Fitness Insurance in Austria: Does Health Insurance Cover Training? Fitness insurance in Austria explained: what the ÖGK covers for physiotherapy, medical training therapy and Kieser Training – with refund amounts and prices. Topics: Daily Life, Healthcare, Leisure & Culture.

Does health insurance cover fitness training in Austria? That is the question behind the search for fitness insurance – and the answer is more nuanced than most expats expect. A standard gym membership, including Kieser Training, is not covered by the statutory health insurance. But prescribed physiotherapy and medical training therapy are fully within the system.

In this guide you will find out what the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) – Austria’s main public health insurer – actually pays for, how much you get back with a so-called Wahltherapeut (freelance therapist), and where private top-up insurance steps in. You will also find concrete prices for Kieser Training in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg and Linz, plus a step-by-step plan to claim your costs. The information is based on the official ÖGK service catalogues, the Physio Austria tariff agreements and current insurer cooperation offers.

Short Answer: Does Health Insurance Pay for Kieser Training?

No, the statutory health insurance does not pay for a Kieser Training membership. A studio subscription counts as private preventive health care, not as a medical treatment. German public insurers confirm the same logic: as Techniker Krankenkasse explains, machine-based training does not qualify for a subsidy.

What the health insurer does cover is doctor-prescribed physiotherapy – even if it takes place in a studio. The deciding factor is the prescription (Verordnung), not the location. Kieser Training has no contract partners of the ÖGK, so you cannot simply swipe your e-card there.

There is, however, a second path for patients with a medical indication: medical training therapy (MTT). It is part of the ÖGK’s physiotherapy catalogue and is prescribed for muscle building and conditioning.

What the ÖGK Covers in Physiotherapy

The ÖGK pays for physiotherapy when a doctor prescribes it. This includes therapeutic exercises (Krankengymnastik), remedial gymnastics, massage and medical training therapy. According to the ÖGK’s physiotherapy page, physiotherapy also covers medical training therapy to build muscle and improve conditioning.

With a contract therapist (Vertragstherapeut), the practice bills the ÖGK directly – you only pay any co-payment. For a first prescription, ÖGK and Physio Austria have recommended since 2025 a standard of 6 sessions of 30 minutes. More sessions and longer treatment times remain possible if medically necessary.

There is no annual cap on physiotherapy. As long as the doctor issues a follow-up prescription, the ÖGK keeps covering the costs. Doctors and therapists decide on the scope and duration of the treatment.

Therapy according to medical need, not according to a fixed scheme. The responsibility for medically necessary adjustments lies with the therapists – they know best what helps.

— ÖGK and Physio Austria, joint recommendation 2025

Medical Training Therapy: Training as a Covered Treatment

Medical training therapy (MTT) is the most important lever if you want to fund strength training through health insurance. It is typically prescribed for chronic back pain, after surgery, for osteoporosis or muscle weakness.

The process: a doctor – usually an orthopaedist, trauma surgeon or specialist in physical medicine – issues a prescription for medical training therapy. With that prescription, you train on machines under supervision, typically at a physiotherapy practice or rehabilitation centre. The ÖGK covers the costs as part of medical treatment.

A prior approval by the health insurer is currently not required for the ÖGK – the approval requirement for physiotherapy is suspended until 30 June 2027, as 9er Physio reports. Typically, up to 36 sessions within three months are covered, and more with a corresponding prescription.

Wahltherapie: Getting 80 % of the Contract Rate Back

If you prefer a practice without a contract with the ÖGK, you choose the Wahltherapie option. You pay for the treatment upfront and submit the invoice to the ÖGK. You get back 80 % of the contract rate – not 80 % of what you actually paid.

Concrete refund amounts for 2025 (ÖGK, Wahltherapie):

Service	Contract rate	Refund (80 %)
Single session 30 min	approx. 38 €	approx. 30.40 €
Single session 45 min	approx. 57 €	approx. 45.62 €
Single session 60 min	approx. 76 €	approx. 60.82 €
Massage 15 min	approx. 8.10 €	approx. 6.48 €

If you pay 110 € for a 45-minute session with a Wahltherapeut, the ÖGK refunds 45.62 € – your out-of-pocket share is around 57.92 €. A private top-up insurance that covers physiotherapy can reimburse the difference.

Mind the deadline: with the ÖGK and BVAEB, claims must be submitted within 42 months of the treatment date. File your documents promptly so nothing gets lost.

