Austria Expat Health Insurance
Austria, or as it’s officially known, the Republic of Austria, is a small 83,855 square kilometer landlocked country in Central Europe. To the north Austria is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany, to the east Hungary and Slovakia, to the south Slovenia and Italy and, and to the west Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The climate is temperate and alpine, while the terrain is mountainous. The highest official point is 3,798 meters with only 32 percent of the country below 500 meters. The official language is German, but Croatian, Hungarian and Slovene are also widely spoken throughout the country. The population is estimated at 8.4 million people. Austria’s capital is Vienna, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and the calling code is 43.
Governance in Austria is in the form of a parliamentary democracy. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the country is estimated at US$ 332 billion, although the Austrian economy did contract by 3.9 percent in 2009. However, Austria is already on the rebound with the country experiencing a real growth rate of 2 percent in 2010. Agriculture (1.5 percent), Manufacturing (29.4 percent) and Service Industries (69.1 percent) account for the bulk of the Austrian economy. The estimated per-capita earning for Austrian citizens in 2010 was US$ 40,400. It is currently estimated that 6 percent of the Austrian population lives below the international poverty line of US$ 1.25 per day.
Austria Healthcare System
The total spending on Austrian health care in 2009, as a percentage of GDP, was 11 percent; giving a total expenditure per capita of US$4,242. Austria has a comprehensive public healthcare system which is funded through a salaries tax. All individuals in the country, who pay tax, are eligible to receive assistance under the public health insurance and healthcare scheme. The public healthcare system will cover 100 percent of all medical costs for healthcare treatment received in Austria.
Additionally, there are a number of private Austria health insurance options available for individuals who wish to obtain supplementary cover. While the public healthcare system in the country is of a high standard, it suffers the same problems which are frequently identified in other public healthcare systems around the world; extended waiting times for treatment, overcrowded medical facilities, and large amounts of bureaucratic red tape. Private Austrian medical insurance will afford a policyholder with more flexible visiting hours with which to consult with your doctor, private rooms in hospitals and clinics, and the ability to utilize services from private medical practitioners outside of the public healthcare system.
Austria is ranked number one by Mercer Consultants in regards to quality of living. Doctors practicing in Austria have the choice of working in the public or private sector or both. Currently there is waiting list for doctors who want to work in the public system.
To obtain information on services and health care available to you while in Austria you can contact the Austrian health insurance offices Gebistskrankenkassen. You can contact their offices by calling 0043 1711320 or alternatively use their multilingual information page at www.sozialversicherung.at
If you are an expatriate living in Austria and your doctor has an agreement with a regional health insurance office, then you can access health care treatment free of charge. If your doctor does not have an agreement then you will be charged for your medical treatment. However you can claim back to 80 percent of the cost of treatment from Gebietskrankenkasse. For members of EEA nations, access to health care is largely free; however, some treatment will incur a cost.
There is limited dental treatment available from the state healthcare system. Again, as with doctors your dentist will need to have an agreement with Gebietskrankenkasse in order to receive services free of charge.
Hospital treatment is also free of charge if you are a tax payer or member of the EEA nations and the hospital has a contract with the Gebietskrankenkasse. There will be a daily charge for the first 28 days in hospital for inpatient treatment. In order to be admitted to hospital you will need to be referred by a doctor. As with doctor visits, up to 80 percent of the cost of treatment can be claimed back if the hospital does not have a contract with the regional health insurance office. Standard prescription rates apply when obtaining medicines from pharmacies. Emergency ambulance travel is covered by your insurance however this does not include air ambulance cover.
If you are in possession of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) then you can access state healthcare at a reduced cost, or in some cases, free. Treatment also includes maternity care, provided the reason for your visit is not specifically to give birth.
According to 2011 estimated the birth rate was 8.67 births per 1,000 persons, the death rate was 10.14 deaths per 1,000 persons. The infant mortality rate was 4.32 deaths per 1,000 live births. The life expectancy at birth is estimated at 76.87 years for males and 82.84 years for females. The total fertility rate is set at 1.4 children born per woman. The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in 2009 was 0.3 percent accounting for some 15,000 people living with the virus in the country. In 2010 the percentage of the population living in urban areas was 68 percent giving an annual rate of change 0.6 percent.
If the purpose of your stay visit to Austria is skiing then you should be aware there is a consistent danger of avalanches in some areas during the winter. Ensure you purchase travel insurance to cover the cost of air transportation in the event of an accident. Helmets should be worn on the slopes at all times especially for children under the age of 15 which is mandatory in most of the country.
One should carry their passport with them at all times for identification purposes. Should you need to contact the emergency services during your stay in Austria you can dial 144 or by dialling the European Union equivalent 112. Petty crime is an issue even though the crime rate is relatively low. Pick pocketing in major cities is a common occurrence with tourist being the main targets, in particular the city centre area of Vienna.
The number of deaths cased by road accidents in Austria is high in comparison with the countries like Britain. In 2009 there were 633 road deaths which equates to 7.6 deaths per 100,000 people, in the UK that same years the average was 3.6 road deaths per 100,000 people. If driving in Austria you should be aware that penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are severe. Mobile phone use is prohibited while driving if you do not have hands free connectivity. If driving on the Autobahn and S roads you must display a Motorway Vignette on the windshield of your vehicle, if you do not then a heavy on-the-spot fine will be incurred. Motor Vignettes can be obtained at major border crossing and petrol stations. If you are stopped on the autobahn by the police you should be aware that officers will be in uniform. Unmarked vehicles will have an electronic sign flashing in the rear window the sign will read ‘Stopp’, ‘Polizei’ and ‘Folgen’, these police officers may be in plain clothes but they will identify themselves. If in doubt call the emergency number 133 to contact the police to ensure it is indeed a police operated vehicle.
Austria Expat Health Insurance
If you are considering spending any time in Austria, expat health insurance may be your best coverage option. Contact Global Health Insurance today to discuss, free of charge, a range of health care services available to you or your groups in Austria. Expat health insurance plans that Global Health Insurance can offer come with a variety of coverage options. Our tailor made international health insurance policies suit every budget and health care need.
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