Best expat health insurance quotes in Austria

Austria’s healthcare system is among the best in Europe, with good quality and accessible services covering nearly 100% of the population. Healthcare is available to all legal residents, including expats, with workers paying a portion of their salary towards health insurance.

All legal residents of Austria have access to the country’s universal healthcare system. However, private insurance covers a broader network of doctors and hospitals and any services not available through public healthcare. If you’re new to Austria or a temporary visitor, you must pay out of pocket for medical services if you don’t have private health insurance or an EHIC.

It’s best to start your private health insurance policy just before you arrive in Austria. If you have a coverage gap between your insurance at home and your new policy, this could leave you with out-of-pocket expenses in case of emergency.

Usually private health insurance policies are on an individual basis. If you want to cover a partner or family members, you can add them on when you build your policy. If you have several dependents, it’s worth shopping around for the best family plan.

When you first design a health insurance plan, you can choose what you will pay yourself and what the provider will pay. Which treatments your plan covers depends on if you’ve met your deductible, whether you have a provider network, and other factors.

Health insurance premiums are based on age, medical history, level of coverage needed, and whether you include extra benefits. Austria has some of the highest healthcare costs in Europe so premiums will be higher there than in other countries.

The claims process in Austria varies between insurers. Some deal directly with healthcare providers and pay bills on your behalf while others require you to pay upfront and send an invoice after. If you’re concerned about having to pay upfront, look for a provider who can sort out claims directly.