Statutory Social insurance in Austria

The Federation of Social Insurances ("Dachverband der Sozialversicherungsträger") is the umbrella organization of Austria's statutory health, accident and pension insurance institutions. The following five statutory social insurance institutions belong to it: Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK), Versicherungsanstalt öffentlich Bediensteter, Eisenbahn und Bergbau (BVAEB), Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen (SVS), Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA) and Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt (AUVA). Unemployment insurance is also considered part of Austria's broader social insurance system, although it is not administered by the five statutory social insurance institutions but by the Public Employment Service (AMS) under state administration.

Health insurance

Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) is the largest social health insurance institution in Austria, providing insurance for about 82 per cent of the population. The insurance provided covers health care services, including medical and therapeutic care provided by accredited doctors and therapists, treatment in public hospitals, and services at ÖGK health centres, maternity benefits, as well as health promotion and preventive measures. For details on the exact scope of coverage, please contact the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) directly.

Statutory social insurance is a form of compulsory insurance in Austria. This means that employees who meet the legal requirements are automatically covered by the relevant branches of social insurance – typically health, accident, pension, and unemployment insurance. Which branches apply depends on the individual employment situation. In most cases, regular employment includes all four. In specific cases (e.g. in the case of marginal employment), coverage may vary. Voluntary inclusion in certain branches is also possible if the requirements are met. In exceptional cases, employees may not be subject to Austrian social security.

In Austria, individuals cannot freely choose their social health insurance provider. The social health insurance institution responsible for employees depends on their occupation. The majority of employees are insured with ÖGK. However, the responsible health insurance institution for employees of universities according to the Universities Act 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002), for example, is BVAEB. 

Many people take out private supplementary insurance (with private insurance companies), which guarantees them coverage of various costs that are not covered by social insurance and, depending on the product, other advantages (e.g. the possibility to freely choose the surgeon for a medical procedure, etc.).

e-card

If you will be employed in a Tyrolean company or at a Tyrolean university, your employer will register you for Austrian social insurance (unless special regulations apply). If your monthly earnings exceed the marginal earnings threshold, you will thereby also be automatically insured in the statutory health insurance (if no exemption is applicable).

As proof of health insurance, every insured person receives a so-called e-card. The e-card is a chip card that bears the cardholder's name, title and social security number. Insured persons must present the e-card when visiting a doctor or undergoing other medical treatment, since only the e-card can be used to clarify electronically whether and under what conditions health insurance coverage exists (exemption from prescription charges, etc.).  If dependents are co-insured, they must also receive an e-card.

The e-card can be used in particular at any contracted physician of the responsible health insurance institution, in health insurance-owned facilities and in most hospitals. The scope of services and costs covered by the e-card depends on the respective health insurance institution (ÖGK, BVAEB; see also our Medical Care Website). 

Since 01.01.2020 (with a few exceptions) all e-cards for persons 14 years and older must have a photo that clearly shows the cardholder.

If a photo is already available - e.g. on the basis of a residence title (not: Registration Certificate/"Anmeldebescheinigung" for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals), convention passport or another document from the Foreigners' Register ("Fremdenregister") - it will automatically be used for the e-card.

However, if this is not the case, the e-card will only be issued if the person for whom the e-card is intended provides their photo and the additional required documents to one of the registration offices in Tyrol. Please note that you will not receive a request for this, but you have to book an appointment electronically and bring all necessary documents (passport photo, etc.) to this appointment.

Note: On the back of the e-card there is a field for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In any case, it makes sense to inform yourself about the EHIC.

In addition, it is generally advisable to check with the relevant health insurance institution (via website, hotline, etc.) before traveling abroad whether, under what conditions, and to what extent health insurance coverage exists for the destination country, and what steps the insured person must take to obtain it. It is also recommended to consider taking out appropriate private insurance to cover risks that are not included in statutory coverage.