Direct answer: do I need private health insurance in Austria?
Private health insurance in Austria is a voluntary supplementary policy on top of the mandatory social insurance system (ÖGK, BVAEB or SVS). It closes the gaps the public system leaves around waiting times, hospital class and elective-doctor invoices. It is not required by law. It pays off mostly for people who want free choice of doctor and hospital, a private room or shorter specialist waits. Monthly premiums from the durchblicker.at calculator start near €20 for children and reach roughly €140 for a 40-year-old with Sonderklasse plus Wahlarzt.
At a glance
- ›Mandatory social insurance (ÖGK, BVAEB, SVS) is automatic. Private cover stays voluntary.
- ›Three building blocks dominate: Sonderklasse (private hospital room), Wahlarzt (elective doctor refund) and add-on modules (dental, psychotherapy, travel).
- ›Premiums depend on entry age, health questions and deductible. Signing earlier lowers the lifetime price.
- ›For employees, premiums are not tax deductible as special expenses since the 2021 tax reform. Self-employed can deduct in narrow cases.
- ›Supervisor: Financial Market Authority (FMA). Industry body: VVO. Consumer protection: AK and VKI.
What this guide covers
Austria runs a mandatory social insurance system (ÖGK, BVAEB, SVS) that covers basic medical care. If you want shorter waiting times, free choice of doctor and hospital, or a private room, you will hit the limits of that public cover quickly. Private health insurance, usually called "Zusatzversicherung", closes those gaps.
This guide explains how it works, what Sonderklasse, elective doctor (Wahlarzt) and private doctor (Privatarzt) policies really deliver, what monthly premiums to expect, and who actually benefits. We are an independent guide, not a comparison calculator. The calculator itself sits with our partner durchblicker.at (see advertising note above).
- Private insurance adds to public cover; it does not replace it.
- The most common building blocks are a private room, elective-doctor reimbursement and dental benefits.
- The premium depends heavily on entry age, health status and chosen deductible.
Public and private health insurance side by side
ÖGK, BVAEB and SVS cover medically necessary care. A private policy sits on top. The practical differences:
Public insurance (ÖGK, BVAEB, SVS)
- •Mandatory, linked to employment or self-employment
- •Basic care with panel doctors and public hospitals
- •Shared rooms during inpatient stays
- •Specialist appointments may involve longer waits
- •E-card system; co-payments mainly with SVS or selected services
Private supplementary insurance
- Voluntary, subject to the cancellation terms in your policy
- Sonderklasse: private room and free hospital choice
- Higher reimbursement of elective-doctor invoices
- Shorter waiting times, often direct appointments
- Optional modules for dental, vision or alternative medicine
A private policy never replaces public cover. It supplements it for people who want more comfort, faster access or broader benefits.
Main types of private health insurance
Austrian insurers offer three core modules. Most policies combine two or three of them:
Sonderklasse (private hospital room)
Covers a single or two-bed room, free choice of hospital and treatment by a chief or senior physician for inpatient stays.
- ›Single or two-bed room instead of the standard ward
- ›Hospital choice Austria-wide, often Europe-wide
- ›Available with or without a deductible
Elective and private doctor coverage
Reimburses invoices from doctors without a public contract. Faster specialist access, smaller out-of-pocket costs after the ÖGK refund.
- ›Typically 75 to 100 percent of the public tariff on top of the ÖGK refund
- ›Often includes outpatient care, psychotherapy, physiotherapy
- ›Worldwide protection during travel in some tariffs
Add-on modules
Extra benefits such as dental prosthetics, vision aids, spa and rehab or alternative medicine. Usually bookable as modules.
- ›Dental: implants, orthodontics, prophylaxis
- ›Psychotherapy and psychology beyond ÖGK subsidies
- ›Travel medical cover with repatriation
What does private health insurance cost in Austria?
No honest flat rate exists here. Premiums depend on entry age, health questions, deductible and benefit package. The figures below come from publicly available durchblicker.at tariffs and VKI market research and are rough guidance only:
| Entry age | Sonderklasse only (no deductible) | Sonderklasse + Wahlarzt | Full package incl. dental |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years | from ~€20/month | from ~€35/month | from ~€55/month |
| 25 years | from ~€55/month | from ~€85/month | from ~€130/month |
| 40 years | from ~€90/month | from ~€140/month | from ~€210/month |
| 55 years | from ~€170/month | from ~€260/month | from ~€380/month |
Your individual premium only becomes binding after the insurer has reviewed your health declaration. Prices as of April 2026 and subject to change.
Monthly costs by age and tariff→Sonderklasse, Wahlarzt or both: how to choose
Which module fits depends on where you expect the biggest benefit. The three common profiles:
You rarely plan hospital stays but want faster specialist access
Wahlarzt or Privatarzt policy without Sonderklasse
Premium stays moderate. Outpatient visits, diagnostics and therapy go faster with a smaller out-of-pocket cost.
A hospital stay would be worth the calm and freedom of choice for you
Sonderklasse policy, possibly with a deductible
Private room and treatment by a chief or senior physician are the classic benefits. A deductible lowers the monthly premium meaningfully.
You want consistent, comfortable care for yourself and your family
Combined package with Sonderklasse, Wahlarzt and dental
Closes most supply gaps. Premiums are higher but an early entry locks in lower lifetime cost.
Private health insurers in Austria
The Austrian market is dominated by a handful of carriers. The following list is alphabetical and not a ranking:
Allianz Austria
Wide tariff range, strong Wahlarzt benefits, European partner hospitals.
Donau Versicherung
Focus on combined Sonderklasse and outpatient packages.
