Getting health insurance in Austria

Austria is one of the few countries where health insurance covers not only standard medical care but also things like spa stays (Kuraufenthalte). That means that if you’re feeling stressed or recovering from an illness, your doctor might prescribe a stay at a wellness resort or spa – complete with treatments like mineral baths and massages. And yes, your insurance policy may help cover the cost.

Of course, before you can make a claim on this self-care treatment, you’ll need to know about your health insurance options in Austria. Let’s dive in:

Health insurance in the Austrian healthcare system

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

Funded by mandatory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), the public care system offers almost universal medical coverage to 99.9% of the population.

A mix of public and private coverage

Public health insurance covers all essential care in Austria, including (public) doctor visits and emergency care. However, certain treatments do require co-payments, and private health services are (obviously) not or partly covered. That’s where private health insurance comes in.

Many Austrian residents take out supplementary health insurance to make sure they have 100% coverage. These private insurance top-ups also cover copayments and provide access to better and more personalized care.

Another option for health insurance is an international policy, which covers medical care in Austria and elsewhere. This type of insurance is ideal for expats who have more than one home country (e.g., cross-border workers).

The Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection (Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz – BSGPK) regulates the health sector and social health insurance funds (SHI funds). Private insurance providers are under the oversight of Austria’s Financial Market Authority.

Who needs health insurance in Austria?

Health insurance is only mandatory for certain parts of the population. For example, (salaried and self-employed) workers and their dependent family members are legally required to register for a so-called Pflicht­versicherung. The same applies to seniors with an Austrian pension.

For others, taking out health insurance is optional. However, while it isn’t a hard-line requirement, it’s highly recommended. Medical treatments in Austria can be expensive, and without insurance, you would be responsible for paying the costs yourself.

If you are a new resident of Austria, you may be able to use the health insurance from your home country:

• Expats from the EU or EFTA (European Free Trade Association – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC – Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte – EKVK)
• People from the UK can access public healthcare with their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
• Other residents may fill out an S1 form to use their home country’s healthcare rights in Austria or take out private health insurance

Public health insurance in Austria

Public health insurance is mandatory for most Austrian residents, including:

• Employees, apprentices, and trainees
• Pensioners
• People collecting unemployment benefits, childcare allowance, social assistance, or rehabilitation allowance
• Asylum seekers
• War survivors

Anyone who falls outside of that scope (e.g., students) can register voluntarily. Austria also allows co-insurance in the case of dependent children, partners, direct family members, and relatives who require (nursing) care.

There are three public health insurance funds in Austria:

• Austrian Health Insurance (Österreichischen Gesundheitskasse – ÖGK), which covers most of the population
• Social Insurance Fund for freelancers (Sozialversicherungsanstalt für Selbständige – SVS)
• Insurance Company for public employees, railways, and mining (Versicherungsanstalt öffentlich Bediensteter, Eisenbahnen und Bergbau – BVAEB)

Who can access public health insurance?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, here’s a quick overview of who needs what type of health insurance:

What’s your status?	Can you access public health insurance?	Do you need private health insurance?
Legal resident	Yes	Only if you want 100% coverage

Salaried employees and freelancers

If you work in Austria, you must register for public health insurance. Employers will sign up their workers at the start of the job contract, while freelancers are required to register with the SVS.

International and cross-border workers

Expat residents without a local employment contract or business registration (e.g., temporary freelancers or digital nomads) can register for public health insurance voluntarily or get private health insurance – or both. However, if you’re frequently in and out of Austria, you could benefit more from private international health insurance.

International insurance provides comprehensive coverage that is not tied to a specific country. That way, you can access medical care in Austria and abroad, without having to pay double the insurance fee.

(Unemployed) job seekers with or without an income

Residents who receive an unemployment benefit have mandatory public health insurance in Austria. Those without an income or earning below the marginal earnings threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze; €518.44 per month in 2024) do not. Instead, they can opt for co-insurance through a family member’s policy or voluntary self-insurance.

If you are a foreign job seeker who has come to Austria to look for work, you have a couple of options for health insurance:

• Expats from the EU/EFTA/UK can use their EHIC/GHIC card to access the ÖGW. Some residents may need an S1 form to access public healthcare.
• Expats from outside the EU/EFTA/UK must have valid health insurance in order to get a visa for Austria.

