Costs

What physiotherapy costs in Vienna, and what you get back

The price is fixed before you book, and with a doctor's referral your Austrian health fund refunds part of it. Here is how that works, in plain English.

The prices

Both are one-to-one sessions. There is no surcharge for a first appointment and no registration fee.

Getting money back from your insurance

Harlan Swan is a Wahltherapeut, a therapist without a contract with the public health funds. You pay for the session directly, and with a doctor's referral your statutory fund then refunds part of what you paid.

Three steps

• Before your first visit: ask your doctor for an ärztliche Verordnung für Physiotherapie. That is the whole request; the practice will know what you mean. Bring it with you, or send a photo beforehand.
• After every session: you receive a Honorarnote, an invoice. Keep them.
• Then: submit the invoices together with the Verordnung to your Krankenkasse, online, by post or in person.

You are just as welcome without a referral. There is simply nothing to submit for a refund.

Common questions

What is a Wahltherapeut?

A therapist without a contract with the public health funds. You pay for the session directly, then send the invoice to your insurer, who refunds part of it.

How much do I get back?

It depends on your fund. The ÖGK, for example, refunds € 45.60 for a 45-minute individual physiotherapy session. Private insurers often cover the full amount. We cannot promise an exact figure, because every fund sets its own tariff.

Do I need a referral?

Not to be treated. Only to claim: you need an ärztliche Verordnung für Physiotherapie, a doctor's prescription for physiotherapy. Just ask your doctor for one; they will know the rest.

How do I claim?

After every session you receive a Honorarnote, an invoice. Keep them, and submit them together with the Verordnung to your Krankenkasse, online, by post or in person.