Expert Info

Posted by nmoore
on 1 Feb 2017

Hi,

My wife has just registered in Austria for residency and has received the "Anmeldebescheinigung" (confirmation of registration). I will be moving there later in the year and we are planning to live there permanently. As part of the registration process, she needed to provide proof of ability to support herself (we are not planning to work there) and also get an E-CARD for health insurance. As we had not sorted out health insurance yet, the registration was accepted on the grounds that an E-CARD would be submitted later as proof of health insurance.

My question: is it possible to buy private health insurance and somehow link that to an E-CARD, or do we need to buy health insurance from the local district / authority. I understand that there are different types of schemes / funds in Austria but they tend to be for employed sectors. What are our options as people who are supporting themselves?

I have seen one article on wien.gv.at that says:
Self-insurance
Persons not covered by compulsory insurance may take out voluntary (self) insurance. Contributions for voluntary insurance are EUR 397.35 per month. If the E-CARD is mandatory, then self insurance does not seem to be voluntary?

Is there any way that a UK EHIC card can be substituted for an E-CARD?

I know there are UK companies that sell health insurance for Austria but they don't seem to know what an E-CARD is.

Thanks
Nick

Anonymous (not verified) on 28 May 2017 - 21:32
The ECard is a proof of insurance card that you can only get if you are paying into the Krankenkasse (socialized medicine) and has no affiliation with the Zusatzversicherung (additional private insurance) plans that are available to every Austrian resident. Many Austrians already enrolled and paying into the Krankenkasse also buy a Zusatzversicherung policy to enhance the overall services. Although as a ten year American expatriate in Wien I can say without reservation that that the standard Krankenkasse policy is not lacking in quality and is far better than the current Obamacare policies in the USA.
BABittlingmayer on 3 Jun 2018 - 17:21

We are considering retiring to Germany or Austria. Is it easier to get health insurance in Austria? We are 60 and 67 years old, in very good health, and we can support ourselves without employment. Where would we go to look for health insurance in Austria?

BABittlingmayer on 3 Jun 2018 - 17:22

I forgot - we are US citizens. 

markpgh on 30 Oct 2019 - 09:00

I found the Cigna Global link on this page offered reasonable coverage. We are moving to Austria as well as retirees and will be purchasing a policy. If you leave out US coverage, you are covered for emergencies for 60 days limited to 3 weeks per trip. If you would like USA coverage for routine visits, you get 180 days of coverage per year. This is the info that was emailed to me directly from Cigna. There is a large costs savings per month if the emergency coverage is sufficient.

Lauren0709 on 19 May 2021 - 17:11

Hi,

What is the situation regarding prescription glasses in Austria? Are they covered by public healthcare insurance or private?

If you do have to pay, what would you say is the average price for glasses?

Thanks,

Lauren

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