Health insurance for children and students

All minor children are eligible for public health insurance in Austria. Their policies are linked to that of their parent(s) or guardian(s) and grant free access to those under 18. Once you’ve turned 18, you’ll have to pay the insurance fee. That said, the SHI fund can extend your co-insurance every three years up to the age of 27 (or 29 if you are unemployed).

Students who can’t benefit from co-insurance can also register for public health insurance voluntarily. If you are in Austria on an exchange program, you can either:

• Access public healthcare with your EHIC/GHIC
• Take out private health insurance to cover the duration of your semester(s) abroad

Health coverage for retirees

Austrian pensioners have automatic access to public health insurance. Foreign seniors can voluntarily register for public insurance when they relocate to Austria. They may also use their home country’s public healthcare rights (by filling out an S1 form) or take out private health insurance.

Short-term visitors and tourists

Tourists from visa-exempt countries are not legally required to have health insurance to enter Austria. Again, however, it is highly recommended to get travel health insurance, as medical treatments can be expensive. Without insurance, you would pay any costs out-of-pocket.

If you are from a visa-required country, you must have travel health insurance in order to get an Austrian visa. This insurance policy must meet specific minimum requirements and be valid for the entire duration of their stay.

Asylum seekers and refugees

Asylum seekers and refugees in Austria are automatically insured with public health insurance, if free co-insurance with relatives is not possible. Similarly, all federal reception centers have in-house doctors and nurses to offer medical help – no co-payments are required.

You can find a list of organizations supporting asylum seekers and refugees on the government website.

What does public health insurance cover?

Public health insurance covers all purposeful and necessary treatments, including doctor visits, mandatory vaccinations, hospital and emergency care, dental checkups, and the like. Some health services (e.g., prescription medications and hospitalization) require you to pay a small fee.

Having said that, the coverage also depends on your insurer and healthcare provider. Basically, Austrian SHI funds negotiate and form contacts with a number of health services based on quality and price:

• Treatment from a contracted healthcare provider is 100% covered
• Treatment from a con-contracted service is 80% covered

Worse still, reimbursements are calculated based on the statutory insurance rate (Kassenleistung), not the full amount billed by the doctor. So, if a doctor charges €150 and the statutory insurance rate is €40, you will have to pay the remaining €110. And if you see a non-contracted specialist, the SHI fund only pays for 80% of the statutory rate (i.e., €32).

Each year, these contracts change. While most are renewed, some are canceled. As such, it’s vital you check which health service is contracted before you get settled with a hefty medical bill. For official 2024 coverage and healthcare costs in Austria, please read the ÖGK brochure.

How to apply for public health insurance in Austria

What to do before your move

If you do not have an EHIC or GHIC card, your first step – before you even move to Austria – is to contact your country’s public health authority. They can advise you on your specific situation and your rights to access Austrian healthcare.

Of course, citizens from visa-exempt countries will need to take out private health insurance to qualify for a visa.

How to register once you are in Austria

The application process depends on your situation:

• Salaried workers and retirees are enrolled by their employers or pension funds. Dependent family members (e.g., a non-working spouse or children) are not registered automatically. Be sure to reach out to your employer or pension provider; they may offer HR support or assign someone to assist with the process.
• Self-employed freelancers must register with the SVS; you can find the application process in our article on social security in Austria.
• For voluntary self-registration or co-registration of dependent family members, you can go to the ÖGK or SVS website and sign up through their e-portal.

What documents do you need to self- or co-register?

When you elect to sign up for public health insurance in Austria, you must provide the following documents:

• Completed application form
• Valid passport or ID
• Passport photo (no more than six months old)
• Proof of registration at the municipality
• Social security number
• If you are a non-EU/EFTA citizen, a valid residence permit
• If you are a student, proof of admission, your timetable, and proof of any previous studies

If you are registering a partner or dependent family member, you must present the following documents:

• Completed application form (Prüfung der Anspruchsberechtigung für Angehörige)
• Proof of insurance
• Proof of relationship (e.g., marriage certificate)
• If you care for a sick relative, proof of caregiver allowance

Austrian insurance card: e-card

After registration, you will receive a physical (plastic) social insurance card (e-card), if you don’t have one already. The card serves as proof of your insurance status and contains your electronic health record (Elektronische Gesundheitsakte – ELGA).

