Healthcare in Austria
Expats moving to Austria can rest assured knowing that they will be moving to a country with one of the best healthcare systems in Europe. The healthcare system in Austria provides free access to basic healthcare to all citizens and residents of Austria, as well as tourists and those staying in the country on a temporary basis. Basic healthcare in Austria includes treatment in public hospitals, medication, basic dental care and some specialist consultations. For European expatriates there are also reciprocal healthcare agreements in place with other EU member states and those holding a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can use it in Austria.Expats in Austria are required to pay into a health insurance scheme, which goes into a larger social security system, the contribution amount is determined by salary levels, with health insurance calculated at 7.65% of the total salary, accident insurance is 1.4% of total salary and pension insurance is 22.8% of the total salary, but calculations for total salaries are capped at 4,110 Euro per month. This social security system covers the contributor and their family for health, accident or pension insurance. Expats can apply to be covered for one, two or all of the categories.
Expats moving to Austria have to enrol in the healthcare programme by registering with a Gebietskrankenkasse or district health insurance fund within their first week of work. Employers are required to match the monthly payments made to the Gebietskrankenkasse by their employees. Private contractors are also required to register for social insurance through the Sozialversicherung der gewerblichen Witschaft (Social Insurance for the Industrial Economy). Expats with children will be pleased to know that children are automatically covered, and university students are also covered by their parents insurance up to the age of 28-years.
Upon registration you will receive a green e-card, which should be carried with you at all times. E-cards need to be issued to each member of your family that will be using the healthcare system. An e-card contains personal information such as social security numbers and date of birth, and can be used as an ID. It also contains information about claims to doctors and dentists. Through the e-card, the Austrian government processes healthcare claims electronically, which significantly reduces queues, backlogs and bureaucracy.
Like most other state funded healthcare systems, patients can only consult medical professionals approved by the social insurance fund; doctors who accept e-card holders will display a sign stating ‘Alle Kassen’ or ‘Kassenarzt’. Both private and public hospitals will treat patients regardless of their insurance status, however there is a slight difference in the quality of facilities that e-card holders can expect when compared to those using private health insurance. For example, private insurance patients are generally given a single or double room while state insured patients can expect to share a ward with three to six other patients. Costs for other medical costs vary: the government health insurance programme doesn’t fund vaccinations, but they do reimburse patients for hospital stays and the majority of medical prescriptions fees.
Private health insurance in Austria is generally used to complement the public health services supplied by the state. Private insurance tends to either cover hospital costs or daily benefits, depending on the insurance plan preferred. Private insurance allows members access to private doctors and medical professionals as well as smaller wards in state and private hospitals.
