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Healthcare and Insurance
Austria holds a leading position in international quality of life and healthcare rankings. Legislation defines that social insurance is compulsory and based on the principle of solidarity. Income-based social insurance payments are made in return for benefits, regardless of the amount contributed. Once personal insurance is secured, a wide range of doctors and hospitals become available. Come2Upper Austria organises on a regular basis info events about social security services.
Austria has a comprehensive social insurance system that provides coverage for healthcare, pensions, unemployment and accidents. It is mandatory and is primarily funded through salary deductions, which are shared by employers and employees. As soon as you start working legally in Austria, you are automatically covered. You will be assigned a social insurance number and a health insurance card (e-card).
Social insurance applies to
- almost all non-self-employed workers
- most self-employed persons
- persons claiming unemployment benefits
those receiving a pension and dependants of all the specified groups.
Social insurance registration in Austria
Employees pay around 18–20% of their gross salary towards combined insurance coverage, while employers pay an additional ~21%. These contributions are automatically deducted from the employee's salary.
The e-card is a smartcard that gives you easy access to healthcare services in Austria, such as doctor visits and hospital care—without needing to pay upfront in cash. Simply present your e-card to any doctor who works with the public health system ("panel doctors"), and the costs will be billed directly to the Austrian social insurance provider.
On the back of the e-card, you'll find the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This gives you basic health coverage while temporarily staying in other EU countries, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (EEA region), Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Switzerland.
Before you travel, it’s a good idea to check whether the medical facilities at your destination accept the EHIC. If not, you might need to pay for treatment upfront and apply for a refund from the Austrian social insurance authority. Reimbursements are possible up to 80% of standard Austrian rates.
To be fully protected, especially for private care or extra services abroad, consider taking out additional travel insurance.
For more information about the e-card, your health insurance entitlements, and how the system works, please visit the official website: www.oesterreich.gv.at
Those covered by social insurance receive an e-card. By presenting this card, it is possible to receive medical services at panel doctors without advance payment, provided the person is covered by the insurance. Services covered by the social health insurance are divided into four groups:
- Precautionary
- Maternity
- Therapeutic aids
- Illness
Car liability insurance and comprehensive insurance
Liability insurance (Kfz-Haftpflicht) is mandatory for vehicle registration in Austria. It covers third-party damages — material, personal, and financial — up to the policy’s limit, with the driver personally liable beyond that.
Comprehensive insurance (Kasko) is optional and split into:
Partial comprehensive (Teilkasko) — covers events like hail, storm, fire, theft, animal damage (e.g., deer, martens), glass breakage.
Fully comprehensive (Vollkasko) — includes everything from Teilkasko plus protection for own-damage due to accidents or vandalism, typically ideal for newer or financed cars.
The purchase of legal expenses insurance is voluntary. It covers lawyers’ and expert fees as well as procedural costs in case of a legal dispute. Most legal expenses insurances cover a range of legal areas such as labour, contract and tort law. Nevertheless, even the most expensive insurance policy does not offer complete protection. Therefore, extra insurances like legal expenses insurance, patient protection insurance or legal insurance for cars might be of interest. Some areas may already be covered by other insurances, for instance personal liability insurance.
For every medication listed on a prescription from a panel doctor, a prescription fee is payable at the time of purchase at the pharmacy for each package. Medication can be obtained directly from some doctors or from a pharmacy.
Evelyn Hetzinger
Everyone should decide for themselves which insurance fits best. There are insurances for all walks of life and situations, such as burglary insurance or hail insurance. Some are legally required, others recommended or voluntary. As there is great variation in the insurance rates, it is advisable to compare different insurance types and companies first under www.durchblicker.at.
Pension
The contributions paid are used to finance retirement and to maintain the standard of living in old age. Pension entitlements are dependent upon the period of insurance, the calculation basis and age.