It is recommended that you always carry this card on you, as it gives you access to public doctors, hospitals, and health centers throughout the country. It also allows your doctor to upload prescriptions for any medications, should you need them.

The e-card comes with an annual service charge; in 2025, this is €13.80. The fee does not apply to certain groups of people, such as those in marginal employment, pensioners, and those in military or civilian service.

Getting reimbursed for medical care

With the e-card, nothing is easier than paying for medical care. In fact, your healthcare provider will bill the SHI fund directly, and only bill you the co-payment.

Private health insurance in Austria

It is common for Austrian residents to top up their public coverage with private health insurance. In 2023, 38.4% of the population was privately insured. The highest percentage was recorded in the Bundesland Carinthia (Kärnten), where 51.1% of residents had taken out private coverage.

Some insurance companies cater to students, working parents, or pensioners, and others to internationals with global coverage and special English- or other foreign language services.

The advantages of private health insurance

As mentioned before, private health insurance covers treatments that are excluded from public healthcare. Aside from that, other benefits 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 health insurance for foreigners in Austria

As you will have understood by now, some expats moving to Austria may benefit from a private or international health insurance plan:

• Non-EU/EFTA/UK expats and immigrants will need to prove that they have valid health insurance coverage before they can enter the country
• Unlike those coming on a work visa with a contract in hand, most internationals will not have healthcare coverage during the first leg of their stay
• Public health insurance only covers ‘purposeful and necessary’ treatment
• Austria has more private than public health services, which can result in large out-of-pocket costs
• Finally, certain categories of internationals would benefit more from global health coverage

How to apply for private medical insurance in Austria

With the number of health insurance options in Austria, it makes sense to look around and compare plans. Aside from the cost, things you could consider include:

Consideration	Questions to ask
Does the policy suit your needs	Are you able to select what you need and remove what you don’t?
Payment process	Will your insurer settle bills directly or do you have to pay first and then claim reimbursement? How complicated and/or time-consuming is the process?
Options for deductible	Can you lower your premium by increasing your deductible?
Overseas coverage	Will your insurer settle bills directly, or do you have to pay first and then claim reimbursement? How complicated and/or time-consuming is the process?
Customer feedback	How does the company score on consumer ratings websites?
Special offers and incentives	What additional benefits are offered? For example, do they partner with retailers or service providers to offer discounts elsewhere?
Ethics	How does the company fare on ethics and sustainability rating sites, such as: – CSRHub – Standard Ethics – Corporate Knights
Cancellation policy	How easy is it to change to another provider? Will you have to pay to cancel?

Be sure to ask your employer about their healthcare policy as well; you may be able to sign up with a private insurance company at a discount.

Once you’ve decided on a plan, you can contact the insurance company directly to sign up. They will be more than happy to walk you through the process. Beware of pushy salespeople, though! You might walk away with a completely different policy than you had in mind.

Private and international health insurance providers

Some of the most popular private and international health insurance companies that cover foreigners in Austria include:

• Allianz Care
• Cigna Global

How much does Austrian health insurance cost?

In Austria, residents pay for public health insurance through social security contributions and insurance fees.

If your registration is mandatory, your employers or pension provider will withhold a percentage of your gross monthly salary or pension to pay the SHI fund. In 2024, this was 3.87% for employees and 5.1% for pensioners. If you are self- and co-insured, however, you pay a monthly insurance fee. Depending on your situation, costs can range from €70–500 per month (2024).

When it comes to private health insurance in Austria, most insurers have different policy levels, ranging from basic to comprehensive. Premiums usually depend on:

• Extra coverage (e.g., dental care or hospitalization)
• Coverage location (i.e., whether the policy covers abroad)
• Personal information, such as age and health conditions

Depending on the extra coverage, you can expect to pay around €30 per month for children and €45-100 per month for adults.

Again, it’s always smart to research and compare insurance policies to get the best healthcare coverage.

Useful resources

• BSGPK – official government website of the federal ministry responsible for public health in Austria
• Oesterreich.gv.at – official government website with information about Austria’s health benefits
• Migration.gv.at – official government portal with information about working and living in Austria
• ÖGK at a glance – brochure from the ÖGK SHI fund with information about public health insurance in Austria