Private health insurance

Private health insurance is a voluntary additional insurance that covers services not covered, or only partially covered, by statutory health insurance (ÖGK, BVAEB, SVS). It covers the costs of treatment by doctors of choice, inpatient stays in private hospitals, or accommodation in a special ward in a hospital – depending on the agreement.

The amount of the premium for your health insurance essentially depends on your desired scope of benefits, your age, your federal state of residence and your state of health. You can also take advantage of a combined discount if you take out private doctor and special class insurance at the same time.

In Austria, there is a statutory health insurance scheme and various private health insurance schemes. The difference between statutory and private health insurance is that the former is compulsory for those in employment above the marginal earnings threshold and private health insurance can be taken out voluntarily. With private health insurance, you can choose from different benefits to cover your individual needs.

All persons employed in Austria above the marginal earnings threshold are subject to compulsory social insurance. The costs of treatment by panel doctors and care in public hospitals, outpatient clinics and rehabilitation centres are covered by social insurance. You can obtain more detailed information on the respective health insurance benefits from your social insurance provider. Costs incurred for treatment by elective doctors without a health insurance contract and for hospitalisation in a special class or a private hospital are not covered and must be paid privately.

With private health insurance, you receive additional cover that goes beyond the scope of benefits provided by statutory health insurance. You can choose from different packages. The most important and most popular benefits of private health insurance include free choice of doctor, free choice of hospital (private hospital or special class) and, as experience shows, shorter waiting times for treatment and operations.

You can cancel the contract at the end of the 3rd insurance year with a notice period of three months. Thereafter, you can cancel the contract annually on the main due date with a notice period of three months.