Lyla Lindsey
Austria's healthcare system is complex, with a two-tier system in which all individuals receive publicly funded care, but can also purchase supplementary private health insurance. Healthcare is universal for Austrian residents and those from other EU countries. The system is decentralised, with each of the nine states and the federal government having legal limitations and roles in healthcare. The federal government is responsible for the legislative framework, including the regulation of social health insurance (SHI), which funds ambulatory and rehabilitative care outside hospitals. The states regulate hospital care within their jurisdictions. Spending on healthcare in Austria was 11.2% of GDP in 2015, the fifth-highest in Europe.
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What You'll Learn
Public vs. private healthcare
Austria has a two-tier healthcare system, which means that while everyone can access medical care to some degree, there is also the option to purchase supplementary private health insurance. Healthcare in Austria is universal for residents of Austria as well as those from other EU countries.
Public healthcare in Austria is funded by a mix of general tax revenues and compulsory social health insurance (SHI) contributions. Income-related SHI contributions account for about 60% of publicly financed health expenditures, while the remaining 40% comes from general taxation. The federal government is responsible for the legislative framework, including the regulation of SHI, while the states (Länder) regulate hospital care in their jurisdictions. SHI funds have operational responsibility for ambulatory and rehabilitative care outside hospitals and outpatient medicines, and they negotiate contracts with providers.
Enrollment in the public health care system is generally automatic and is linked to employment. As long as you are part of the public healthcare system, you can generally see a doctor for free. However, you may have to pay a small fee for certain medical services, such as outpatient visits, and there may be co-payments for prescription medications and hospitalization. The e-Card, which is issued to all insured persons, must be presented when visiting a doctor.
Private health insurance in Austria is not very common, with only a small fraction of the population utilizing it. It offers optimal expert care, shorter waiting times, the ability to choose your physician for outpatient treatment, and life-long coverage. Private insurance can also cover additional costs such as medication, glasses, contact lenses, dental care, travel insurance, and subsidized gym memberships. The average cost of private health insurance in Austria is approximately 220 EUR (243 USD) per month.
Overall, Austria's healthcare system is complex, with responsibilities divided between the federal and regional levels. However, the system provides universal coverage for a wide range of benefits and high-quality care, and population satisfaction is well above the EU average.
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Quality of care
Austria's healthcare system is complex, with a two-tier system in which all individuals receive publicly funded care, but can also opt for supplementary private health insurance. Healthcare is considered a fundamental right in Austria, and the country provides universal coverage for a wide range of benefits and high-quality care.
The Austrian healthcare system is decentralised, with each of the nine states and the federal government having legal limitations and roles in healthcare. The federal government is responsible for the legislative framework, including the regulation of social health insurance (SHI). SHI funds have operational responsibility for out-of-hospital care and outpatient medicines, and they negotiate contracts with providers. The states (Länder) regulate hospital care within their jurisdictions and are responsible for organising and financing inpatient and outpatient care in hospitals.
Financing is mixed and fragmented, with SHI funds, the federal government, the Länder, and municipalities all contributing to the health budget. Income-related SHI contributions make up about 60% of publicly financed health expenditures, with the remaining 40% coming from general taxation. In 2019, health expenditure 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 were mainly related to outpatient medical care, pharmaceuticals, long-term care, and dental care.
Austria has a relatively high density of hospitals and physicians, with 4.7 physicians per 1,000 people in 2011, slightly above the European average. Inpatient care is emphasised within the Austrian healthcare system, and the country has the most acute care discharges per 100 inhabitants in Europe. The average hospital stay is 6.6 days, compared to an EU average of 6 days.
While the Austrian healthcare system provides unrestricted access to all care levels, there are some clear social inequalities in the use of medical services. Spending on preventive medicine is significantly lower than the EU15 and OECD averages, and there are regional differences in the utilisation of curative and preventative services. However, reforms have been implemented to address these issues, including a large nursing and long-term care reform to improve working conditions, training, and remuneration for healthcare professionals.
Overall, Austria's healthcare system is highly regarded, with the World Health Organization ranking it 9th in the world in the mid-2000s. The city of Vienna has also been listed as 1st in quality of living, which includes various social services. The system provides easy access to quality healthcare for everyone, with high population satisfaction above the EU average.
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Healthcare funding
Austria has a two-tier healthcare system, with universal coverage for all residents, including EU/EEA and Swiss students, and those from other EU countries. Healthcare in Austria 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. In 2019, spending on health from public sources accounted for 75% of the total, with out-of-pocket spending making up the remaining 25%.
Public spending on healthcare in Austria was about 22 billion EUR (30.3 billion USD) in 2011, which was about 7% of GDP and 25% of social expenditure. In 2013, healthcare expenditure was 11% of GDP, and in 2015, it was 11.2% of GDP, the fifth-highest in Europe. In 2019, health expenditure amounted to 10.4% of GDP, the fifth-highest in the EU.
