ÖGK student insurance in 2026: cost, conditions and the private alternative
ÖGK student insurance (Selbstversicherung für Studierende) costs €78.84 a month in 2026 (oegk.at). It is for students who live in Austria and are not otherwise compulsorily insured, with conditions on study time and income. For a first student permit, OeAD lets you attach a written statement that you will take it out after entry (travel insurance until then). Ask your residence authority whether it accepts this. The alternative is private all-risk cover from entry.
These are Care Austria Education’s 2026 prices. On the unlimited tariff, ordinary cancellation is possible only to 31 December with one month’s notice, and at the earliest after one full year (AVB § 3). The 364-day tariff needs an extra declaration for Vienna’s MA 35. Cover does not start before you enter Austria (AVB § 6). Shown for comparison; the ÖGK rate of €78.84 a month is the public option.
Which situation are you in?
I am still abroad and applying for my first student permit
OeAD allows a written statement that you will take out ÖGK student insurance after entry, with travel insurance until then. Ask your residence authority whether it accepts it. The alternative is private all-risk cover from entry.
Read the first permit rules and the comparison.
I already live and study in Austria
You can apply for ÖGK student self-insurance if you meet the study conditions.
Continue with who qualifies and how to apply.
I have studied longer than allowed or changed course often
The reduced student rate may not apply; the adult ÖGK rate is €565.25 a month (2026).
That route is explained under ÖGK self-insurance.
My spouse or parents want to come too
A spouse can get a family permit and possibly co-insurance. Parents need their own permit and insurance.
Details are under family.
ÖGK student insurance: 10 official facts
| Fact | What the ÖGK says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cost 2026 | €78.84 a month | oegk.at |
| Who | Students at a state-recognised university or (Fach)Hochschule in the EU, EEA or Switzerland; Vorstudienlehrgang | oegk.at |
| Residence | Habitual residence in Austria; no other compulsory statutory insurance | oegk.at |
| Start | Normally the day after the application | oegk.at |
| Minimum term | Six months (exceptions: compulsory health insurance starts, for example through a job above the marginal limit; move abroad) | oegk.at |
| Study duration | Not if the study time is exceeded by more than four semesters plus one tolerance semester | oegk.at |
| Course changes | Not after more than two changes; a change after the 3rd semester pauses the rate | oegk.at |
| Income limit | Yes, set by the Student Support Act and indexed yearly (amount not on the ÖGK page) | oegk.at |
| Benefits | Doctors, hospital, medicines, prevention (benefits in kind); no sick pay; “all risks” cover | oegk.at |
| Family | Spouses, registered partners and children can be co-insured | oegk.at |
What is ÖGK student self-insurance?
ÖGK student self-insurance is the reduced-rate public health insurance that students in Austria can buy voluntarily from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, ÖGK) when they are not insured through a job subject to compulsory insurance or through their parents (a marginal job up to €551.10 a month in 2026 gives accident insurance only). The general public portal says special rules apply to students who want to insure themselves (oesterreich.gv.at); the ÖGK page sets them out. The Austrian ÖGK student self insurance gives you benefits in kind (GP and specialist visits, hospital, medicines and preventive care), and the ÖGK describes it as cover for “all risks”. It does not pay cash benefits such as sick pay (oegk.at).
It is not the same as the adult self-insurance: that costs €565.25 a month in 2026 and has a six-month waiting period for benefits in kind unless it is waived (oesterreich.gv.at). That route has its own page, ÖGK self-insurance. Once insured, you use the Austrian e-card at doctors.
Who can get ÖGK self insurance for students?
You can get ÖGK self insurance for students if you study at a recognised institution, live in Austria and are not compulsorily insured elsewhere. In detail, the ÖGK lists (oegk.at):
- students at a state-recognised university or (Fach)Hochschule in the EU, EEA or Switzerland;
- people who attend a Vorstudienlehrgang (university preparation course), are admitted to a Studienberechtigungsprüfung or receive a study completion grant;
- in each case only if they are “in keiner gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung pflichtversichert” (not compulsorily insured) and their habitual residence is in Austria.
| Situation | ÖGK rule |
|---|---|
| Long studies | Total study time exceeded by more than four semesters plus one tolerance semester |
| Course changes | Changed course more than twice; a change after the 3rd semester pauses the rate until you have completed as many semesters in the new course as in the old one (after 3 semesters: from the 4th semester of the new course) |
| Earnings | Income above the Student Support Act limit (amount indexed yearly; not on the ÖGK page) |
| Job with compulsory insurance | You are insured through the job instead (only a job subject to compulsory insurance; a marginal job up to €551.10 a month (2026) gives accident insurance only) |
| Living abroad | No habitual residence in Austria |
| Other exclusions | Own pension (e.g. orphan’s pension), compulsory insurance with another social insurance carrier, unemployment benefit or emergency assistance, childcare allowance, cross-border commuters |
The adult ÖGK self-insurance costs €565.25 a month in 2026 (conditions).
