Accident insurance supplementary coverage expanded for rescue and emergency services
Austria has expanded accident insurance supplementary coverage (Zusatzversicherung) to include volunteers from 27 rescue, emergency, and search-and-rescue organizations across multiple states. The regulation takes effect the day after publication in the Federal Law Gazette on 16 July 2026.
What changed
The regulation adds members of rescue and emergency organizations—including mountain rescue, fire brigades, Red Cross, water rescue, avalanche commissions in specific municipalities, rescue helicopter services, and search-and-rescue dog teams—to Austria's accident insurance supplementary scheme. This expands coverage from previous regulations dating back to 1980.
Who is affected
Volunteers and members of 27 named organizations and avalanche commissions in specific Alpine and mountainous municipalities in eight Austrian states (Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tirol, Vorarlberg, and Vienna) are now covered.
What to look out for
This regulation supersedes and consolidates all prior accident insurance supplementary-coverage regulations issued since 1980. Affected organizations should verify that their members are listed and understand the scope of supplementary accident insurance coverage now available to them.