Austria's health programs are funded by the sickness insurance fund, the Krankenkasse, which in 2013 took 11% of GDP. The federal government is responsible for the legislative framework, including the regulation of SHI, and the states (Länder) regulate hospital care within their jurisdictions. SHI funds have operational responsibility for ambulatory and rehabilitative care outside hospitals and outpatient medicines, and they negotiate contracts with providers. The states regulate hospital care within their jurisdictions and are responsible for the organisation and financing of inpatient and outpatient care in hospitals. Municipalities also contribute to the health budget.
While medical insurance is only mandatory for selected population groups in Austria, such as residents whose income is from Austria, including freelancers and pensioners, others can sign up for public or private insurance voluntarily. Foreign workers with regular employment with an Austrian employer must register for public insurance, while job seekers with a valid residence permit can choose to do so.
In addition to insurance fees, patients pay a small amount for certain medical services. Almost all medical treatments are free of charge when they are deemed purposeful and necessary, including doctor visits, mandatory vaccinations, hospital and emergency care, and dental check-ups. However, some services, such as prescription medications and hospitalisation, require small co-payments. Depending on the situation, some groups may be exempt from out-of-pocket payments for medications. For most health services, employed people and farmers are likely to benefit for free from the moment they begin receiving care. For outpatient visits, patients may have to pay between 10 and 20% of the overall cost for contracted physicians.
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Healthcare coverage
Austria has a two-tier healthcare system, which is considered complex in its organisation. The federal government is responsible for the legislative framework, including the regulation of social health insurance (SHI). SHI funds have operational responsibility for ambulatory and rehabilitative care outside hospitals, outpatient medicines, and they negotiate contracts with providers. The states (Länder) regulate hospital care in their jurisdictions within the framework defined by federal legislation and are mainly responsible for the organisation and financing of inpatient and outpatient care in hospitals.
Austria's health programs are funded by the sickness insurance fund, known as the Krankenkasse, which in 2013 took 11.0% of the GDP, above the EU average of 7.8%. Spending on health from public sources accounted for 75% of the total in 2019, with the remaining 25% coming from general taxation. Income-related SHI contributions account for about 60% of publicly financed health expenditures.
Healthcare in Austria is universal for residents of Austria as well as those from other EU countries. All insured persons are issued an e-Card, which must be presented when visiting a doctor. The e-Card allows for the digitisation of health claims and can be used for electronic signatures. Healthcare is free for those who are insured, although there is a small co-payment for some services. For most health services, employed people and farmers are likely to benefit for free from the moment they begin receiving care. For outpatient visits, patients may have to pay between 10 and 20% of the overall cost for contracted physicians.
Medical insurance is mandatory for residents whose income comes from Austria, including freelancers and pensioners. Residents who do not fit into this bracket can sign up voluntarily. Foreign workers with regular employment with an Austrian employer must register for public insurance.
Private health insurance is also available in Austria, offering optimal expert care, the ability to choose a physician for outpatient treatment, and life-long coverage. Private insurance also results in shorter waiting times, and can cover additional costs for special wards in hospitals. However, only a small fraction of the population utilises private insurance.
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Waiting times
Austria's healthcare system is complex, with a two-tier system in place. Healthcare is universal for Austrian residents and those from other EU countries, with all insured persons issued with an e-card to access medical services.
The federal government is responsible for the legislative framework, including the regulation of social health insurance (SHI). SHI funds have operational responsibility for out-of-hospital care and outpatient medicines. The Austrian health system provides universal coverage for a wide range of benefits and high-quality care. There is unrestricted access to all care levels, including general practitioners, specialists, and hospitals.
However, waiting times can vary depending on insurance coverage. Those with private insurance generally experience shorter waiting times. In a survey in Lower Austria, 8% of respondents said they were offered shorter wait times for additional private payments. According to Statistics Austria, social health insurance patients waited twice as long for cardiac catheterization and three to four times as long for cataract and knee surgery compared to those with private insurance. Some states have implemented objective waiting list guidelines to address this issue.
The average cost of private health insurance in Austria is approximately 220 EUR (243 USD) per month. Private insurance offers additional benefits, such as the ability to choose a physician for outpatient treatment, coverage for medication and medical products, and access to dental care, travel insurance, and subsidised gym memberships.
For those with public insurance, medical treatments are generally free of charge when deemed necessary, including doctor visits, vaccinations, hospital and emergency care, and dental check-ups. However, some services, such as prescription medications and hospitalisation, may require small co-payments.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria has a two-tier healthcare system, with a mix of public and private insurance. The public system is universal and funded by the sickness insurance fund, Krankenkasse, while private insurance is supplementary and offers additional benefits.
The Austrian public healthcare system covers a wide range of benefits, including emergency care, doctor visits, mandatory vaccinations, dental check-ups, and hospital care. However, there may be small co-payments for certain services, such as prescription medications and hospital stays.
Private health insurance in Austria is optional and provides additional coverage, shorter waiting times, and more flexibility during in-patient treatment. It also covers medication, glasses, contact lenses, dental care, travel insurance, and subsidised gym memberships.