What does ÖGK insurance for students cost in 2026?
ÖGK insurance for students costs €78.84 a month in 2026, in the ÖGK’s words “Die Selbstversicherung kostet 2026 monatlich EUR 78,84” (oegk.at). Contributions are due at the start of each calendar month and must reach the ÖGK within 15 days; the ÖGK suggests direct debit. Over a full year that is €946.08. When we checked, migration.gv.at still showed the 2025 rate; the ÖGK figure is the current one.
| Option | Per month | 12 months | Minimum term |
|---|---|---|---|
| ÖGK student self-insurance | €78.84 | €946.08 | 6 months |
| ÖGK adult self-insurance | €565.25 | €6,783 | 6 months |
| Care Austria Education, unlimited (12–35) | €56 | €672 | 1 year (AVB § 3) |
| Care Austria Education 364 (12–35), extra MA 35 declaration | €51 | €612 | Up to 364 days |
The minimum commitment differs too. Six months of ÖGK student insurance, its minimum term, cost €473.04 in 2026 (6 × €78.84), while the one-year minimum term of Care Austria Education unlimited costs at least €672 (ordinary cancellation only to 31 December with one month’s notice, at the earliest after one full year, AVB § 3). Only the private plan, though, can start before you live in Austria.
Prices compare cost only. The cover differs. The ÖGK pays benefits in kind with the e-card; Care Austria is private insurance with its own terms and limits, so read the plan details and all ages on Austria health insurance cost. FeelSafe’s student tariffs (UNIQA) are set next to Care Austria on Care Austria vs FeelSafe.
When does ÖGK student health insurance start and end?
ÖGK student health insurance normally starts on the day after your application; if you apply within six weeks after a previous insurance ended, it follows on without a gap (oegk.at). If an earlier self-insurance ended because you left voluntarily or fell behind with payments, a six-month block applies. You must keep it for at least six months, unless compulsory health insurance starts, for example through a job above the marginal limit (a marginal job up to €551.10 a month in 2026 gives accident insurance only) or you move abroad.
It ends when the conditions stop, at the end of the third calendar month after the end of the study year in which you were last enrolled (or after your last exam date), at the end of the month in which you cancel in writing, or after two months of unpaid contributions (oegk.at). The residence permit needs all-risk health insurance that pays in Austria (§ 11 (2) 3 NAG), so plan the switch before any of these dates.
ÖGK Versicherung Student: how do you apply?
You apply for ÖGK student self-insurance online at “Meine ÖGK” (ID Austria needed) or with the paper form, after you have registered your address and enrolled. Take the steps in this order.
- 1Check parents’ co-insurance first
The ÖGK asks you to check whether you can be co-insured with your parents because of your studies.
- 2Register your address
Register your Austrian address and keep the Meldezettel; habitual residence in Austria is a condition.
- 3Enrol and download your study confirmation
You need a current Studienblatt or Studienzeitbestätigung and proof of continued study or admission.
- 4Apply online or on paper
Meine ÖGK with ID Austria, or the paper form with photo ID. Cover normally starts the day after the application.
- 5Pay monthly and report changes
Contributions are due at the start of each month and must arrive within 15 days; report changes in writing within one week.
Can ÖGK student insurance get you your first student permit?
ÖGK student insurance can support a first student permit only through a written statement of intent, with travel insurance until the ÖGK cover starts. Ask your residence authority whether it accepts it. The permit needs all-risk health insurance that pays in Austria (§ 11 (2) 3 NAG; student permit: § 64 NAG), and the ÖGK student insurance needs habitual residence in Austria plus a Meldezettel, so it can only start after you arrive (oegk.at). For a first student permit, OeAD says a written statement that you will take out the ÖGK student insurance after entry can be attached to the application form or stated under “health insurance”; travel health insurance is sufficient only until the ÖGK insurance can be taken out, and you show the ÖGK confirmation when you collect the permit (OeAD). Vienna’s MA 35 page asks for proof of insurance and does not mention the statement (wien.gv.at). For renewals, OeAD names the ÖGK student self-insurance as an option (OeAD). Travel insurance alone is not enough for a student permit.
