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This guide is for UK citizens living, working or studying in Austria; guidance is different for those visiting the country.
For those legally resident in Austria up to and including December 31 2020, access to healthcare in the country will stay as is for the entire duration of residency.
Health care in Austria is funded by the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK), the country’s national health service which Austrian residents pay into monthly.
UK citizens may be required to make further payments in order to access healthcare from the ÖGK system. At present, access is available via the following routes:
paying for state health insurance through your employer
paying for state health insurance directly
using a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for temporary stays
registering a UK-issued S1 with the state insurance fund.
The S1 system gives ÖGK-provided healthcare to UK citizens on the same basis as to Austrian nationals. Recipients of UK state pensions and some other British benefits are eligible for S1 status.
Healthcare for British Austrian residents
It is essential to register as a resident when living in Austria.
Any kind of employment, including self-employment, requires taking out health insurance.
Anyone not working should take out voluntary health insurance.
Any dependents can be added to a health insurance plan.
Insurance cover begins on the day it is taken out, but there may be a delay of up to 6 months before any benefits are received.
This delay will not occur if the holder was already an Austrian resident and insured in one of the following ways:
for 6 weeks immediately prior to taking out the current health insurance
for any 26 weeks in the year prior to taking out the insurance.
People registered as Austrian residents on or before 31 December 2020 will retain the same level of healthcare after that date, for as long as residence continues. In this case, from 1 January 2021, healthcare will be provided in the same way as for Austrian nationals.
Registered Austrian residents who qualify for a UK state pension can also apply for healthcare via the S1 system.
Registration process
The first step is registration as an Austrian resident.
In the case of an employed (including self-employed) applicant, health insurance is taken out automatically as part of the registration process.
Those not employed should contact the local Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) office.
Once registration is complete, an ‘e-card’ is posted to the resident. This is to be shown when visiting a healthcare facility; Austrian residents do not need to register with a doctor.
The e-card functions as an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and thus allows access to online services.
Costs
Price rates vary, in line with salary level, and geographically across Austria.
When accessing healthcare, the surgery should have a sign saying the following:
Kassenarzt (‘contracted doctor’)
Alle kassen (‘all insurers’).
No payment is taken at the surgery or other healthcare facility.
Some medical services require further payment, including:
20% of private doctor’s fees (80% payable by ÖGK healthcare insurance)
10-15 euros per 1st 28 days in hospital.
Posted workers
Posted workers are UK residents who are usually employed (including self-employed) in the UK, but have been ‘posted’ abroad to work in another country within the European Economic Area (EEA) for a specific period of time. Austria is in the EEA.
Up until 31 December 2020, posted UK workers can access healthcare in Austria via the EHIC system.
Non-UK residents posted in Austria will require healthcare using a different route; HMRC has help advice for workers in this situation.
Both the EHIC and S1 healthcare provision systems remain in place for the duration of 2020.
S1 healthcare for UK citizens resident in Austria
UK nationals registered as Austrian residents are eligible for state-funded healthcare, provided they receive:
a UK state pension
one or other ‘exportable benefits’.
(Note: Not all UK benefits claimable abroad entitle the claimant to UK-funded healthcare.)
Posted workers and frontier workers (those working in a different country to that of their registered residence) may be able to claim healthcare cover via the S1 system. Contact HMRC National Insurance for details.
Once registered as an Austrian resident, the S1 healthcare form covers the applicant and any dependents. The form is filled in as part of the residency application.
Obtaining an S1 form
Recipients of UK state pensions or other exportable benefits should apply for an S1 form from the following:
NHS Overseas Healthcare Services
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 1999
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Saturday, 9am to 3pm.
Using the S1 form in Austria
Once the S1 form is completed, it should be registered with the Austrian national health insurance fund, called Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK).
After successful registration with the ÖGK, the applicant is given an e-card, allowing the same state-funded healthcare access as Austrian citizens.
The e-card must be shown when visiting any doctor or healthcare facility. The reverse of the e-card is an EHIC.
UK S1 healthcare in Austria from 1 January 2021
UK citizens registered as Austrian residents as at 31 December 2020 will continue to receive the same level of healthcare via the S1 system after that date, providing they:
receive a UK State Pension;
receive another ‘exportable benefit’; or
are a frontier worker (someone who works in one country while resident in another).
This coverage also ensures:
continued access to healthcare in Austria with the UK-issued S1 form;
a UK-issued EHIC for travel;
planned treatments in other EU countries via the S2 system;
access to the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales when in the UK.
UK students living in Austria
Students studying in Austria should apply for a Student European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This version of the EHIC gives access to healthcare for a longer period.
EHIC does not replace health insurance; this should be taken out by the individual student before travelling abroad, and cover the length of the course of study.
Students can also apply for healthcare cover via the S1 system via the ÖGK; this requires registration as an Austrian resident.
Students registered with the EHIC system before 1 January 2021 will continue to receive healthcare cover in Austria for the duration of their course.
Returning to live in the UK
Any UK citizen returning to the country to live permanently is entitled to full access to the National Health Service (NHS).