Health insurance in Austria is one of three social insurance schemes offered by the Austrian government — the other two being pension and accident insurance. The national healthcare system in Austria is funded by residents’ social contributions in the form of taxes. In other words, the taxes you pay as a resident in Austria are used to pay for your health insurance and medical services.
If you’re an expat living and working in Austria, your employer automatically covers you by the national healthcare scheme. If you are not employed or are a freelancer, you can choose between private health insurance or registering for public insurance. Please keep in mind that health insurance is mandatory in Austria— even for expats.
Do Expats Need Health Insurance in Austria?
If you’re an expat in Austria who belongs to any of the following categories, you must obtain health insurance:
- You are employed in Austria.
- You are a self-employed/freelancer.
- You are unemployed but eligible for social benefits.
- You’re retired.
- You are a dependent of any of the categories mentioned above.
You can compare different health insurance plans for expats in Austria and get a free quote at International Citizens Insurance.
Health Insurance Providers for Expats in Austria
Expats can obtain their public insurance from one of the following institutions depending on their employment:
- Austrian health insurance fund— Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK).
- Austrian insurance fund for civil or public servants, miners and persons employed with the federal railways—Versicherungsanstalt öffentlich Bediensteter, Eisenbahnen und Bergbau (BVAEB).
- Social Insurance Institution for the Self-employed self-employed, free-lance professionals and farmers— Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen (SVS).
On the other hand, for private health insurance, you can register with an Austrian company or purchase international health insurance that offers coverage in Austria:
- Austria private insurance companies:
- FeelSafe
- Care Austria
- UNIQA
- International health insurance companies:
- Allianz Care
- Cigna Global
- AXA
How Does the Healthcare System Work in Austria?
Here is a brief overview of how the health system works in Austria for expats:
- You move to Austria and register for health insurance. Once you move to Austria and begin your work, your employer will register you for social contributions. At the same time, you are also automatically registered in the statutory health insurance scheme. The insurance is regulated by the Austrian Insurance Fund (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse- ÖGK). If you’re not employed, you can choose to register with the public health system on your own (voluntary or self-insurance) or buy private health insurance.
- You receive your insurance card. As soon as your registration is complete, you receive an e-card proving your right to health insurance in Austria— you don’t have to apply for the card; the Austrian Health Insurance Fund will send it to you. The e-card is in the form of an ID card and is connected with Austria’s digital administrative social system. It contains your data, such as your name, insurance provider, card serial number, etc. The cards issued after 2020 also have your picture for identification. The back of the card includes the European Health Insurance Card, making you eligible for medical treatment in other EU countries. If you opt for private insurance, your insurance company will provide you with an insurance card containing your insurance details.
- If you need medical attention, your healthcare costs are covered. If you need medical attention during your stay in Austria, you can visit any of the hospitals and healthcare centers near you— make sure to bring your e-card. You can opt to visit a contracted doctor or panel doctor (Vertragsarzt or Kassenarzt) that has a contract with the Austrian Insurance Fund. Your insurance will cover medical services. You can also opt to visit an elective doctor (Wahlärzt) and pay for the medical assistance. In this case, the Austrian Insurance Fund can reimburse your costs up to 80% of the same amount that a panel doctor would receive for the same medical services.
Does Austria Have Free Healthcare?
Healthcare in Austria is completely free for those with low or no income; others have to pay a small amount in social contributions to be eligible for state-funded health insurance. Expats living and earning an income in Austria have their contributions deducted from their salary. When they require medical attention, they don’t have to pay for any services (except for some service fees, which are low in cost).
How Can Expats Sign Up for Health Insurance in Austria?
Expats in Austria have two health insurance options:
- Public health insurance. Public health insurance is compulsory for residents in Austria; the process is linked to employment and it is automatic— the minute you are registered as a working resident, your employer will sign you up for public health insurance.
- Private health insurance. Private health insurance is also known as “comfort class” in Austria and gives people additional benefits to public insurance. Those who are not covered by public insurance can opt only for a private policy— others can use a private policy only to supplement the private insurance provided by the Austrian government.
Health Insurance for Employed Expats in Austria
If you’re moving to Austria for work, you won’t have to worry about health insurance. Because Austria has a public health system, you’re automatically enrolled in the public statutory health insurance scheme when registered as an employee. In this case, you can’t pick your provider— you are automatically matched with one of the insurance providers based on your employment field.
Once you are registered as an insured individual, you won’t have to pay for medical services when you visit a healthcare centre. However, around 7.6 % (as of 2022) of your salary goes to social contributions, which pay for your health or sickness insurance.
Health Insurance for International Students in Austria
International students who want to study in Austria must have valid health insurance, which they can obtain via one of the following options:
- Travel insurance with health insurance coverage.
- Public health insurance with the ÖGK.
- Private health insurance.
Travel Health Insurance for Foreign Students in Austria
If you plan to study in Austria, you need to provide proof of valid travel health insurance with a minimum coverage amount of €30,000. This is obligatory if you must apply for an Austrian student visa or if your studies in Austria will last for less than six months. If your studies last longer, you must still have valid travel insurance to cover you while you settle down in Austria and purchase private health insurance or register for the public health insurance scheme.
