Clinical psychological treatment will be available as a fully funded public health insurance benefit starting in spring 2026. The health insurance fund (ÖGK)—together with SVS and BVAEB—has concluded a nationwide agreement with the Austrian Federal Association of Psychologists (BÖP), it announced Wednesday. A total of 120,700 treatment units will be available each year. Whether this will meet actual demand cannot yet be estimated.
Funding is secured through 2029—previously, financing had been announced only through 2028. Until now, clinical-psychological treatment was only subsidized, and even that only since 2024 (before then, it was entirely self-paid). The new measure aims to improve care for people with mental health conditions, the ÖGK said in a press release.
With the treatment units available starting next year, patients will no longer have to pay upfront. Waiting times are also expected to fall. Access starting in spring 2026 (ÖGK says as early as January) will be handled through a central service office run by the BÖP. Insured individuals will register there and then be referred to clinical psychologists near their place of residence. Services will be offered nationwide “in line with population distribution.”
75 million euros allocated
Asked about expected demand, both the national association and the ÖGK said no figures are available. A total of 75 million euros has been budgeted for the period 2026 to 2029. It is likely that not everyone seeking therapy will immediately receive a place—waiting lists are expected, the BÖP told APA.
Insurance-funded treatment will be available only through the central service office, the association said. The office connects patients with participating clinical psychologists. It will still be possible to contact private clinical psychologists directly (as before, without an insurance contract) and receive a partial reimbursement afterward.
This new benefit should not be confused with the field of psychotherapy, which has long been covered by public insurance and follows a separate professional framework.
ÖGK chair Huss: “A particularly important decision”
ÖGK chair Andreas Huss welcomed what he called “a particularly important decision” for the unified development of psychosocial care. “We are investing directly in mental health and strengthening care where demand has been rising for years,” he said. The fund will work to secure permanent financing together with the federal government.
Professional association: “A pioneering step”
The Federal Association of Psychologists called the agreement a “pioneering step,” introducing—for the first time in history—fully funded public insurance coverage for clinical-psychological treatment starting in spring 2026. “A milestone for psychology in Austria and a long-overdue step toward better psychosocial care,” the association said.
BÖP president Beate Wimmer-Puchinger said the move represents “a monumental step for everyone in Austria.” Free treatment places will provide low-threshold, quality-assured access across the country. Reimbursement will continue to be available for treatment with providers who have no insurance contract.
Minister Schumann: “A personal priority”
Social and Health Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) said expanding mental-health services is “a particularly important concern.” “Everyone affected should feel that their mental health is taken seriously and that support is not only promised but actually available.”
She pointed to the many social and economic pressures of recent years, which have led to increased use of psychotherapy. “More and more people are seeking help—and it is our responsibility to make access reliable and barrier-free.” She also noted that since January 1, 2024, clinical-psychological services have been legally placed on equal footing with medical care.
Previously, only psychotherapy and clinical-psychological diagnostics had nationwide insurance contracts. Clinical-psychological treatment, by contrast, was reimbursed only through partial cost subsidies—placing additional burdens on many people “precisely where relief is needed.” The newly signed agreement delivers a “long-awaited step” that will benefit patients directly.
Difference between clinical-psychological treatment and psychotherapy
The title “psychologist” is legally protected in Austria and requires a psychology degree totaling at least 300 ECTS credits. Additional specialized training is required in clinical and/or health psychology for health-related work. Training in clinical psychology (covered by the new insurance agreement) comprises at least 2,500 hours; health psychology requires at least 2,000 hours.
Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental disorders using evidence-based, cross-disciplinary methods, tailored to each condition and treatment goal. They conduct diagnostic assessments and standardized tests for functions such as attention, memory, or impulse control, and use targeted therapeutic interventions such as cognitive or attention-training programs.
Psychotherapists also diagnose and treat mental illness, but specialize in specific psychotherapeutic schools (such as behavioral therapy). Entry requires a preparatory program and specialized training, not a psychology degree.
