Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for enrollment and visas. Most students go with the affordable public option (ÖGK), though private plans for internationals are also available.

ÖGK Self-insurance for Students (Selbstversicherung)

ÖGK, which translates to Austrian Health Insurance Fund, is the largest social health insurance provider in Austria. ÖGK provides health coverage to around 82% of Austria's population, insuring 7.2 million people regardless of their age or income. It covers essential healthcare costs, including hospital visits, prescription medications, preventative care, etc.

Costs (Approximate):

Monthly Premium: ~€73.48 for students (as of 2025)
Annual Service Fee: €14.65 per year

Note: EU Students with EHIC likely do not require Austrian insurance.

Key Features

Coverage: All medically necessary treatments
Validity: No time limit while studying in Austria
important: More concrete info here.

Application Process

Requirements:
- Passport/ID
- Address Registration Confirmation (Meldezettel)
- University enrollment Confirmation (Studienbestätigung)
Apply at the nearest branch:
- Urfahr branch (near Magistrat)
- Main branch (near downtown)
- Kleinmünchen branch

Note: An appointment is usually not required. Simply ask at the reception for 'Selbstversicherung für Studenten'

e-card

The e-card is Austria's personalized electronic health insurance chip card, serving as your primary identification for accessing healthcare services, verifying insurance coverage, and interacting with social security systems. You need it to visit doctors, get preventive care, or receive medical treatment at Austrian healthcare facilities. It includes your social security number and EHIC on the backside, allowing for necessary medical treatment even in other EU/EEA countries.

Photo requirement: In order for your e-card to be issued, a valid photo must be submitted in-person. This required an appointment at the BFA police station (Bundesamt für Fremdenwesen und Asyl).
You will need to bring:
- a photo according to the passport photo requirements
- Your Austrian social insurance number or current e-card
- Passport or ID card
After photo submission, the e-card is usually issued and mailed automatically to your registered address within 4 weeks.
In the meantime, you can still visit a doctor with your social insurance number and photo ID even before receiving it.
If you have any inquires, reach out to the e-card Serviceline: +43 (0) 50124 3311

Your To-Do List: Keeping Your ÖGK Insurance Active

To ensure your student health insurance continues without any interruptions, you must proactively manage your status with the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK). Here’s what you need to do:

1. Send Your Semester Documents to the ÖGK !

As soon as you enroll for your next semester, you must inform the ÖGK. Send your official confirmation of enrollment or continuation (your Meldebestätigung or Studienbestätigung) to them as soon as you get it.
You can upload it directly through the ÖGK online portal using your ID Austria or deliver it to a local ÖGK service point. Handling this promptly is the key to renewing your coverage each year.

2. Report Any Major Changes to the ÖGK Within a Week!

Your insurance is based on your status as a student. If your situation changes, you are legally required to report it to the ÖGK within one week to avoid penalties or a lapse in coverage.
You must report changes like
- - Starting a job where you earn above the "marginal employment" threshold (as you will then be insured through your employer).
  - Any significant change to your income that affects your insurance status.
  - Moving to a new address. The ÖGK must have your current address to send your e-card and important letters.
  - How to report a change: The fastest way is to log in to the ÖGK online portal with your ID Austria and update your details. You can also visit an ÖGK service point in person.

Staying on top of these steps ensures your insurance remains valid and that you are always covered when you need care

Heads-up: Limited Dental Coverage

Your public health insurance (ÖGK) is great for doctors and hospitals, but dental coverage is very basic.

What's usually covered:
- - One check-up per year.
  - Emergency extractions and pain relief.
  - Basic amalgam (silver) fillings.
What's NOT covered (you pay full price):
- - Routine cleanings (€80-€150).
  - White composite fillings (you pay extra).
  - Braces, crowns, implants.

Smart Tip: Always get a written cost estimate (Kostenvoranschlag) before any treatment. Consider private dental insurance (Zusatzversicherung) for better coverage.

