Healthcare system of Austria
Thinking about studying abroad in Vienna?
You might be wondering, “What happens if I get sick? Will it be expensive?”.
The good news is Austria has a simple healthcare system.
You can access quality care without spending much.
The cost of healthcare in Austria
The healthcare system is funded through contributions from both employees and employers via social insurance. For those with low income or no income, healthcare is free, though there may still be small costs for things like medications.
In Vienna, private healthcare works alongside the public healthcare system. If you prefer private care, you’ll usually need to sign up for private health insurance or pay upfront and then apply for reimbursement.
Austria International Student Insurance
As an international student in Austria, it’s important to ensure you’re covered with the right level of health insurance during your stay. Most students will need to arrange their own health insurance, but depending on where you’re coming from, there might be agreements in place that cover you automatically.
Austria’s visa insurance requirements:
If you’re from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland – With a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you’ll be able to access healthcare in Austria just as you would back home.
If you’re a non-EU/EEA student – You’ll need to provide proof of health insurance when applying for your residency permit. This means getting a letter from your insurance provider that confirms your coverage for the entire duration of your stay in Austria.
Students from the EU with a valid European Health Insurance Card are not obliged to get insurance for their residency application. However, it's strongly advised to purchase additional coverage for benefits like repatriation, evacuation, and other services that the European Health Insurance Card may not fully cover.
Pharmacies in Vienna
If you have a prescription from your doctor, you can take it to any pharmacy to get your medication. With public insurance, you'll usually pay a small fee (around €6), and if you have private insurance, you don’t need to pay anything.