Healthcare in Austria

Healthcare in Austria is among the best in Europe, so you can feel confident that your medical needs will be well looked after. As an expat moving to Austria, you’ll gain access to public healthcare thanks to your tax contributions.

The public healthcare in Austria is excellent, so most people don’t feel the need to get private health insurance. However, if your job offers private health insurance, you’ll benefit from additional services and shorter waiting times.

Public healthcare in Austria

All citizens and residents in Austria have access to free basic healthcare. This includes tourists and those staying in the country for the short term. Basic healthcare in Austria includes treatment in public hospitals, medication, basic dental care and some specialist consultations.

Public healthcare in Austria typically includes cover for hospitalisation, outpatient care, rehabilitation services, maternity services, and prescription services. 

EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state healthcare during a short-term visit. UK citizens can use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC for UK citizens post-Brexit.

Useful links

• Austria's Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection

Private healthcare in Austria

Private health insurance in Austria is generally used to complement the public health services supplied by the state. Depending on your insurance plan, hospital costs or daily benefits may be covered. This allows easier access to elective doctors and medical professionals, as well as smaller wards in state and private hospitals.

Private healthcare also provides access to dental care, alternative medicines, and wellness programmes that may not necessarily be available under the public system. If you choose a private hospital, you'll also typically have a more comfortable private room with a bathroom and television. 

Health insurance in Austria

Expats working in Austria must pay into a health insurance scheme, which goes into a larger social security system. The system will cover you and your family for health, accident, or pension insurance. The amount an individual has to pay is determined by their salary level, with health insurance, accident insurance and pension insurance all taking up a percentage of an individual's salary. The employer is also obliged to make a contribution.

Electronic health services, also known as E-services, form an important part of Austria's healthcare system. Upon registration, you are issued an E-card. The Austrian government processes healthcare claims electronically through the E-card, significantly reducing queues, backlogs, and bureaucracy. In addition, E-cards contain key information such as health records and prescribed medications.

Like in most other state-funded healthcare systems, patients can only consult medical professionals with whom the state has a partnership. However, this is not limited to public healthcare providers; about 50 percent of private-practice doctors and 75 percent of private-practice dentists have a contract with social services that covers E-card holders for all costs.

Healthcare providers who do not have such a contract are known as elective doctors. Though patients must pay to see elective doctors, 80 percent of the fee is reimbursed by social health insurance.

Useful links

• Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK)
• Austrian Social Insurance
• Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS)

Pharmacies and medicines in Austria

Pharmacies, or Apotheke as they are known locally, are easily found in all towns and cities in Austria. 

The majority of the costs of prescription medicines are covered by the state health insurance programme, apart from a small prescription fee in some cases. Those with private health insurance must pay for their drugs and then send the receipts to the company for reimbursement. 

Pharmacies in Austria are open from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday and 8am to 12pm on Saturdays. Pharmacies within a particular area open according to a rotating schedule on Sundays. There are also a few 24-hour pharmacies, which are useful if medication is unexpectedly needed after hours. 

Health hazards in Austria

There are few health hazards in Austria, but there are some things you'll need to consider when moving to the country. Depending on where in Austria you are moving to, tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis may be a concern. 

Air pollution in Austria's urban areas is becoming an issue, so we recommend purchasing an air purifier for your home if you have a respiratory disease like asthma or are vulnerable in any way. 

Vaccinations for Austria

No special vaccinations are required for expats moving to Austria. However, routine vaccinations such as those for measles, mumps and rubella, tetanus and polio should be kept current.

Although Covid-19 vaccines are no longer necessary to enter the country, they are still recommended. If you'll be coming into regular contact with animals, you should also update your rabies vaccine. 

Emergency services in Austria

Local authorities in Austria are responsible for providing emergency services, which means that standards of emergency medical services vary slightly across the country. Nevertheless, response times throughout Austria are generally excellent. Paramedics typically speak German, but some may also speak English.

In the event of a medical emergency, you can dial any of the following numbers:

• 144 (ambulance)
• 141 (emergency medical service)
• 112 (European emergency number)