What's the healthcare in Austria like?

Well, coming from America, I would rate the healthcare system in Austria, on a scale 1 through 10, a definite 12!

Back in the States we don’t have socialised medicine, and it truly has been wonderful to take advantage of this system in Austria.

I became ill once with a bad virus, and walked into an ER and was taken in, given tests, examined and I walked out not paying a dime! It was really great care and now if anything is not right I am not afraid of going to a hospital and having them check what is wrong.

It is such a weight off one's mind, being in a foreign country, and not having to worry too much about getting sick!

I am doing a paper for my Global Health Class and need to chat with some one who has lived or lives in Austria and what there experience has been with the health care system. I have read that sometimes there is a long wait to see a specialist, is this true? Are there any other problems in accessing care or paying for care. I understand that some people purchase secondary insurance why would this be needed. What is not covered by the regular insurance provided by the government.

I have lived in Austria for 6 months and have been to the doctor several times. I am seeing a specialist and I had a 2 week wait to get in for my first appointment and now that I am a patient with them I can get in on very short notice so I think that their wait times are very reasonable. We haven't had any issues in accessing care or paying for care. My spouse's employer contributes part of the health insurance fee and we pay a small amount but I think it is reasonably priced compared to employer contributions typically required in the U.S. I don't know anything about secondary insurance except that some people buy it so they can go to private hospitals or see private doctors. The public hospitals and doctors are excellent here and I see no need to purchase secondary insurance. I don't know of anything that isn't covered by the government insurance. Some special treatments, such as acupuncture, are only partially covered (the health insurance pays 40%) but otherwise it seems to me that all things are covered and require little to no out-of-pocket fees for the patient. You can view an English guide to a public Austrian health insurance plan here (just click on BVA inform 2011 (Englisch): http://www.bva.at/portal27/portal/bvaportal/channel_content/cmsWindow?p_...

Has anyone had experience with workplace or school health promotion in Austria that is mentioned on the BVA website