Generali Austria
Modular structure, strong dental and preventive benefits.
Grawe
Classic Sonderklasse policies with or without deductible, Austrian partner clinics.
Merkur
Distinct focus on health and prevention, broad add-on modules.
Muki
Small specialist insurer with lean tariffs.
UNIQA
Largest private health insurer in the country, MedUni partnerships, VitalClub programme.
Wiener Städtische
Established Sonderklasse tariffs with four tier levels and a strong hospital list.
The list is not exhaustive and is not a recommendation of any specific provider.
What drives the premium?
A premium has a handful of levers. Knowing them lets you tailor the tariff:
Entry age
The earlier you sign, the lower the lifetime premium. Children get particularly low rates, so many parents use the Baby option.
Health declaration
You must disclose prior conditions. Depending on findings, risk surcharges, exclusions or in rare cases rejection are possible.
Benefit package
One or two-bed room, 75 or 100 percent elective-doctor refund, travel cover or not: every module raises the premium. An honest look at your actual use helps.
Deductible
Accepting a per-day or annual deductible lowers the monthly premium. Work out the break-even for your expected use.
Family or single
Couple and family tariffs are often cheaper than two single policies. Children are usually added at preferred rates.
Who really benefits from private health insurance?
A supplementary policy is never mandatory. Certain phases of life and occupational groups benefit more than others:
Young families with children
The Baby option allows intake right after birth without health questions. Child premiums sit in the single or low double-digit euro range per month.
Baby option during pregnancy →Self-employed and freelancers
SVS policyholders can face long specialist waits. A Wahlarzt policy restores predictability, and premiums are partly deductible as business expenses.
Health insurance for the self-employed →People aged 40 or 50 and up
Entering later means higher premiums and a stricter health check. Delaying costs you lifetime money.
Health insurance from age 50 →Students and young professionals
Early policies are affordable and lock in good health as a condition. Coverage via parents is often possible longer than expected.
Student health insurance →How to take out a private health policy
- 1
Clarify your needs
Note which gaps you want to close: private room, Wahlarzt refund, dental, travel cover.
- 2
Research tariffs
Use an independent calculator. durchblicker.at covers the Austrian market well, and the Chamber of Labour (AK) offers neutral analyses.
- 3
Answer health questions honestly
Incomplete or wrong answers can lead to benefit cuts or cancellation later. When in doubt, document and submit to the insurer.
- 4
Read the policy before signing
Check waiting periods, exclusions, cancellation terms and duration carefully. Only then sign.
Frequently asked questions
Is private health insurance worth it in Austria?
It is worth it where public cover noticeably falls short. Short specialist appointments, free doctor choice and a private hospital room are the three classic reasons. If you are content with panel doctors and a shared ward, you usually do not need a supplementary policy.
How much does private health insurance cost per month?
A Sonderklasse tariff for a child starts around €20 per month. For a 40-year-old with Sonderklasse and Wahlarzt, durchblicker.at market data put the entry near €140. The binding premium only comes after an individual health check.
What is the difference between Sonderklasse and Wahlarzt cover?
Sonderklasse applies to inpatient stays: private room, free hospital choice, chief or senior physician. Wahlarzt insurance covers outpatient fees for doctors without a public contract. You can combine both.
Can I see a Wahlarzt with public insurance only?
Yes. ÖGK refunds roughly 80 percent of the public tariff, but the Wahlarzt fee is usually higher. Without supplementary insurance, the difference is yours. A Wahlarzt policy narrows that gap.
At what age is it worth taking out a policy?
The earlier, the cheaper. Parents can use the Baby option to avoid a later health check. Signing in your twenties is clearly cheaper than in your forties, and costs rise again after fifty.
Can I deduct the premium from my taxes?
Since the 2021 tax reform, private health insurance premiums are no longer deductible as special expenses for employees. Self-employed policyholders can deduct public insurance contributions; private supplementary cover only in narrow cases.
What applies to foreigners and expats living in Austria?
Anyone employed or self-employed in Austria is automatically covered by ÖGK, BVAEB or SVS. A supplementary policy is popular with expats because international cover and free doctor choice rank high on their wish list. Some insurers offer English policy conditions.
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Official sources and supervision
When considering private health insurance in Austria, knowing the relevant official bodies is essential. They give the binding view when calculators or marketing copy stay unclear:
Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK)
The largest statutory health insurer in the country. Covers most employees.
Dachverband der Sozialversicherungsträger
Federation of social insurance carriers (ÖGK, BVAEB, SVS, PVA). Publishes central tariffs and fee schedules.
BVAEB
Insurance fund for public sector, railways and mining staff. Own tariffs and contracted partners.
SVS
Social insurance for the self-employed. Relevant for GSVG and FSVG insured with co-payment rules.
Financial Market Authority (FMA)
Supervises every insurer active in Austria. Publishes the insurer registry and complaint channels.
Austrian Insurance Association (VVO)
Industry association of Austrian insurers. Statistics on health insurance and sector positions.
Chamber of Labour (AK)
Consumer protection and independent reviews of private supplementary policies including litigation cases.
Legal foundations: General Social Insurance Act (ASVG), Commercial Social Insurance Act (GSVG), Insurance Contract Act (VersVG) and Insurance Supervision Act (VAG). For binding answers consult an insurer or the FMA.
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See tariffs and benefits in the calculator at durchblicker.at, Austria's largest independent tariff calculator. The calculation is free and non-binding.
Go to the durchblicker.at calculatorAs of April 2026. Prices, terms and benefits may change. A binding premium is only available after the individual health check.