Pension entitlements are available to those who:
- have reached the standard retirement age (women min. 60 years of age (from 2024, the retirement age for women will increase by 6 months each year until 2033, then the retirement age is 65 years); men min. 65 years)
- have fulfilled the required period of insurance
- (generally a minimum of 180 months of insurance years = 15 years)
Pension entitlements are available to
- have fulfilled the required period of insurance
- (generally a minimum of 180 months of insurance years = 15 years)
- For men: Standard retirement age is 65
- For women: In 2025, women born before 31 Dec 1964 retire at 61. Retirement age gradually rising from 60 (until 2024) to 65 by July 1, 2033
Recognition of pension contributions made abroad:
Contribution periods from the EU/EEA region, Switzerland and countries which have bilateral social insurance agreements with Austria are recognised in the pension entitlement. Agreements with other countries can be found here: Pension (oesterreich.gv.at)
Pension application in Austria
- Application to the pension insurance institution at the place of residence
- The pension insurance institution informs the authorities in the relevant countries
- Countries calculate pension entitlements based on national regulations (contribution periods from member states are recognised where applicable
- Persons with pension entitlements receive payments directly from each country
- The Pension Insurance Institution (Pensionsversicherungsanstalt or PVA), as the responsible authority, recommends that, where there are plans to retire in Austria, an application for the determination of insurance periods (Antrag auf Feststellung von Versicherungszeiten) should be submitted as soon as possible.
Unemployment insurance
Contributions to unemployment insurance are used for the payment of unemployment benefit. Those receiving unemployment benefit have health insurance.
Requirements for receiving unemployment benefit while looking for work are:
- Registration as a jobseeker at the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice or AMS)
- Unemployed, willing and able to work
- Available for job openings
- Willing to take a job with a minimum amount of working hours
- Can provide evidence of a certain minimum period of employment
- Not beyond the maximum claim period for unemployment benefit
Previous insurance periods
Job seekers claiming unemployment benefit must have been in an occupation making unemployment insurance contributions for a certain period of time. Insurance periods in other countries can be taken into account where applicable. The application for unemployment benefit is submitted to the local AMS office.
Medical Care
Your General Practitioner (GP) or in German Hausarzt:in or Allegemeinmediziner:in is usually your first stop when you're feeling unwell or have general health concerns. GPs in Austria can treat a wide range of issues and are available to everyone—you can freely choose which GP you want to see.
Some GPs also offer house visits in the local area if you're unable to travel, so be sure to ask if that's something you need.
If your GP thinks you need more specialized care, they will provide you with a referral (ärztliche Überweisung). This written referral allows you to visit a specialist or hospital that’s best suited to treat your condition.
They are private practitioners who hold contracts with health insurance funds (e.g., ÖGK). They bill the insurance directly when you present your ecard, meaning you usually don’t pay anything at the point of care—unless you exceed a deductible (Selbstbehalt).
Note that, due to high demand for appointments and unfilled Kassenarzts positions, waiting times may be longer than usual.
A doctor of one´s choice (Wahlärzt:in) is a private doctor who doesn’t have a direct contract with public health insurance providers. This means that you pay for the treatment upfront, and then you can submit a claim to your health insurance for partial reimbursement.
If your visit would normally be covered by a public "panel doctor" (Kassenärzt:in), you can get back up to 80% of the cost that the insurance would have paid them—but in reality, you’ll often be reimbursed only around 20–30% of what you paid, depending on the service and whether all paperwork is in order.
Pros of a Wahlarzt:
- Fast appointments – often within days
- More time with the doctor – consultations are usually longer and more personal
Things to consider:
- You pay the full cost yourself upfront
- Only part of the fee is reimbursed by public insurance (usually less than half)
Tip: If you prefer shorter wait times, more personalized care, and are okay with some extra cost, a Wahlarzt can be a great option—especially when it’s hard to get a timely appointment with a Kassenarzt.
All patients are entitled to admission to the ‘standard class’ of care in a public hospital. Please note the days of admission (‘Aufnahmetage’) of the respective public hospitals in Linz.
Aufnahmekalender | Kepler Universitätsklinikum (kepleruniklinikum.at)
State hospitals in rural areas, on the other hand, always allow admission.
Generally speaking, only small fees are to be paid for the standard class of care in public hospitals. Higher fees are payable for the special class of care or care in private hospitals if the patient does not have private insurance.
In Austria it is preferred to seek advice from your general practitioner firstly if it is not an emergency. Moreover you can contact 1450 as a medical emergency service for advice and to find an open doctor.
For every medication listed on a prescription from a panel doctor, a prescription fee is payable at the time of purchase at the pharmacy for each package. Medication can be obtained directly from some doctors or from a pharmacy.