The alternative is a private all-risk policy that starts on entry. Care Austria cover does not begin before you enter Austria (AVB § 6); whether a certificate can be issued before entry for your visa application is something to confirm with Care Concept AG. The full permit rules are on Austria student residence permit and health insurance for a residence permit, and all student options on student health insurance in Austria.
ÖGK student vs private cover: how do they compare?
The ÖGK student rate is public insurance you can join once you live in Austria; Care Austria Education is private insurance you can have from the day you enter. Care Austria Education unlimited costs €56 a month for ages 12–35 in 2026, with a 1-year minimum term (AVB § 3; Care Concept tariff page). The table sets out the main differences.
| Point | ÖGK student self-insurance | Care Austria Education |
|---|---|---|
| Price 2026 | €78.84 a month | €56 unlimited; €51 364-day (extra MA 35 declaration) |
| Ages | No age limit on the ÖGK page | 12–35; from 36 moved to Standard |
| Before arrival | No — needs Austrian residence; first permit: written statement of intent possible, travel insurance until then (OeAD; ask your residence authority) | Cover from entry into Austria |
| Minimum term | 6 months | 1 year for unlimited (AVB § 3) |
| Study conditions | Study duration, course changes, income limit | Education as main purpose of the stay |
| Family | Spouse, partner, children can be co-insured | A spouse needs own cover, e.g. Standard unlimited €155 under 50 (1-year minimum term, AVB § 3) |
| Benefits | Benefits in kind (doctors, hospital, medicines); no sick pay | Per the AVB, incl. home-country stays up to 28 days a year, 14 in a first insurance year shorter than 4 months (each trip reported in writing before departure, otherwise 50 % of the maximum costs) |
Care Concept AG is on Vienna's MA 35 list: unlimited Care Austria tariffs need no extra declaration, 364-day ones do (checked 30 October 2026). Care Austria is sold by Care Concept AG; the insurer is HanseMerkur Versicherungsgruppe (Advigon Versicherung AG). If you have pre-existing conditions, ask Care Concept AG in writing before you apply.
Bringing your spouse / parents: what changes?
Your spouse or registered partner and your unmarried minor children can apply for a “Residence Permit – Family Community”. Spouses and registered partners must be at least 21 at application; see family reunification in Austria. Once they live in Austria, the ÖGK student page allows co-insurance of spouses and children (co-insurance needs habitual residence in Austria, § 123 ASVG); we found no cost stated there. Until then, an adult spouse needs their own all-risk cover. Care Austria Standard unlimited costs €155 a month under 50 (2026; minimum term 1 year, AVB § 3). Parents cannot join on a student permit; they need their own permit and insurance (see can I bring my parents to Austria?).
Worked example: a master’s student from Lahore starting in Graz
Illustrative example: Mehwish, born 2002, starts a master’s at TU Graz in October 2026. For her first student permit, filed as a rule at the embassy (after lawful entry she may, case by case, also file in Austria, § 21 (2) Z 6 NAG, OeAD, but not stay beyond her visa, § 21 (6) NAG), she cannot show ÖGK student insurance yet. She can attach a written statement that she will take it out after entry, with travel insurance until then, if her residence authority accepts it (OeAD), or show private all-risk cover from her day of entry. If she chooses private cover, Care Austria Education unlimited costs €56 a month, which comes to €672 for the first 12 months. Because ordinary cancellation is possible only to 31 December with one month’s notice, and at the earliest after one full year (AVB § 3), her October start means the contract runs at least until 31 December 2027, which is €840 in total. The 364-day version at €51 would be €612 for a year of cover but needs the extra MA 35 declaration and ends after 364 days.
After arriving she registers her flat, enrols and could then apply for ÖGK student self-insurance at €78.84 a month (€946.08 a year), with a six-month minimum. Because her private unlimited contract runs at least until 31 December 2027, switching earlier would mean paying both. She therefore keeps it for her first renewal, plans any switch for when the contract can end (written notice at least one month before 31 December 2027), checks the study-time and income conditions, and confirms with the ÖGK which date to apply.
Need cover before you can join the ÖGK?
- Care Austria Education unlimited: €56 a month for students 12–35 (2026); minimum term 1 year (AVB § 3)
- 364-day tariff €51 only with an extra MA 35 declaration
- Cover cannot start before entry into Austria; buy it before the trip or within 1 year of entry
- Care Concept AG is on Vienna's MA 35 list: unlimited Care Austria tariffs need no extra declaration, 364-day ones do (checked 30 October 2026)
Sold by Care Concept AG; insurer HanseMerkur Versicherungsgruppe (Advigon Versicherung AG). Read the full plan and limits first.
