Insurance

Social Security and Health Insurance

In Austria, insurance coverage begins with the first day of insured work. It is the employer’s duty to ensure prompt enrollment and cancellation of the employee in the Austrian health insurance system (each of Austria’s nine States has a regional branch office of the Gebietskrankenkasse)  Cancellations of coverage are due within seven days of the termination of the employee-employer relationship.

Self-employed workers must enroll and cancel their own social security and health insurance (with the Sozialversicherung der gewerblichen Wirtschaft) and pay their own premiums. When insurance coverage is tied to a formal prerequisite, for example, a trade license, the insurance relationship begins on the day when the trade license is obtained and ends on the last day of the month in which the trade license is surrendered.

More details about territorial coverage and premiums can be found under Financial Aspects.

Insurance Coverage for non-Austrian citizens

Citizens from EU and EEA member countries as well as Switzerland enjoy insurance coverage in Austria as per the EU Ordinance 883/2004, which coordinates the various health insurance and social security systems. In addition, there are agreements with a number of Eastern European countries (Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, etc.). Different types of coverage, depending on the type and duration of the stay, are available to provide insurance for medical services while in Austria. Applications need to be filed accordingly.

Citizens of the USA and Canada, for example, can file a A/USA 1 form with their employer prior to their trip to Austria. Costs of medical care while in Austria must be paid directly to the Austrian provider when services are rendered and will be partly or entirely refunded in the home country, depending on the insurance policy.

Crew members, for example, from the USA and Canada, are advised to review their health insurance coverage for a work visit to Austria  and may consider purchasing additional insurance coverage.

An agreement on health insurance coverage for Indian citizens is under review by the Parliament; until an agreement is in place, Indian citizens will be responsible for their own private health insurance coverage for trips to Austria.

Vienna Health Insurance Offices for Workers and Employees
(Wiener Gebietskrankenkasse für Arbeiter und Angestellte)
Wienerbergstraße 15-19
A-1100 Vienna, Austria
ph: +43 (0)1 60122
fax: +43 (0)1 60246-13

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