Out-of-network psychotherapy 2026: what insurance funds actually pay back

When your client asks — or you yourself are unsure how much the insurance fund reimburses — the answer is usually: it depends. On the fund, on the type of insurance, on the form of therapy. Here is the clean overview of all 2026 rates — and the fastest path to reimbursement.

The 2026 reimbursement rates at a glance

The amounts below are per-session reimbursement rates (50–60 min) for out-of-network psychotherapy. Status May 2026 — rates change yearly, always verify with the fund directly.

Note: Exact rates depend on the therapy setting (individual, group, family) and the approval. Values shown here are typical individual-therapy rates 2026 — specific client groups (e.g. students under ÖGK) may differ.

Clinical-psychological diagnostics

Diagnostic services are reimbursed separately — and frequently forgotten because they don't fall under the „normal therapy“ rate:

What your clients need to submit

1. Insurance approval — apply before therapy begins. Form „Application for psychotherapy approval“ from the respective fund. ÖGK also accepts online via meinegesundheit.at. First approval typically covers 10 sessions, follow-ups up to 50.
2. Therapist invoice — with all 9+3 mandatory fields under UStG §11 plus ICD-10 code (mandatory from July 2026), social security number and treatment start date.
3. Proof of payment — bank transaction, online banking screenshot or signed cash receipt.
4. Reimbursement application — informal at some funds, with a form at others. Online submission speeds up processing significantly.

How long does reimbursement take?

• ÖGK: 2–6 weeks; online typically 2–3 weeks
• BVAEB: 3–4 weeks
• SVS: 2–4 weeks; online faster

Speed-up tip: Monthly consolidated invoices are usually processed faster than individual per-session invoices because the fund handles fewer entries.

Supplementary insurance: often overlooked

Beyond statutory health insurance, many private supplementary insurances reimburse out-of-network therapy:

• Wiener Städtische / UNIQA / Generali — depending on tariff 50–100% of the fee, often with their own provider network
• Merkur — psychotherapy without deductible in some tariffs
• Allianz / Donau — psychotherapy as elective benefit usually from premium tier

Supplementary insurance often covers the gap between the fee and the statutory rate — for a client with ÖGK + supplementary insurance this can mean: no out-of-pocket cost.

Example: what does therapy actually cost?

For therapists: how to support your clients

Clients often feel overwhelmed by the paperwork. You can specifically improve your service — and get referrals for it:

1. Send the invoice as PDF immediately — not by post 2 weeks later. Client can submit right away.
2. Note the reimbursement rate on the invoice — e.g. „ÖGK out-of-network rate 2026: EUR 33.70 per session“. Provides clarity, avoids questions.
3. Include SSN and ICD-10 from the start — mandatory from July 2026 anyway, but the earlier you automate it, the better.
4. Monthly consolidated invoices — clients submit once instead of four times, you save admin time.

How TimeInvoicer automates this

All of the above are standard in TimeInvoicer:

• PDF invoice shared straight from the app — via mail, Signal, WhatsApp or cloud storage
• Reimbursement rate configurable per client (depending on insurance fund)
• SSN and ICD-10 stored per client — never look up again
• One-tap consolidated invoice — all sessions auto-pulled from the calendar

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