Austria's Healthcare System: A Comprehensive Overview

Austria's healthcare system is a two-tier system that blends public access and private options. The public healthcare system covers almost everyone, and the country also has a large network of private healthcare providers. Healthcare in Austria is universal for residents and those from other EU countries. The system is funded by a mix of general tax revenues and compulsory social health insurance contributions. Austria's healthcare system is decentralised, with each of the nine states and the federal government having legal limitations and roles.

Public vs private healthcare

Austria's healthcare system is a two-tiered model, with a public health service and a network of private healthcare providers. The public system is accessible to all Austrian citizens and EU/EEA citizens, and covers virtually all health issues and medication requirements. It is funded by the Austrian social health insurance funds, the federal government, and the provinces, among other institutions. Employees and employers contribute equally to the cost of public health insurance, with a monthly contribution of 7.65% of gross monthly income.

Public healthcare covers four areas: illness, maternity, precautionary, and therapeutic aid. It includes medical and dental treatments, surgeries and rehabilitation services, and preventive care such as vaccines. It also covers childbirth and things like parental leave benefits, child allowance, and maternity allowance.

Private healthcare in Austria offers additional benefits such as shorter waiting times, access to exclusive physicians, private hospital rooms, and flexible visiting hours. It also provides broader coverage, including travel insurance and dental coverage, and is more suitable for those with chronic conditions requiring extra care. The average cost of private health insurance in Austria is approximately €220 per month, but prices vary based on factors like age and desired coverage.

While the public system is comprehensive, many residents opt for private insurance to access better care more quickly. Private insurance also offers higher levels of comfort and flexibility in hospitals and clinics, and covers more treatments, such as prenatal diagnostics during pregnancy.

Who can access Austrian healthcare?

Austria's healthcare system is designed to be inclusive and accessible to everyone. The system is made up of two tiers: public and private. The vast majority of individuals in Austria receive publicly funded healthcare, with the option to purchase supplementary private health insurance.

Public Healthcare

Austria's public healthcare system is universal for Austrian residents and those from other EU countries. For most people, enrolment in the public healthcare system is automatic and linked to employment. Employers are responsible for enrolling their staff on the public health insurance and deducting the health insurance tax from their salaries.

Public healthcare is also available to:

• Spouses and underage dependents of employed individuals (known as "co-insured" persons)
• Pensioners
• Students
• The disabled
• Anyone receiving unemployment benefits

Self-employed people are not automatically added to the public health system but are allowed to register.

Private Healthcare

Private healthcare is used by those who either cannot use public healthcare or are self-employed and choose to opt out. It is also used by those who want it to complement their public insurance. Private healthcare offers shorter waiting times, a wider choice of physicians, and the choice of public or private clinics and hospitals.

Tourists and Temporary Visitors

Tourists and temporary visitors can access Austrian healthcare but may have to pay full price.

How is Austrian healthcare funded?

The Austrian healthcare system is funded by a mix of general tax revenues and compulsory social health insurance (SHI) contributions. Income-related SHI contributions make up about 60% of publicly financed health expenditures, while the remaining 40% comes from general taxation.

Contributions are pooled by the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions (HVB) and then allocated to SHI funds for payment of healthcare providers.

In 2019, health expenditure in Austria amounted to 10.4% of GDP, the fifth-highest in the EU. Spending on health from public sources accounted for 75% of the total, while out-of-pocket spending made up nearly 18%. Out-of-pocket payments mainly covered direct spending on outpatient medical care, pharmaceuticals, long-term care, and dental care.

Public healthcare in Austria is funded through taxation and compulsory SHI contributions. Employees contribute to the public healthcare system through their salaries, with a health insurance tax taken out of each paycheck. Self-insured students must pay around 50 EUR (60 USD) per month for national health insurance.

Private healthcare in Austria is funded by supplementary private health insurance, which individuals can choose to purchase. Private health insurance in Austria costs approximately 220 EUR (243 USD) per month.

What does Austrian healthcare cover?

Austria's healthcare system covers nearly all of its population, with 99% of residents being part of the public healthcare system. The system is inclusive and comprehensive, covering all essential treatments that are purposeful and necessary. This includes doctor visits, mandatory vaccinations, hospital and emergency care, dental check-ups, and more.

The Austrian healthcare system is divided into public and private sectors. The public sector offers almost universal medical coverage, while the private sector provides quicker access to better care.

Public Healthcare Coverage

Public healthcare in Austria covers:

• Doctor visits
• Vaccinations
• Hospital and emergency care
• Dental check-ups (two per year)
• Certain dental treatments like x-rays, fillings, and tooth removal
• Medically necessary braces for children
• Removable dentures for seniors
• Cancer screenings
• Ovarian cyst removals

Private Healthcare Coverage

Private healthcare in Austria offers additional coverage and benefits, including:

• Shorter waiting times
• Direct access to specialists
• A wider range of healthcare providers
• Higher levels of comfort and flexibility in hospitals and clinics
• Access to better and more efficient medical care
• Sickness and death benefits
• Coverage for treatments not included in public insurance, such as prenatal diagnostics during pregnancy
• Coverage for private hospital rooms and exclusive physicians

Who is Covered by Austrian Healthcare?

Austrian healthcare is universal for residents and those from other EU countries. Enrollment in the public healthcare system is generally automatic and linked to employment. However, insurance is also guaranteed for spouses and dependents, pensioners, students, the disabled, and those receiving unemployment benefits.

Foreigners can also access Austrian healthcare, with different requirements depending on their country of origin and residence status.

How does Austrian healthcare compare to other countries?

Austria has a two-tier healthcare system, with a strong emphasis on inpatient care. The public healthcare system covers virtually all Austrian citizens and EU/EEA citizens, and enrolment is generally automatic and linked to employment. The system is funded by a mix of general tax revenues and compulsory social health insurance (SHI) contributions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Austria's healthcare system 9th in their mid-2000s international ranking. In 2015, the cost of healthcare was 11.2% of GDP, the fifth-highest in Europe. The city of Vienna was also listed as 1st in quality of living by the Mercer Consultants.

Compared to other countries, Austria's healthcare system has its strengths and weaknesses. Here is a comparison of Austria's healthcare system with that of the United States and other European countries:

Austria vs. the United States

Austria and the United States have very different healthcare systems. Austria follows a "social insurance model", where healthcare is publicly funded, while the United States follows an "out-of-pocket" model, where individuals pay for medical care through private sector systems. Despite spending a large portion of their gross domestic product on healthcare, both countries have unmet healthcare needs. For example, the United States has high obesity rates, while Austria has high tobacco use.

In terms of healthcare coverage, Austria offers more extensive coverage than the United States. However, there is a lack of literature on how the healthcare systems impact patient outcomes in the two countries.

When it comes to healthcare costs, the United States has much higher out-of-pocket costs than Austria, with high prescription drug prices. As a result, many Americans choose not to receive medical care due to the cost. On the other hand, the United States offers faster access to specialist care and better coordination between hospitals and healthcare providers.

Austria vs. European Countries

Austria's healthcare system ranks 12th in Europe, according to the Euro Health Consumer Index in 2015. The ranking was affected by the fact that abortion is not carried out in the public healthcare system.

Austria has a higher density of hospitals and physicians compared to the European average. In 2011, there were 4.7 physicians per 1000 people in Austria, slightly higher than the European average. Additionally, Austria has the most acute care discharges per 100 inhabitants in Europe, with an average hospital stay of 6.6 days.

In terms of medication usage, Austria ranked 5th out of 13 developed countries in 2013, indicating a higher usage of medication compared to many other European countries.

Frequently asked questions