Private Insurance Options

1. FeelSafe (via UNIQA)

feelsafe.at
Student Insurance: feelsafe.at/students-health-insurance
Monthly Cost: ~€65-70
Provider: UNIQA (Austria's largest health insurer)
Contract: 3-year term, monthly cancellation possible
Requirements: Enrolled at an Austrian university, minimum 4 ECTS/semester

2. Care Austria

Care-austria.com
Alternative: care-concept.de/oesterreichversicherung_eng.php
Monthly Cost: From €51/month
Good For: International students, expats, au pairs, visitors
Coverage: "All risks" coverage for residence permits
Special: Accepts non-residents, suitable for visa applications]=

3. UNIQA Direct

uniqa.at
Type: Private health insurance
Coverage: Comprehensive private healthcare
Cost: Variable based on coverage level
Good For: Students wanting premium healthcare access

4. Generali Austria

generali.at
Type: Private supplementary and full coverage
Cost: Variable pricing
Features: Additional private healthcare benefits

5. Merkur Versicherung

merkur.co.at
Type: Austrian private insurer
Coverage: Health and supplementary insurance
Cost: Varies by plan

Note: Prices and terms change annually. Always verify current rates and conditions directly with insurance providers before making decisions.

Important: ID Austria

ID Austria is the official digital identity system for Austria. It replaces the old "Bürgerkarte" and functions on two main levels:

Digital Onboarding: A secure login for over 200 online services (e.g., university portals, official government sites/apps).
Digital Signature: The legal equivalent of your handwritten signature for official documents.

For students, this means you can handle bureaucracy from your laptop without waiting in line!

Why You, as a Student, Absolutely Need ID Austria

Here’s how ID Austria will make your student life smoother:
- Meldezettel (Registration Form): You are legally required to register your address in Austria. You can do this entirely online with ID Austria.
- Study Grant & Support (Studienbeihilfe): Apply for and manage your financial aid applications online.
- Health Insurance (e-card): Manage aspects of your health insurance and access services related to your e-card.
- Taxes (FinanzOnline): If you have a part-time job (Werkstudent), you can use ID Austria to log into FinanzOnline to handle your tax declaration and get your annual tax assessment (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung), which often results in a nice refund.
- Official Documents: Apply for official documents, confirm your eligibility to work, and even sign official documents digitally.
- Mobile Phone Contracts: Securely identify yourself online to sign a contract for a new SIM card.

How to Get Your ID Austria as a Student

The process is straightforward but requires one in-person appointment:

You must activate ID Austria in person. Go to the ID Austria Website and use their appointment booking tool. Common locations include:
- Citizen Service Points (Bürgerservice) in any city (e.g., Magistrat, Bezirkshauptmannschaft).
- Post Offices (Die Post) – Many post offices offer activation services
- Police Stations (Polizeiinspektion) – Some stations provide this service.

Pro Tip for Students: Appointments at main citizen service centers (such as Vienna's Town Hall) can be booked weeks in advance. Check for appointments at smaller district offices or post offices for earlier dates.

Bring the following original documents to your appointment:
- A Valid Photo ID:
  - - For EU/EEA students: Your national ID card or passport.
- For non-EU/EEA students: Your passport and your valid Austrian residence permit (Aufenthaltskarte or Aufenthaltstitel "Student").
- Your Mobile Phone: You will need it to install and activate the ID Austria app.
- Your Email Address: You'll need it for registration.
- Your Mobile Phone Number: For receiving activation codes.
- Your Meldezettel: While not always strictly required, it's highly recommended to bring your registration form as proof of address.

ELGA (electronic health records)

ELGA is a national e‑health infrastructure that lets people in Austria and authorized providers access selected health data through a secure portal.

The portal bundles patient reports (eBefunde) and the medication list (eMedikation), and provides access to the e‑Impfpass, which technically uses ELGA infrastructure but is governed by separate legal rules.

What it shows

eBefunde: Hospital discharge letters, lab results, and radiology reports are available digitally; retention in ELGA is ten years, and availability depends on whether the provider stores them in ELGA.
eMedikation: A consolidated list of prescribed and dispensed medicines, including “open” and collected prescriptions; pharmacies can also record relevant OTC items to support interaction checks.
e‑Impfpass: Vaccinations are recorded in the national register, viewable in the portal, and cannot be opted out of, as it serves the public interest; it runs on ELGA infrastructure.
Access and audit: The ELGA area shows which providers (ELGA‑GDA) currently have access, “expired contacts” for one year, and a detailed access log (Protokoll).

How to log in

Log in via the public health portal with ID Austria, then open the ELGA area to access eBefunde, eMedikation, and the e‑Impfpass.
Login help, phone support, and guidance for representing others (children, adult representation, or with a registered e‑Vollmacht) are provided in the official help and ELGA‑Portal FAQ.