What Kieser Training Costs in Austria

Kieser Training is not an ordinary gym but a health-oriented strength training system. The Swiss brand was founded in 1967 by Werner Kieser and has specialised in medical strength training on specially developed machines for over 50 years. The goal is to keep the body – especially the back – healthy and resilient through muscle and strength building.

The concept follows a clear principle: 30 minutes of strength training twice a week on computer-controlled machines. The sessions are personally supervised, and trainers review the plan every 20 sessions. This scientific approach sets Kieser apart from classic gyms – and it is exactly why so many people search for Kieser Training and health insurance coverage in the first place.

Kieser operates over 170 studios in five countries – Australia, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland. In Austria, there are 8 locations in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg and Linz. According to Kieser Training Austria, you will find studios such as Graz’s Babenbergerstraße 2 or Linz’s Hamerlingstraße 44. The first Vienna studio opened in 2000; today the company reports over 22,000 members in Austria. Your membership card works in every studio worldwide.

Prices vary by location because Kieser is a franchise system. The non-binding price recommendation on the Kieser pricing page is 69 € per month, with the introduction to training costing from 149 €. Stiftung Warentest measured a minimum annual price of 590 €. Contracts typically run for at least one year, and there is no trial month.

For comparison, a standard Austrian gym usually costs considerably less. According to the 2025 fitness industry study (WKO data), the sector generated about 654.8 million euros in revenue in 2024, and 13.9 % of the population are members of fitness facilities. Monthly fees at classic gyms often range from 20 to 50 € – well below Kieser’s level.

How does Kieser compare to prescribed physiotherapy? The table below shows the key differences:

Aspect	Kieser Training	Physiotherapy (ÖGK)
Costs	from 69 €/month	0 € with contract therapist
Prescription needed	no	yes (medical prescription)
Reimbursement	no insurance coverage	80 % of contract rate (Wahltherapie)
Focus	muscle and strength building	treatment of acute complaints
Duration	ongoing membership	6 sessions per first prescription

For healthy members without a medical indication, Kieser remains a purely out-of-pocket project. If you need prescribed medical training therapy, by contrast, you can get comparable strength training at no cost – provided the practice has an insurance contract or you submit the invoice to the ÖGK.

Why the ÖGK Does Not Pay for Gyms

The statutory health insurance funds medical treatment, not general preventive exercise. A gym membership counts as leisure activity and personal responsibility – there is no coverage for that. This applies to Kieser just as much as to McFit, Clever Fit or the local sports club.

The only exception: when the training is part of a doctor-prescribed therapy. Then the insurer pays for the therapy sessions – regardless of whether they take place in a practice, a rehab centre or in cooperation with a studio. The prescription is the deciding factor, not the venue.

Even workplace health promotion does not change this. Gym membership fees are not tax-exempt, according to the WKO overview of tax treatment – but certified prevention courses financed by employers are.

Prevention Courses, ÖGK Programmes and Your Employer

Beyond therapy, the ÖGK offers its members free or low-cost health promotion programmes. According to the ÖGK programme page, insured persons can use these offers for free or against a moderate co-payment.

The catalogue includes exercise courses, back schools, nutritional counselling and mental health programmes. Unlike Germany – where public insurers reimburse up to 600 € per year for certified prevention courses – Austria has no flat prevention subsidy for fitness courses.

ÖGK programmes are usually tied to specific providers and courses. You cannot fund free Kieser training through them. But a back school course is a good complement if you are considering Kieser – many participants start strength training afterwards.

A third path opens up through the employer. Many Austrian employers finance health measures for their staff. Workplace health promotion (BGF) has been tax-exempt under certain conditions since the 2015/2016 tax reform – including external services. According to the WKO, certified prevention courses in exercise, nutrition, addiction and mental health qualify.

Employers can contribute to fitness programmes within certain limits. Whether a Kieser subscription qualifies depends on the specific offer: measures “solely for learning a sport” or pure membership fees are not eligible, per the WKO. Certified back courses or medically supervised training can be.

The practical tip: ask your HR department whether the company subsidises BGF measures or runs its own health programmes. Many large employers in Vienna and Graz cooperate with fitness providers or reimburse course costs up to an annual amount.

Private Top-up Insurance: Barmenia, Generali and Others

The most pragmatic route to subsidised Kieser training leads through private top-up insurance. In Germany, Barmenia cooperates with Kieser: fully insured customers receive, according to the Barmenia press release, a 10 € monthly discount on the annual membership plus a cost share of 25 % for 40 trainings and 50 % for 80 trainings per year.

