How much is the ÖGK reimbursement in 2026?
In 2026, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, ÖGK) pays a fixed partial reimbursement of 33.70 euros per individual session if you're seeing an elective therapist for psychotherapy. This applies to an individual session of roughly one hour with a therapist who is listed in the Health Ministry's register of psychotherapists. Shorter sessions and group therapy have their own, lower rates, which are set out in the ÖGK's statutes.
For comparison: since 1 January 2026, the SVS has reimbursed 50.00 euros per session and the BVAEB 50.20 euros. So the ÖGK rate is the lowest among the major insurers, but with around 7.5 million members, the ÖGK is the fund that covers the most people in Austria.
| Health insurer | Reimbursement per individual session | Increased in 2026? |
|---|---|---|
| ÖGK | 33.70 euros | - |
| SVS (self-employed) | 50.00 euros | Yes, up from 45 euros |
| BVAEB (civil servants, railway, mining) | 50.20 euros | Yes |
| KFA Wien | 39.00 euros | - |
You'll find an overview of all the insurers, along with application details, in our guide to insurance reimbursement.
Some context worth keeping in mind: the reimbursement doesn't cover the full cost. A session with an elective therapist in Austria typically costs between 80 and 170 euros. Full coverage is only available with an insurance-covered spot (which comes with a waiting time) or, since 2026, with clinical-psychological treatment as a new insurance benefit. We cover both alternatives further down.
Who qualifies for the reimbursement?
The ÖGK pays the partial reimbursement under three conditions:
- A clinically significant condition: there must be a mental health condition that qualifies as an illness (a diagnosis under ICD-10 or ICD-11). Plain counseling, coaching, or couples therapy without a diagnosis is not reimbursed
- A registered therapist: the person treating you must be listed as a psychotherapist in the federal ministry's register. Therapists in training under supervision don't count here; there is no insurance reimbursement for them, but their fees are considerably lower, at 30 to 60 euros per session
- A doctor's confirmation: before your second therapy session, you need to have a medical examination and send the confirmation to the ÖGK. This rules out any physical causes behind your symptoms
The most common pitfall: the doctor's confirmation
You can attend the first session without any paperwork at all. But by the time of your second session at the latest, the confirmation from your GP or psychiatrist has to be with the insurer, otherwise you'll lose the reimbursement for every session that follows. So it's best to schedule the doctor's appointment right after your initial consultation.
How to apply for the reimbursement in four steps
The process is less bureaucratic than many people expect. You can submit your invoices one at a time or in batches, for example once a quarter; the reimbursement is transferred to your account for each billed session. Here's how it works:
- Step 1: book an initial consultation with an elective therapist. You don't need a referral or any prior approval for this
- Step 2: before the second session, see your GP or psychiatrist and send the doctor's confirmation of the examination to the ÖGK
- Step 3: pay for the sessions yourself at first and keep the invoices. Each invoice has to show the diagnosis, the date and length of the sessions, and the amount you paid
- Step 4: submit the paid invoice, proof of payment, and the doctor's confirmation to the ÖGK. The easiest way is online through the MeineÖGK portal under "Rechnung einreichen" (Submit invoice); alternatively, by post or at a customer service center using the form "Antrag auf Kostenzuschuss" (Application for partial reimbursement). Keep copies of all your documents until the money comes through
Approval from the eleventh session onward
The first 10 sessions don't require approval: as long as the doctor's confirmation is on file, the reimbursement is paid out without any further review. If your therapy lasts longer, which is usually the case, you'll need approval from the ÖGK from the eleventh session onward.
For the application, you and your therapist together provide details on the diagnosis and the planned length of treatment. It has to reach the insurer before the eleventh session. It's best to submit it around the eighth or ninth session so there is no gap in coverage. As long as there's an ongoing clinical justification, the extension is usually granted; there is no fixed cap on the number of sessions.
What you're actually left paying: a worked example
Let's take a typical situation: you're insured with the ÖGK and see an elective therapist every week who charges 110 euros per session.
- Price per session: 110 euros
- ÖGK reimbursement: 33.70 euros
- Your cost per session: 76.30 euros
- Monthly cost for 4 sessions: around 305 euros
Run your own numbers
You can work out whether the numbers add up for your particular session fee and frequency in about a minute with our therapy cost calculator. It also shows how much a private supplementary insurance policy would cushion on top. For all the details on session fees and tips for saving, see our comprehensive cost guide for psychotherapy in Austria.
The alternatives: an insurance-covered spot and clinical-psychological treatment
The partial reimbursement is the fastest route into therapy, but not the cheapest. Many people combine the options pragmatically: start right away with an elective therapist and the reimbursement, while putting their name on waiting lists for an insurance-covered spot at the same time. There are two alternatives worth knowing about:
- An insurance-covered spot: here the therapist bills the ÖGK directly and you pay 0 euros. The waiting times, however, are often 6 to 18 months. Our guide No insurance-covered spot available? shows what you can do while you wait
- Clinical-psychological treatment: since 2026, for the first time a fully funded ÖGK benefit, provided by clinical psychologists. For many concerns, such as low mood or anxiety, it's a full-fledged, free option. You'll find all the details in our article on clinical-psychological treatment covered by insurance
Find an elective therapist and get started
The reimbursement only helps if you can find a therapist who's a good fit and has openings. On matchyourtherapy.at you can filter for free by location, method, focus, and availability, and see session fees right in each profile. That way you know, even before the initial consultation, what's left to pay per session once the 33.70 euros are deducted.
