The health care system in Austria is very comprehensive. It tries to help in every area. Here is all the important information on healthcare, illnesses or emergencies.
In Austria there is compulsory social insurance. This means that every person in Austria must be insured. There is a statutory social insurance (SV). Here you can find more information:
www.sozialversicherung.at
Employees who earn more than the marginal earnings threshold are insured medically against accidents and for retirement. The marginal earnings threshold is around 400 Euros per month. The statutory social insurance pays for all services which one might medically need in case of sickness. Family members can be included in the insurance for free. If the marriage is childless, the other partner must only pay a small amount.
In Austria most people who are not self-employed are insured by the general medical insurance association (ÖGK). Public officers are insured by the BVAE. Self-employed people are insured by the SVS.
Österreichische Gesundheitskasse – ÖGK
Engelbert-Weiß-Weg 10
5020 Salzburg
Phone: +43 (0) 5 0766-17
https://www.gesundheitskasse.at
Versicherungsanstalt öffentlicher Bediensteter – BVAEB
Faberstraße 2A
5020 Salzburg
Phone: +43 (0) 50405-27700
https://www.bvaeb.at
Sozialversicherungsanstalt der gewerblichen Wirtschaft Landesstelle Salzburg – SVS
Auerspergstraße 24
5020 Salzburg
Phone: +43 (0) 50 808 808
https://www.svs.at/
If you are not compulsorily insured, for example when you only marginally work, when you study in Austria or care for a disabled child or relative, then you can insure yourself at the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK). The amount is individually calculated and will be verified by the insurance association.
Here you can find more information on self-insurance:
www.gesundheitskasse.at
If you are insured, you automatically receive an e-card. With the e-card you can make use of services in hospitals and doctors. If contracts with the health insurance association exist, most services are free. The e-card must be taken along to every doctor’s visit.
The first contact point for illness is a general practitioner. If you need to go to a doctor, it is best to call beforehand to make an appointment. Mostly you will not have to wait too long for the examination. If you need a doctor outside business hours, you can turn to the GP Emergency Centre or at the 1450 Hotline. It is open in the evening and at the weekend.
Sometimes, general practitioners cannot help, for instance when an x-ray is needed. Then they will transfer the patient to a specialist. This is called medical referral.
Hausarzt-Notdienst-Zentrum (GP Emergency Centre)
Dr. Karl Renner Straße 8
5020 Salzburg
Phone: 141 Notarzt
You can change your general practitioner every quarter of a year, so every three months. As soon as the e-card has been used in a quarter, changes are not possible.
Why must you take a time confirmation from the doctor with you?
If you are sick during working hours, you must get a time confirmation from your general practitioner. The employer needs this, so that you can receive your pay during sick leave.
You have an acute illness, it is an emergency:
Then you will have to visit a hospital. The number for an ambulance is 144. The treatment in a public hospital will be paid by your health insurance. You can find more information on emergency contacts here.
You need medication:
You can get medicines at a pharmacy. Pharmacies are open on working days from 8:00 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 18:30. Outside of working hours, there are emergency pharmacies. You can find a daily updated list under the following link:
www.apothekenindex.at/apotheken/index.php?cPath=21_41
You have animals. What do you do when they are ill?
A list of many vets in Salzburg is available here:
https://www.tieraerztekammer.at/oeffentlicher-bereich/kontakt/landesstellen/salzburg
Is your dog older than three months, then you must pay a dog tax for it (apart from some exceptions). If your main residence is in the City of Salzburg, then the registration or de-registration can be made at the office for public order in Schwarzstraße 44.
https://www.stadt-salzburg.at/hund-anmelden