In Austria, Generali cooperates with Kieser Training Graz through its “Rundum gesund” prevention programme: customers receive supervised training and a free medical training consultation, among other benefits. Wiener Städtische also lists Kieser studios in its health programme.

These offers are not insurance benefits but contractual discounts from insurers for their customers. Check whether your top-up insurance covers physiotherapy or medical training therapy – that is how you can recover part of the costs.

Tax Deductibility of Training Costs

Even though health insurance does not pay for Kieser Training, part of the costs can be recovered through your tax return. Austria recognises extraordinary burdens (außergewöhnliche Belastungen) – including medical costs that the insurer does not cover. Prescribed physiotherapy, medication and co-payments can be claimed in the annual tax declaration.

The basic rule: deductible as an extraordinary burden are costs that arise unavoidably – that is, prescribed treatments, not voluntary gym memberships. A pure Kieser subscription without a medical indication is not tax-deductible. The picture changes when a doctor prescribes medical training therapy and you pay the costs yourself – those invoices can be submitted with the extraordinary burdens form.

Practical tip: collect all invoices and payment receipts throughout the year. In Austria, the self-retention limit is a certain percentage of your income – the more medical costs you have, the sooner you cross the threshold. You can find more details on Austrian healthcare in our guide to the healthcare system’s biggest challenges.

Step by Step: How to Claim Your Costs

The path to coverage is clearly structured if you want to use strength training for medical reasons:

1. Book a doctor’s appointment – see your general practitioner or go straight to an orthopaedist and describe your symptoms.
2. Get a prescription – the doctor prescribes physiotherapy or medical training therapy with the exact number of sessions.
3. Choose your provider – either a contract therapist (no upfront payment) or a Wahltherapeut (upfront payment, 80 % refund).
4. Collect your invoices – for Wahltherapie you need the invoice and proof of payment.
5. Submit your claim – to the ÖGK via the online service or by post, within 42 months.
6. Get a treatment plan – for extensions beyond 6 sessions you need a plan approved by the doctor.

For Kieser Training this means: do not simply buy a membership. First clarify whether a medical prescription makes sense for your situation. With the right indication, you can complete training sessions as prescribed therapy at a partner therapist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does health insurance cover Kieser Training? No. A Kieser Training membership is not covered by the ÖGK. Only doctor-prescribed physiotherapy and medical training therapy are reimbursed.

How much does Kieser Training cost in Austria? The membership costs from about 69 € per month, with the introduction from 149 €. Prices vary by franchise location in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg and Linz.

How much do I get back for physiotherapy from the ÖGK? With Wahltherapeuten you receive 80 % of the contract rate – for a 45-minute single session in 2025 around 45.62 €. With contract therapists, there is no upfront payment at all.

Can I do medical training therapy through the health insurer? Yes, if a doctor prescribes it. The ÖGK covers medical training therapy as part of physiotherapy; typically up to 36 sessions within three months are covered.

Is Kieser Training tax-deductible? A pure membership subscription is not deductible. Prescribed therapy costs that you pay yourself can be claimed as extraordinary burdens in your tax return.

Does the ÖGK offer free back courses? Yes, the ÖGK offers free or low-cost courses as part of health promotion, including back schools and exercise classes. They are tied to specific providers and cannot be combined with Kieser.

Bottom Line: How to Save on Strength Training

Health insurance will not pay for a Kieser subscription, but it will pay for prescribed physiotherapy and medical training therapy – that is the key lever. If you struggle with back pain or muscle weakness, see a doctor first and get a prescription instead of paying for an expensive studio subscription out of pocket.

Your action plan in five steps:

• Get a prescription – book an appointment with an orthopaedist or GP and describe your symptoms.
• Clarify the therapy type – physiotherapy or medical training therapy, depending on the diagnosis.
• Compare providers – a contract therapist avoids upfront payments, a Wahltherapeut brings an 80 % refund.
• Submit your invoices – within 42 months, ideally right after the treatment.
• Check additional coverage – employer BGF programmes and private top-up insurance can cover further parts.

If Kieser is your choice, ask the studio about cooperation discounts from Generali or other insurers. A visit is especially worthwhile if you want to combine the concept with medical supervision.

For an overview of Austria’s healthcare system, read our article on the biggest challenges in Austrian healthcare. And if you want to save money, our guide to insurance pitfalls lists the most important warnings. Finally, subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss changes to health insurance benefits.