ComfortClass vs MedExtra vs MedBest: Which ARAG Tariff Is Right for You?

Choosing the right ARAG tariff is one of the most consequential financial decisions you’ll make. Here’s an honest, data-driven comparison of all three tiers.

The Three Tiers at a Glance

Feature	ComfortClass (K0-K1500)	MedExtra (ME0-ME1500)	MedBest (MB0-MB1500)
Positioning	Entry-Level	Price-Performance Winner	Top Tariff
GP Coverage	100%	100%	100%
Specialist (with referral)	100%	100%	100%
Specialist (without referral)	80%	100%	100%
Hospital Room	1-2 bed	1-2 bed	1-2 bed
Chief Physician	✓	✓	✓
Dental Treatment	100%	100%	100%
Dental Prosthetics	80%	80%	90%
GOÄ Reimbursement	Up to max rates	Up to max rates	Beyond max rates
Heilpraktiker	—	Up to €1,000/yr	Up to €2,000/yr
LASIK / Eye Surgery	—	—	Up to €4,000 / 60 months
Psychotherapy	50 sessions/yr	50 sessions/yr	Open
Prevention Courses	Basic	Extended	100% (incl. Rückenschule)
Travel Vaccinations	—	✓	✓
Parental Leave Benefit	—	Up to 6 months	Up to 6 months

ComfortClass (K0-K1500): The Prudent Entry

ComfortClass follows the Hausarztprinzip (GP-first principle). You receive 100% reimbursement when visiting your GP first, but only 80% if you go directly to a specialist without a referral.

Best for: Cost-conscious professionals who prefer a structured healthcare journey and don’t mind the referral requirement.

The honest truth: While ComfortClass offers genuinely solid hospital and dental coverage, the 80% specialist restriction without referral can be inconvenient for busy professionals. The savings over MedExtra are often marginal.

MedExtra (ME0-ME1500): The Price-Performance Champion

MedExtra removes the referral restriction entirely — you get 100% reimbursement whether you visit a GP or go directly to a specialist. It also adds:

• Heilpraktiker coverage (up to €1,000/year)
• Travel/Reiseschutzimpfungen
• Parental leave premium waiver (up to 6 months)

Best for: The majority of expats and employed professionals. It offers the sweet spot between comprehensive coverage and reasonable premiums.

Our recommendation: For most clients in the 25-40 age bracket earning above the JAEG, MedExtra provides the optimal balance. The direct specialist access alone justifies the modest premium increase over ComfortClass.

MedBest (MB0-MB1500): The Premium Segment

MedBest is ARAG’s flagship tariff, designed for those who want absolutely no compromises:

• Beyond-GOÄ reimbursement: Covers fees that exceed the standard physician fee schedule
• LASIK/refraktive Chirurgie: Up to €4,000 every 60 months
• Prevention: 100% for certified courses including Rückenschule and Ernährungsberatung
• Extended Heilpraktiker: Up to €2,000/year
• Open psychotherapy: No session limit

Best for: Senior executives, high-net-worth individuals, and anyone who views health insurance as a long-term wealth protection strategy.

The Deductible System (Selbstbehalt)

All three tariffs are available with six deductible levels:

• €0: Zero deductible — you pay nothing out-of-pocket
• €300: per year
• €600: per year
• €900: per year
• €1,200: per year
• €1,500: per year

For employees: We generally recommend the €0 deductible. Your employer pays 50% of your premium — but a deductible is paid 100% from your net income (already taxed at your marginal tax rate). Choosing a deductible effectively shifts medical cost risk entirely to your own pocket.

For self-employed professionals: A deductible can make sense because there is no employer subsidy, and the premium savings may outweigh the out-of-pocket risk.

The No-Claims-Bonus

This is often the most underestimated feature of ARAG’s tariffs:

• MedExtra: Up to €600 refund per year
• MedBest: Up to €900 refund per year

If you’re young and healthy, this bonus can effectively reduce your annual insurance cost by thousands of euros over time.

Making Your Decision

The right tariff depends on three factors:

1. Your budget: What’s your comfortable monthly premium after employer subsidy?
2. Your health usage: Do you frequently visit specialists? Need alternative medicine?
3. Your career trajectory: Will your income support premium increases over decades?

During our free consultation, we model all three scenarios with your exact data — including employer subsidy calculations, No-Claims-Bonus projections, and long-term premium development.