Health Insurance in Austria 2026: Insurers, Contributions and Voluntary Insurance

Austria’s statutory health insurance covers almost the entire population—99.9 percent. It provides comprehensive protection in the event of illness for insured people and their co-insured family members.

Health insurance providers in Austria

Health insurance providers are generally not chosen freely. Membership is organised according to a person’s occupation and professional activity.

• Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK): Austrian Health Insurance Fund
• Versicherungsanstalt öffentlich Bediensteter, Eisenbahnen und Bergbau (BVAEB): insurance institution for public employees, railway workers and miners
• Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen (SVS): Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed

This structure remains unchanged in 2026. In addition to statutory health insurance, some public-sector employers provide health protection through Krankenfürsorgeanstalten (KFA).

Healthcare covered by statutory insurance

Healthcare must be sufficient and appropriate under the law, but must not exceed what is necessary. Statutory entitlement includes medically necessary services provided by contracted doctors, the insurer’s own facilities or contracted institutions such as hospitals.

Services are largely provided without additional costs for insured people. However, some insurers may charge a co-payment (Selbstbehalt), including the SVS and BVAEB.

From 1 June 2026, BVAEB increased its treatment contribution (Behandlungsbeitrag) from 10 percent to 20 percent. Children are exempt. Insured people and families with low incomes can still apply for an exemption or reduction. See the BVAEB information about this change.

Which insurer applies to you?

Austria’s social insurance system is organised according to professional activity. Your insurer therefore generally depends on the work you do.

Since 1 January 2020, following the social insurance reform:

• Employees previously insured through the regional health insurance funds are insured with the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK). Pensioners previously insured through the regional funds and people previously insured with one of the five former company health insurance funds are also insured with the ÖGK.
• The Versicherungsanstalt öffentlich Bediensteter, Eisenbahnen und Bergbau (BVAEB) covers people previously insured with the former insurance institution for railway workers and miners. It also covers public employees previously insured through the public-sector insurer whose service began after 31 December 1998, and contract employees whose service began after 31 December 2000, provided they do not belong to a provincial health fund. People previously insured through the Vienna Public Transport company health insurance fund and their eligible dependants are also covered.
• Traders and liberal professionals previously insured with the Sozialversicherungsanstalt der gewerblichen Wirtschaft (SVA) are insured with the Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen (SVS). Self-employed people in agriculture and forestry previously insured with the Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Bauern (SVB) are also insured with the SVS.

Family co-insurance

Statutory health insurance also protects eligible family members, either without an additional contribution or with an additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag). The additional contribution is 3.4 percent of the insured person’s contribution base.

An additional contribution is not required, for example, for a spouse, registered partner or family member managing the household if they raise a child in the shared household, previously raised a child for at least four years, or if the co-insured family member receives care allowance of at least level 3.

Voluntary health insurance

People who are not covered by statutory health insurance can apply for voluntary insurance (Selbstversicherung). In 2026, the monthly contribution is 565.25 euros. It may be reduced upon application in cases of financial hardship.

This insurance provides benefits in kind, including medical treatment, hospital treatment and medicines. It does not provide cash benefits such as sick pay. Learn more about voluntary insurance on oesterreich.gv.at.

Important amounts in 2026

• Health insurance contributions for employees: the employee pays 3.87 percent and the employer pays 3.78 percent.
• Health insurance contribution for pensioners: 6 percent of the pension.
• Marginal employment threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze): 551.10 euros per month, unchanged from 2025. People employed below this threshold can take out reduced voluntary insurance for 83.49 euros per month.
• Prescription charge (Rezeptgebühr): 7.55 euros per pack. It did not increase in 2026. The annual ceiling for prescription charges is 2 percent of net income; after reaching it, no prescription charge is payable for the rest of the year. The ceiling will gradually decrease from 2027.
• e-card service charge (Service-Entgelt): 25.00 euros for 2026 and 26.85 euros for 2027.

What does health insurance cover?

Statutory health insurance benefits include:

• Screening and preventive examinations for young people and adults to support the early detection of illnesses
• Medical care, medical aids, medicines, hospital treatment and, where necessary, home care
• Dental treatment and dental prostheses
• Sick pay during incapacity for work, rehabilitation benefits when working capacity is reduced, and reintegration support after a long illness
• Benefits in kind and cash benefits related to maternity

Practical steps

1. Identify the insurer connected to your employment or professional activity: ÖGK, BVAEB or SVS.
2. Check your payslip or insurance information to confirm the applicable contribution and any e-card service charge.
3. If you are insured with SVS or BVAEB, check whether a co-payment applies and whether you qualify for an exemption or reduction.
4. If you are not covered by statutory health insurance, apply for Selbstversicherung and request a reduction if you are in financial hardship.
5. If your income is below the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze, check whether the reduced voluntary insurance contribution of 83.49 euros per month is available to you.