The healthcare system in Austria

In Austria, looking after your health is refreshingly simple. With a system that blends public access and private options seamlessly, you’ll find good quality care around every corner – no stress, no fuss, just healthcare that is accessible and works as it should.

Discover what makes Austria’s system so exceptional and how you can tap into it with ease:

How does healthcare work in Austria?

Public vs private healthcare

The Austrian healthcare system (Österreichische Gesundheitswesen – ÖGW) consists of the public health service and a large network of private healthcare providers.

While the public sector offers almost universal medical coverage, many residents choose to take out private health insurance to access better care more quickly.

Is Austrian healthcare good?

Austria’s healthcare system has a good reputation. In 2023, the Legatum Prosperity Index ranked the country as the 22nd best in the world, with a score of 80.2/100.

Meanwhile, the 2022 World Index of Healthcare Innovation gives Austrian healthcare a moderate score, placing it 23^rd globally. The index suggests it’s lagging behind many others in the region and warns it’s slipping in quality and fiscal sustainability.

Despite this, Austria boasts incredibly low levels of unmet medical needs. According to the EC 2023 country health profile, the healthcare system covers 99.9% of the population, with a mere 0.1% being underserved.

Who administers healthcare in Austria?

The federal government – more specifically, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection (Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz) – regulates most healthcare in Austria. It supervises the social health insurance funds (SHI funds) and healthcare providers and exercises overall responsibility.

The states (Länder) manage hospitals and emergency care in their area. Outside hospitals, medical providers are predominantly private and negotiate collective contracts with SHI funds for the provision of outpatient care.

Meanwhile, primary care physicians (GPs) act as gatekeepers to specialist and hospital care.

How is Austrian healthcare funded?

The ÖGW is partly funded by government spending and social health insurance, with employees paying 3.87% of their net income (2024). While medical insurance is only mandatory for selected population groups in Austria, others can sign up for public or private (or both!) insurance voluntarily.

Aside from insurance fees, patients pay a small amount for certain medical services. Almost all medical treatments are free of charge when they are purposeful and necessary. These include doctor visits, mandatory vaccinations, hospital and emergency care, dental checkups, and more. That said, some health services (e.g., prescription medications and hospitalization) do require small co-payments.

Depending on your situation, you may be exempted from out-of-pocket payments for medications. The following groups are not required to make co-payments if they have mandatory insurance:

• Asylum seekers
• Civilian servants
• Low-income residents
• Patients with notifiable communicable diseases (e.g., cholera) – only applies to the cure of said disease
• People collecting social assistance or compensatory allowance

Voluntarily insured persons who receive social benefits and their relatives are not exempted from the prescription fee. You can find more information in the ÖGK public insurance brochure.

Who can access healthcare in Austria?

Like many countries, Austria considers healthcare to be a fundamental right. As such, everyone can access medical care to some degree or another.

Notably, asylum seekers, refugees, and those without legal residence are also guaranteed access to essential medical help.

Can foreigners apply for public healthcare?

Medical insurance is mandatory for residents whose income hails from Austria, including freelancers and pensioners. Residents who don’t fit in that bracket – for example, foreign exchange students and pensioners – can sign up voluntarily.

Our article about health insurance in Austria explains the topic in more detail, but as a quick summary:

• Foreign workers must register for public insurance when they have regular (self)employment with an Austrian employer. Freelancers and employees of international companies may voluntarily get public insurance.
• Job seekers with a valid residence permit can choose to register for public health insurance. If you are involuntarily unemployed and receive government benefits, you must register for public health.
• International students can voluntarily apply for public insurance.
• Foreign pensioners with a valid residence permit may voluntarily take out public insurance.
• Asylum seekers and refugees must sign up for public healthcare.

Healthcare when you first move to Austria

Expats from the EU/EFTA (European Free Trade Association – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) and the UK can access healthcare in Austria using their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Some may also bill their home country’s healthcare system using an S1 form.

Non-EU/EFTA/UK nationals must take out private insurance as part of their visa application to enter Austria. If you don’t qualify for mandatory health insurance, you can voluntarily register for public healthcare or continue to use your private insurance.

Overview of private healthcare in Austria

Do I need private healthcare in Austria?

Public health insurance covers all essential treatments that are necessary and purposeful. However, waiting times can be long, and insurers only cover the statutory insurance rate (Kassenleistung), not the full amount billed by the doctor.

