Visit To A Doctor: Other Federal State Or Abroad

Visit to a doctor: other federal state or abroad

You can freely choose which doctor you would like to visit within Austria. This not only applies to elective doctors, but also to contract doctors. If, for example, you are insured with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund and have to see a doctor in Linz, almost nothing changes for you: you hand over the e-card and receive treatment. Your doctor will settle accounts with the Austrian health insurance fund as if you were insured there.

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However, the principle applies here too, according to which your health insurance company only pays for treatment by a doctor in the same specialty in one quarter. If you need medical help in another federal state during your domestic vacation, the doctor will note this information in the e-card system. This means that you can go to an ordination in the same subject at home without any problems.

Visiting a doctor abroad

On the back of the e-card is the European health insurance card (EHIC), which contains the “foreign health insurance ” (“holiday health insurance ”) for the use of medical services for temporary stays (e.g. vacation, business trips) in the EU member states (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Croatia (from July 1, 2013), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus (Greek part) as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Macedonia and Switzerland The EHIC must be submitted directly to the foreign service provider (doctor, hospital, etc.).

All benefits in kind can be claimed that prove to be medically necessary, taking into account the type of benefits and the expected length of stay. If someone travels abroad only for the purpose of medical treatment, the approval of the responsible health insurance company must be obtained in advance to cover the costs.

The provision of services is based exclusively on the legal provisions of the country of residence. You can find more information on the website of the Austrian Social Insurance.

What to consider abroad

The e-card is not valid for Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Turkey. For these countries, you will receive a so-called care certificate from your health insurance company. You have to exchange this for a health insurance certificate at the local social security agency at your holiday destination. Only then can you go to the doctor. In all other countries you first have to pay for the treatment yourself. In Austria, your health insurance provider will reimburse you for 80 percent of the costs that would have been incurred for the same treatment with a contract doctor in Austria. A hospital stay can result in particularly high costs. Inquire about private travel insurance if you want to prevent this too.