Where can you get information on the health care system in Salzburg?
What is social insurance?
Who is insured in Austria?
What insurances are there?
How can you insure yourself?
What is an e-card?
How can you find a suitable doctor?
How often can you change your general practitioner?
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.
WHERE CAN YOU GET INFORMATION ON THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN SALZBURG?
The project “Salus” has made a guide. It is clearly written and includes important information and contact details on “Healthcare”. The guide is available in different languages. You can download it from the following link: www.frau-und-arbeit.at/images/141215_salus_wegweiser_LR.pdf
WHAT IS SOCIAL INSURANCE?
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
WHO IS INSURED IN AUSTRIA?
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.
WHAT INSURANCES ARE THERE?
In Austria most people who are not self-employed are insured by the regional medical insurance association (Gebietskrankenkasse). Public officers are insured by the BVA. Self-employed people are insured by the SVA. There are some other insurances and you can find a summary for Salzburg in the Salus guide on page 8: www.frau-und-arbeit.at/images/141215_salus_wegweiser_LR.pdf
Sozialversicherungsanstalt der gewerblichen Wirtschaft Landesstelle Salzburg – SVA Auerspergstraße 24
5020 Salzburg
Phone: +43 662 879 45 10 www.svagw.at
HOW CAN YOU INSURE YOURSELF?
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 Salzburger Gebietskrankenkasse (SGKK). The amount is individually calculated and will be verified by the insurance association.
Here you can find more information on self-insurance: www.sgkk.at
WHAT IS AN E-CARD?
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.
HOW CAN YOU FIND A SUITABLE DOCTOR?
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. 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
HOW OFTEN CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR GENERAL PRACTITIONER?
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 treatment in hospitals in the Salus guide on page 15: www.frau-und-arbeit.at/images/141215_salus_wegweiser_LR.pdf
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