Accidents and illness can happen while travelling, whether you are on holiday, visiting family or away for work.
For people insured in Austria, the European Health Insurance Card can make it easier to access public healthcare in many European countries without being treated as a private non-resident patient.
Here’s what you need to know about the EHIC and how to get the card in Austria.
What is an EHIC?
An EHIC is a free card issued by your statutory health insurance provider. It replaced the old E111 form and serves as proof that you are entitled to medically necessary state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another participating country.
Treatment is provided under the same conditions and at the same cost as for people insured in the country you are visiting. That may mean free treatment in some countries, but not in all.
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The EHIC is valid in the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
Austria also lists North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina among the countries where the EHIC or a related entitlement document can be used. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, you usually need to present the EHIC to the local social insurance institution and exchange it for a valid entitlement certificate before treatment.
However, the EHIC is not an alternative to comprehensive travel insurance as it doesn’t cover any private healthcare costs, a flight home or lost/stolen property. Additionally, the EHIC is for temporary stays, such as holidays, business trips or study stays. It's not meant for moving abroad permanently, and it does not cover costs if you travel to another country specifically to receive medical treatment.
If you move to another country and make it your usual place of residence, you may need to register there or use a different form, such as an S1 certificate, depending on your situation.
Why do I need an EHIC if I am insured in Austria?
The main advantage is that it helps you access medically necessary public healthcare if you become ill or have an accident during a temporary stay in another participating country.
How do I get an EHIC?
EHICs are issued by the national health country provider of the country where you live.
In Austria, the EHIC is issued by your statutory health insurance provider. For many employees this is ÖGK, while many self-employed people are insured through SVS and some public-sector, railway and mining workers through BVAEB.
Here, every e-card (the health insurance card that is used to visit a doctor) already contains an EHIC on the reverse of the card, so there is no need to apply for it separately.
However, if the data fields on the EHIC on the back of your e-card contains stars (***) instead of personal information such as name and date of birth, further documentation is required to access healthcare in another EU country.
In this case, you need to contact your social security provider in Austria to receive a replacement card before you travel.
The EHIC is only valid on the condition that you are insured or co-insured in Austria.
Austria has also introduced a digital e-card for use in Austria, but for travel it is still safest to carry the physical e-card with the EHIC on the back, or a provisional replacement certificate if your EHIC fields show asterisks.
Useful words
Social insurance - Sozialversicherung
Travel insurance - Reiseversicherung
Healthcare - Gesundheitspflege
Useful links
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