Public Health Insurance For Foreign Students in Austria
Unlike employed expats, international students in Austria, do not automatically receive public health insurance; they have to register for the insurance by themselves for student self-insurance (Studentenselbstversicherung) with the ÖGK. Usually, to qualify for this type of insurance, your studies must last a minimum of one academic year. Once you register, you receive your e-card as proof of entitlement to health insurance.
To register for the public health insurance scheme, you have to prepare the following documents and submit them to the ÖGK:
- A filled-out application form — which you can find here.
- An ID photo.
- Your Austrian address registration (Meldezettel)— if you’ve found student housing with Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OEAD), you will receive the registration form for Meldezettel from the OEAD.
- Proof of enrollment at an Austrian university.
If you are from one of the following countries— with which Austria has a health insurance agreement— you automatically qualify for student public health insurance:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Serbia
- Turkey
Private Health Insurance for Foreign Students in Austria
If your application for public health insurance is rejected or you don’t want to enroll at all; you can purchase private health insurance in Austria for the duration of your study period. Some of the best insurance companies for student health insurance in Austria include FeelSafe— which the Austrian government acknowledges— and Care Austria. Both of these insurance providers cater to foreign students. You also can purchase an international health insurance policy before entering the country.
Health Insurance for Self-Employed Expats in Austria
In case you are self-employed in Austria or working as a freelancer, you have to register with the SVS (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen). The SVS (which stands for Institution for the self-employed, freelance professionals, and farmers) is the insurance authority for self-employed persons in Austria.
As a self-employed person/freelancer, you must file your taxes with the Austrian tax office (Finanzamt Österreich) yourself — including social contributions. Usually, for self-employed persons, around 20% of their income goes to health insurance, but this depends on how much you earn in a year. Most expats advise consulting with a tax advisor in this case so you can be aware of the correct amount you have to pay for health insurance and other social contributions.
If you don’t wish to join the public healthcare scheme, you can purchase private insurance either with a company in Austria or purchase international health insurance covering you while in the country.
Health Insurance for EU/EEA Residents in Austria
If you’re an EU/EEA resident in Austria, you need to make sure you have a valid European Health Insurance Card. This card will allow you to get medical treatment the same way an Austrian resident would. However, you need to make sure if you’re planning on staying in Austria for more than three months to register for health insurance. If you’re employed, your employer will complete the registration for the public health scheme with the ÖGK for you. If you are self-employed, you can opt for self-insurance or voluntary insurance.
How Much Is Expat Health Insurance in Austria?
For expats, public health insurance is covered by social contributions, where around 7% is allocated for health insurance. However, you still have to pay for the following services:
| The monthly service fee for your e-card. | €12.30 |
| Fee for prescriptions, healing tools, and aids or dentures. | €6.50 |
| Hospital visits to the Vienna Healthcare Group (Wiener Gesundheitsverbund). | €11.90 |
For private insurance, the cost differs based on which provider you choose, your coverage level, age, and medical condition.
Can I Opt Out of Public Health Insurance in Austria?
If you register on your own via self or voluntary health insurance, you can de-register by filling out a de-registration form and submitting your request to the ÖGK. You usually can’t opt out of the public health scheme if you’re employed, but you can supplement your insurance with private coverage. Of course, in case of unemployment, you’re still covered by unemployment benefits until you find new work.
Difference Between Public and Private Health Insurance in Austria
Here is a summary of the main differences between Austrian public health insurance and private insurance:
| Austria Public Insurance | Austria Private Insurance | |
| Cost of insurance | The payment is deducted from your salary currently at a rate of 7% for health or sickness insurance. | You have to pay an insurance plan— usually at a monthly rate— which depends on several factors, e.g., your medical status, what you want to be covered, your provider, etc. |
| What is included? | Under the public health insurance plan, most doctor visits, hospital stays, medicine, and all types of medical treatments are included. | With private health insurance, you can usually optimize your plan depending on what you want. The more coverage you want, the higher the cost of your premium. |
| Who can get coverage? | Public health insurance is offered to every resident in Austria regardless of their employment status. | Private insurance is optional and supplemental— if you have the means to purchase it. |
| Can my family members get coverage? | Yes, you can include your family members with co-insurance, provided you and your family members reside in Austria and your family member is not insured under General Social Insurance Law. | You can include your family members in your insurance plan, but you have to pay more for your insurance plan. |
| How do you obtain it? | Public insurance is obtained automatically when you are employed in Austria, or register self-insurance if you are self-employed. | You have to locate a private insurance provider, choose an insurance plan, and purchase your policy. |
| Which hospitals are available? | You can visit either public or private hospitals, but with private hospitals, you have to pay out of pocket or use private insurance to get coverage. In some cases, the public health scheme will reimburse you 80% of the expenses. | You can visit either private or public hospitals. |