That is where private insurers come in. Private insurance offers additional coverage, a wider choice among healthcare providers, and higher levels of comfort and care. Some insurance policies also offer copayment coverage and sickness and death benefits.

Of course, private insurance is also a great option for expats who are frequently traveling and need medical coverage in multiple countries.

Why should I take out private insurance?

Again, there are many benefits to private healthcare in Austria. For one thing, the private sector offers higher levels of comfort and covers more treatments.

For example, prenatal diagnostics during pregnancy, including genetic blood tests and detailed ultrasounds, are not covered by public insurance (unless you are a high-risk patient).

Aside from that, other advantages of private insurance include:

• No copayments
• Additional coverage
• Shorter waiting times
• Direct access to specialists
• Wider range of attentive providers who offer personalized care
• Higher levels of comfort and flexibility in hospitals and health clinics
• Access to better and more efficient medical care
• Sickness and death benefits
• Coverage abroad

Private healthcare providers in Austria

There are eight Austrian private insurers, as well as numerous international insurers offering global health coverage. Leading companies catering to expats include:

• Allianz Care
• Cigna Global

You can read more about health insurance and private insurers in our dedicated country article.

How to register for Austrian healthcare

Your first step – even before moving to Austria – is to contact your country’s public healthcare authority. They will be able to advise you on your specific situation and your rights to access public healthcare. They can also fill out the S1 form, should you need it.

Next, you’ll need to find out if you have mandatory or voluntary insurance. If it’s mandatory, your employer will register you for public insurance. If it’s voluntary, you are free to choose whatever insurer you want to go with. Simply visit their website or contact them directly to sign up. They will be more than happy to walk you through the process.

Overview of primary care in Austria

Healthcare professionals

Doctors and specialists

Family doctors or general practitioners form the first line of medical defense. They work either alone or in group practices, and you are free to choose whichever doctor you prefer.

The GP conducts “light” tests, keeps your medical records up-to-date, refers you to other specialists or treatment centers, and coordinates follow-up treatments. Specialists typically work in hospitals and medical centers.

In 2021, Austria had the second highest density of doctors in the EU, with 5.4 doctors per 1,000 residents (EU average: 4.1). Less than 14% of these were GPs. There were also an estimated 10.6 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, above the EU average of 8.5.

Dentists

Public insurance covers two dental checkups per year, as well as certain treatments such as x-rays, selected fillings, and tooth removal. Likewise, medically necessary braces for children and removable dentures for seniors are also covered.

Other oral procedures, such as composite fillings and certain prosthetics, are often considered private dental treatments. These are (obviously) not included in public health benefits and can lead to large out-of-pocket expenses.

In 2023, Austria had over 5,600 dentists to choose from. Whoever you go with, make sure they are registered with the Austrian Dental Chamber (Österreichische Zahnärztekammer).

Austrian healthcare facilities

Health clinics and wellness centers

Health centers (Hausarztpraxis) are located across every city in Austria. They are typically open from 08:00 to 18:00, with an hour in between for lunch.

Exams and most diagnostic tests at public medical centers are free. Austria also has specialist health clinics that provide wellness treatments, mental health services, or sexual healthcare. However, public insurance only covers certain cases – be sure to check the ÖGK website before you get settled with a hefty bill.

You can find out more information about and search for health centers in your area online.

Hospitals

Austria has both public and private hospitals (Krankenhaus), and your doctor can refer you to either one. If you need immediate medical assistance, go to the nearest emergency room (Notaufnahme). You can also call 144 or 112, which is the free pan-European number for any type of emergency.

In 2023, there were over 260 hospitals in total (227 public and 35 private). Of those, 90 were general, and 121 were specialist hospitals. Patient admissions in Austria are relatively high compared to the vast majority of other EU countries. This is due to the country’s focus on in-patient care treatment.

Austrian healthcare covers all essential emergency care. However, you do need to pay for your hospital stay. Private insurers offer additional coverage, quicker access, and higher levels of comfort and flexibility during in-patient treatment.

Discover more about hospital stays and treatments in our article on hospitals in Austria.

Pharmacies

You won’t have any trouble finding a pharmacy (Apotheke) in Austria – they seem to be on every corner. In 2024, there were 2,831 pharmacies located across the country. You can recognize them by the large red sign outside the store, depicting the Staff of Asclepius in the form of an A.

Austrian pharmacies are typically open from 08:00 to 18:00. However, many work on a rotating roster to offer late-night and out-of-hours services.