Go to Care Concept’s application
Referral link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (how we are paid).
Frequently asked questions
Can international students from outside the EU get ÖGK student self-insurance?
Yes, international students from outside the EU can get ÖGK student self-insurance if they meet the same conditions as everyone else: study at a state-recognised university or (Fach)Hochschule in the EU, EEA or Switzerland (or attend a Vorstudienlehrgang), no compulsory statutory insurance elsewhere, and habitual residence in Austria; the ÖGK limits on study duration and extra income apply to them as well (oegk.at). We found no nationality rule and no age limit on the ÖGK page. The cost is €78.84 a month in 2026.
When does ÖGK student insurance start?
ÖGK student insurance starts on the day after you apply, as a rule: “Sie sind grundsätzlich mit dem Tag nach der Antragstellung versichert” (oegk.at). If you apply within six weeks after a previous insurance or co-insurance ended, the new cover follows on from it. A six-month block applies if an earlier self-insurance ended because you left voluntarily or did not pay.
Can I use ÖGK student insurance for my first student visa application?
ÖGK student insurance can possibly support your first student permit application through a written statement — ask your residence authority first. OeAD says a written statement that the student insurance will be taken out with the ÖGK after entry can be attached to the first application, and travel health insurance is sufficient only until then (OeAD). Vienna’s MA 35 page asks for proof of insurance and does not mention the statement (wien.gv.at). The ÖGK cover itself starts only after arrival: it needs habitual residence and a Meldezettel (oegk.at). The alternative is private all-risk cover that pays in Austria from entry (§ 11 (2) 3 NAG). For renewals, OeAD names the ÖGK student self-insurance (OeAD). More: Austria student residence permit.
How long do I have to keep ÖGK student self-insurance?
ÖGK student self-insurance must run for at least six months: “Grundsätzlich muss die Selbstversicherung für Studierende zumindest für sechs Monate abgeschlossen werden” (oegk.at). You can leave earlier if compulsory insurance starts, for example through a job subject to compulsory health insurance (above the marginal limit; a marginal job up to €551.10 a month in 2026 gives accident insurance only), or if you move your residence abroad.
Which documents does the ÖGK need for student self-insurance?
The ÖGK asks for the signed application form, photo ID, your registration certificate (Meldezettel), a current study sheet or enrolment confirmation (Studienblatt / Studienzeitbestätigung), proof of continued study or admission, and confirmations of earlier studies; non-degree students also send the admission notice and course attendance proof (oegk.at). You can apply online at “Meine ÖGK” with ID Austria or on paper. The registration form is translated on Meldezettel in English; the paid certificate is explained on Meldebestätigung in Austria.
Can I co-insure my husband or wife on my ÖGK student insurance?
Yes, in principle, you can co-insure your spouse: the ÖGK student page says people with self-insurance can co-insure “Ehepartnerinnen und Ehepartner”, registered partners and children (oegk.at). Whether that costs extra and from when it applies is not on that page — ask the ÖGK before you count on it. Your spouse’s own permit is a separate application: family reunification in Austria; co-insurance in general: ÖGK co-insurance.
Does a student language course (Vorstudienlehrgang) qualify for ÖGK student insurance?
Yes, attending a Vorstudienlehrgang can qualify you for ÖGK student insurance: the ÖGK lists people who “besuchen einen Vorstudienlehrgang” — attend a university preparation course — among those who can take out student self-insurance (oegk.at). The other conditions, such as habitual residence in Austria, still apply. See study in Austria for the preparation courses.
Official sources
- ÖGK: Selbstversicherung für Studierende for the 2026 cost, conditions, start, minimum term, documents, end and family (no page date shown; read 30 October 2026)
- oesterreich.gv.at: self-insurance in health insurance on the adult rate and waiting period (last update 31 March 2026)
- OeAD: residence permit Student on insurance at renewal
- § 11 NAG and § 64 NAG (RIS, version of 30 October 2026)
- Care Austria policy terms (AVB) and tariff page, the insurer’s own documents (read 30 October 2026)
Our editorial standards, about this site and contact pages explain how we work. Related guides are study in Austria and Austria student visa. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice; the ÖGK and the residence authority decide. Referral links may earn us a commission from Care Concept AG at no extra cost to you (affiliate disclosure).
Insured from the day you arrive
ÖGK student insurance starts only after you arrive and register. Compare Care Austria Education’s price and its 1-year minimum term before your visa appointment.
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age 12–35: €56/month in 2026 · unlimited, min. 1 year (AVB § 3)
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