Doctor visits history

ELGA does not provide a full chronological list of visits; instead, use the social insurance service “Arztbesuche anzeigen” to see billed doctor visits.
Within ELGA, the ELGA‑GDA section shows providers with current access and lists “expired contacts” for one year, which reflects access, not a comprehensive visit ledger.

Referrals (Überweisung/Zuweisung)

Electronic referrals are part of the e‑card service landscape (e‑Überweisung/e‑Zuweisung) and are not listed as a patient‑facing registry inside the ELGA portal.
For referral details, consult the referring practice or the e‑card workflow used at the point of care.

Where to find items

eBefunde section: View and download discharge letters, lab, and radiology reports when provided by participating facilities.
eMedikation section: View and print the medication list with all open and dispensed prescriptions.
e‑Impfpass section: View and download vaccination records from the national register.
ELGA‑GDA/Protokoll: Manage provider access and review who accessed which data and when.

Downloading and retention

eBefunde can be downloaded as a PDF and remain accessible in ELGA for ten years unless hidden or deleted by the participant.
eMedikation entries are kept for clinical use and are automatically deleted after 18 months per the ELGA‑Portal FAQ.
The e‑Impfpass can be downloaded as a PDF and is maintained in the national vaccination register for public health purposes.

Other Important services

Meine ÖGK

Service portal of the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) for insured persons to access health insurance data and online services.

Provides self-service access to e‑card data, benefit usage, and insurance entitlements in one place.

View insured benefits and used medical services (“ärztliche Leistungen”).
Check e‑card data and insurance entitlements.
Use online submissions and services provided by ÖGK.

MeineBVAEB

Online service portal of the BVAEB (public sector, railways, mining) for secure access via ID Austria, with broad e‑services and an accompanying app.

Designed to simplify submissions and give an overview of visits, insurance data, and reimbursements.

See the “Aufstellung Ihrer Arztbesuche” (list of doctor visits).
Submit invoices, retrieve insurance statements, manage applications.
Secure login with ID Austria for portal and app access.

SVS – svsGO

Digital one‑stop portal of the Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen (SVS) bundling contribution, health, and pension services for the self‑employed.

Available as a portal and app, with functions for submissions, balances, and e‑prescriptions.

Contribution account and payment balance (Online‑Saldo) overview.
Submit invoices and requests for approvals; track status.
Access health/pension accounts and e‑prescriptions.

MeineSV (cross‑insurer)

The cross‑insurer service portal that centralizes online services across Austria’s social insurance institutions.

Offers a single entry point for viewing histories and filing applications securely.

Overview of insurance periods, doctor visits/treatments, prescription fees, and used services.
Online submissions: self‑insurance, “Gesundmeldung,” address changes, and claim submissions.
Access to personal pension account and more in one portal

WEBEKU (outstanding payments)

WEB‑BE‑Kunden‑Portal (WEBEKU) is the online contributions account portal for employers, self‑ and special‑insured, and authorized representatives.

It provides a current view of contribution accounts and bookings (e.g., contributions, payments) at ÖGK and BVAEB, enabling monitoring of outstanding amounts and initiating payment arrangements.

Up‑to‑date account view (contribution postings, payments) for ÖGK/BVAEB; export details of monthly contribution basis reports.
Electronic applications: refunds, reallocations, clearance certificates, SEPA mandates, power‑of‑attorney management, installment plans (Ratenansuchen).
Additional functions: contractor account view for AuftraggeberInnenhaftung, employee headcount query, insurance numbers, and SV‑Clearing feedback.

Important Notes:

Mandatory Coverage: All students MUST have health insurance
Visa Requirements: Non-EU students need "all risks" coverage for issuing their residence permit.
Emergency Contact: Keep insurance contact details accessible
Cancellation: Plan cancellation before the end of the last month in Austria.

Money-Saving Tips:

Compare carefully - prices change annually
EU students: Check if EHIC provides temporary coverage
Long-term stays: ÖGK is often most cost-effective
Short-term: Private options may be cheaper initially
Group discounts: Some insurers offer student group rates

Emergency Contacts

Medical Emergencies:

Emergency Number: 144 (ambulance)
European Emergency: 112

Lost/Stolen Insurance Cards:

Report immediately to your insurance provider
ÖGK: Call the service line immediately
Private insurers: Contact customer service

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