When you pick up prescription medication, you have to pay a standard fee, which, in 2024, is €7.10 per box. Some residents are exempt from medication co-payments, including low-income patients and those with notifiable communicable diseases.

To find your nearest pharmacy, you can use any search engine or check this list of pharmacies in Austria.

Specialized healthcare

Mental healthcare

People struggling with addiction or mental health issues can get treatment at a mental health center (Psychologische Praxis). While some of these centers have sole practitioners, others have multi-professional teams with psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. For more serious problems, you may be referred to a residential facility, psychiatric clinic, or hospital.

Public insurance only covers part of the costs (up to the statutory insurance rate) and only in certain cases. Mental healthcare in Austria faces increasing demand, with particularly long waiting times. The country also has increasingly fewer public insurance-covered options (Kassenplätze) available.

As such, private health insurance can be invaluable, providing quicker access to specialized treatments and a broader range of care providers.

The International Therapist Directory lists numerous English-speaking psychologists and therapists in your area. Keep in mind, however, that many of these provide services at additional costs.

Children’s healthcare

Children have access to free healthcare in Austria, including childhood vaccinations, dental care, and therapeutic appliances (up until the age of 15). In some cases, public insurance will even cover braces.

Minors under 18 are covered by the insurance policy of their parent or guardian. Once they turn 18, they can either remain co-insured or get their own insurance policy. This will not be converted automatically, so be sure to reach out to your insurance fund.

You can register your child with the same GP as yourself. These doctors offer pediatric care as well or can refer to specialist pediatricians if necessary.

Your municipality can also help you find the best healthcare services for your child, including mental healthcare services or specialist care for children living with serious illnesses or disabilities.

Women’s healthcare

Public healthcare covers some essential healthcare services for women. For example, cancer screenings and ovarian cyst removals are free of charge. Other women’s medical treatments, such as birth control and diagnostic services related to pregnancy, require payment in full.

The right to an abortion has been legal in Austria since 1975, allowing women to voluntarily terminate a pregnancy in the first three months. Doctors can also perform abortions when:

• There is a serious danger to the mental health, physical health, or life of the pregnant woman
• The child is expected to be born with severe mental or physical disabilities
• A girl under the age of 14 is pregnant

Appallingly, however, healthcare professionals may refuse treatment unless it’s required to save the woman’s life. In fact, there are very few abortion clinics in Austria. For example, the state of Tyrol only has one clinic, and the country’s least populated state, Burgenland, doesn’t have any.

Austria’s public healthcare system does not cover abortions unless they are medically necessary. You can typically expect to pay €300–1,000, plus 20% VAT.

Women who want to exercise their legal rights can get advice from the non-profit organization Austrian Society for Family Planning (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Familienplanung – ÖGF).

For more information on women’s healthcare, read our detailed articles on healthcare, having a baby, and sexual and reproductive health in Austria.

Alternative medicine in Austria

Alternative (Alternativmedizin) and complementary healthcare services (Komplementärmedizin) are growing in popularity in Austria. In 2023, a study found 55% of the population has used alternative treatments in their lifetimes. Common forms of holistic medicine include acupuncture, halotherapy, homeopathy, iridology, osteopathy, and naturopathic therapies.

Depending on your location and desired treatments, you can access services at specialized health clinics, wellness centers, pharmacies, or health food stores.

Some alternative medicines are covered by public insurance; however, most treatments require private insurance. Be sure to check what is covered by your insurer before you schedule an appointment.

Practical medical phrases in German

Some useful German phrases and vocabulary to learn are:

English	Italian
Help!	Hilfe!
Call an ambulance!	Rufen Sie einen Krankenwagen!
I’ve had an accident	Ich hatte einen Unfall gehabt
I feel like I’m dying	Ich fühle mich als würde ich sterben
doctor’s office	Arztpraxis
pain	Schmerzen
headache	Kopfschmerzen
stomach ache	Bauchschmerzen
fever	Fieber
cough	Husten
food poisoning	Lebensmittelvergiftung
heart attack	Herzinfarkt
prescription	Rezept
vaccine	Impfstoff
x-ray	Röntgenbild
CT scan	CT-Scan

Useful resources

• Oesterreich.gv.at – official government website with information about the healthcare system in Austria
• ÖGK at a glance – brochure from the ÖGK SHI fund with information about public health insurance in Austria