel extraordinarily:

• Premium increase without benefit improvement: Within 4 weeks of notification
• Benefit reduction by insurer: Immediate cancellation right
• Insurance claim: Sometimes within 4 weeks after settlement

Tip: Check your insurance contract carefully. Cancellation periods may vary by provider.

Step-by-Step Switching Guide

Phase 1: Preparation

1. Analyze Current Contract

• What benefits do you actually use?
• When does your insurance year end?
• What cancellation period applies?

2. Define Needs

• Private room, private doctor, or both?
• Deductible desired?
• What additional benefits are important?

3. Compare New Offers

• Get at least 3-5 provider quotes
• Pay attention to comparable benefits
• Don't just look at the price

Phase 2: Health Questions

The most critical point when switching is the new health assessment. The new insurer will ask about:

• Current and previous illnesses
• Surgeries and hospital stays
• Medication intake
• Planned treatments

What You Need to Consider:

• Honesty is mandatory: False information can lead to benefit denial
• Pre-existing conditions: Can lead to exclusions or risk surcharges
• Waiting periods: Often start fresh with new insurer

Phase 3: Execute the Switch

1. Sign New Contract

• Sign the new contract first
• Wait for insurance confirmation

2. Cancel Old Contract

• In writing by registered mail
• On time before contract end
• Request cancellation confirmation

3. Seamless Transition

• New contract must start from cancellation date of old one
• No insurance gap allowed

Checklist: Switching Health Insurance

Step	Action	Done
1	Check cancellation deadline in current contract	☐
2	Document current benefits and usage	☐
3	Compile your own health history	☐
4	Get quotes from at least 3 insurers	☐
5	Compare benefits and premiums	☐
6	Answer health questions honestly	☐
7	Sign new contract	☐
8	Send cancellation on time (registered mail)	☐
9	Receive cancellation confirmation	☐
10	Ensure seamless insurance coverage	☐

Sample Letter: Cancelling Health Insurance

Use this template for your cancellation:

Alternative: Tariff Change Instead of Provider Switch

A complete switch isn't always necessary. Many insurers offer the option of an internal tariff change:

Advantages of Tariff Change

• No new health assessment (in most cases)
• No new waiting periods
• Acquired rights remain
• Faster and easier

When Tariff Change Makes Sense

• You want to save on premiums but stay with the insurer
• You have pre-existing conditions that make a new contract difficult
• You want to increase deductible or adjust benefits

Tip: Ask your current insurer about tariff change options before considering a complete provider switch.

Common Mistakes When Switching Insurance

1. Cancelling Too Early

Problem: You cancel before the new contract is confirmed. Solution: Sign new contract first, then cancel old one.

2. Insurance Gap

Problem: Old contract ends, new one starts later. Solution: Set start date of new contract for the day after old one ends.

3. False Health Statements

Problem: Insurer denies benefits later. Solution: Answer all questions truthfully.

4. Looking Only at Price

Problem: Cheapest tariff has worse benefits. Solution: Compare benefit scope exactly.

5. Underestimating Pre-Existing Conditions

Problem: New insurer excludes existing conditions. Solution: Get quotes with your pre-existing conditions before switching.

Conclusion: Switching Health Insurance in Austria

Switching private health insurance can pay off financially but requires careful planning. Observe cancellation deadlines, compare multiple providers, and pay attention to health questions.

Summary:

• Observe cancellation periods of 1-3 months
• New health assessment is required
• Sign new contract first, then cancel
• Check tariff change with same provider as alternative
• Be especially careful with pre-existing conditions

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general guidance and does not constitute insurance advice. Cancellation deadlines and conditions may vary by insurer. For binding information, please contact your insurer or an insurance advisor. CheckEverything.at assumes no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information.