If you are working in Austria and are covered by public health insurance, you may be able to include your family members in your insurance coverage. This is known as co-insurance (Mitversicherung), and it allows eligible relatives to receive the same healthcare benefits through your policy.
The following family members may be eligible for co-insurance under your health insurance plan:
- Your spouse or legal registered partner
- Children (biological, stepchildren, or grandchildren living permanently in your household)
- Life partners (non-married partners) who live in a joint household with you, under certain conditions
Children can be co-insured free of charge up to specific age limits:
- Up to 18 years old – standard eligibility
- Up to 21 years old – if not employed
- Up to 26 years old – if in full-time education or vocational training (Berufsbildung)
Costs and Contributions
- Co-insurance is free for children and often also for spouses or partners if you have children together.
- If you do not have children, you may need to pay a contribution of around 3.4% of your gross income to cover your spouse or partner.
- There are exceptions. For example, if your partner is caring for children or receives a care allowance, the contribution may be waived.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Hospital registration
It is advisable to contact the chosen hospital as soon as possible regarding childbirth. The Kepler University Hospital (Med Campus IV) in Linz is the largest maternity hospital in Austria and accepts all expectant mothers. Other hospitals with maternity wards accept patients according to free capacity at the planned due date. Depending on the hospital, it may be possible to visit and get familiar with the facilities in advance. Many hospitals also offer prenatal classes. It is also possible to give birth as an outpatient or at home, although this should be agreed in consultation with a gynaecologist.
Parents-child-pass
The Parents-Child Pass (Eltern-Kind-Pass) is a medical record designed to ensure the health and wellbeing of expectant mothers and young children in Austria. It outlines a schedule of essential health check-ups during pregnancy and throughout early childhood, up to the child's fifth birthday.
The programme includes five medical examinations during pregnancy and five after birth. These check-ups are free of charge when carried out by doctors affiliated with the public health insurance system. However, missing any of the required appointments may affect your eligibility for the full childcare allowance (Kinderbetreuungsgeld).
The pass is issued by your gynaecologist and should be kept with you at all times, as it may be requested during medical visits. All prenatal check-ups are conducted by your gynaecologist. After that, care is transferred to the hospital where you plan to give birth, and later to a paediatrician for your child’s follow-up exams.
A list of all specialists in gynaecology, obstetrics and midwifery (Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe), and pediatric and adolescent medicine (Kinder-und Jugendheilkunde) in Upper Austria can be found here: www.gesund-in-ooe.at
Learn more about parent-child passport
Administrative procedures after childbirth
The first administrative procedures after childbirth can be completed at the civil registry office (Standesamt) local to the place of birth, situated at the municipal authority in Linz, Wels and Steyr, or otherwise at the local authority. Many hospitals have their own ‘babypoint’, where various registry office services are offered.
To help you with the first steps after your child arrives, here is a short list:
- Birth Certificate (Geburtsurkunde)
Immediately after childbirth, a notification to issue a birth certificate is made. Normally this is made by the hospital where the baby was delivered.
- Register Newborn’s Residence
Based on the standard legal requirement to register a place of residence, newborn children must be registered at the municipal or local authority. This can take place at the same time as the registration of birth. Normally, the child should be registered with the authorities within three days of returning home from the medical facility.
- Registration for social insurance
This usually happens automatically after the birth has been registered at the relevant civil registry office. Whether the parents are married or not, the child is co-insured with the parents and receives its own e-card after the registration. To accelerate the process and avoid any questions, a short letter or call to the relevant social insurance authority is recommended.
- Proof of citizenship
Citizenship laws are based on nationality, therefore the rules of the country of origin must be considered. It is recommended to also apply for a passport when applying for citizenship.
You will need to provide following information parents’ marriage certificate or proof of nationality, marital status, and residence (if abroad)
- Right of residence
Newborn children require a right of residence according to the Settlement and Residence Act, just as their parents do. Parents from third countries who are legally settled in Austria must apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) within six months of childbirth. Children of citizens from the EU/EEA and Switzerland who benefit from freedom of movement must obtain a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) within four months after birth. The responsible settlement bodies are always the district or municipal authorities (Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat). A valid right of residence is a prerequisite for receiving childcare and family allowance.- Childcare Allowance (Kinderbetreuungsgeld) & Family Benefits
- Family Allowance (Familienbeihilfe)
- Family Bonus