Mitschrift

Social insurance and e-card

Why do I need social insurance? Which social insurance agency is responsible for me? And how do I get an e-card if I am new to Vienna? The answers to these questions can be found in this StartWien video!

Social Insurance and Types of Insurance

Social insurance is mandatory in Austria. Those who are not insured face high costs. It encompasses several types of coverage:

- Health insurance: Provides access to the Austrian healthcare system.

- Accident insurance (Unfallversicherung): Covers accidents that occur at work.

- Pension insurance: Supports individuals financially in retirement.

About two-thirds of social insurance contributions go toward pension insurance. The amount you contribute is influenced by various factors, including your income.

Mandatory insurance applies to workers, employees, asylum seekers, and pensioners. For students or marginal employees, there is the option of voluntary self-insurance. Additionally, qualified dependents can be co-insured. This includes children under 18 or still in education, as well as non-working spouses.

Social Insurance Institutions in Austria

There are five social insurance institutions in Austria, and the one responsible for you mainly depends on your profession:

- Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (Austrian Health Insurance Fund): The largest fund, covering most workers and employees, as well as voluntarily self-insured individuals, asylum seekers, and those registered with the AMS.

- Sozialversicherung der Selbstständigen (Social Insurance for the Self-Employed): The SVS is responsible for self-employed persons.

-Pension Insurance Institution (Pensionversicherungsanstalt - PVA): Manages pension payments and provides protection against the financial risks of aging.

For more information about insurance benefits, watch the video "Doctor's visits and medical benefits."

E-card and European Health Insurance

The e-card is an essential document that proves you are insured. It is an electronic chip card containing your name and is not transferable. Alongside your photo, the card displays your social security number, which consists of ten digits. You will need this number for various official purposes, such as dealings with the tax office or the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).

On the back of the e-card, you will find your European Health Insurance Certificate (Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte). This card grants access to necessary medical benefits during illness across the EU, EEA countries, Switzerland, the UK, and countries with health insurance agreements. Benefits are provided according to the rules of the respective country. If you pay for treatment yourself, you can later apply for reimbursement from your health insurance provider.

The e-card also gives you access to ELGA, where your data and findings are managed centrally to optimize treatments. If desired, you can opt out of ELGA.

How to Get Your E-card and Social Insurance Number

So, how do you obtain your e-card and social insurance number? Let's look at two examples.

Example 1: Non-EU Country - Senad and Azra

Senad, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, receives a job offer in Vienna. He obtains the Red-White-Red Card through his employer and is registered with the ÖGK. After moving to Austria, Senad receives his e-card by mail.

His wife, Azra, also residing in Austria and currently pregnant, needs to be co-insured with Senad. She submits the form for verifying eligibility for family members along with their marriage certificate to the ÖGK. After approval, Azra is co-insured and receives her own e-card.

When their baby is born in Vienna, the child is co-insured with Senad and the ÖGK, as Azra does not have health insurance. The baby receives a unique social security number and an e-card.

After two years, Azra takes a job as a marginal employee, which only covers accidents. Once her earnings exceed the marginal threshold, she will be fully insured by her employer, just like Senad, and thus covered by health insurance, accident insurance, and pension insurance.

Example 2: EU/EEA - Jana and Her Family

Jana moves from Bulgaria to Austria and becomes self-employed as a nurse. She registers her trade with the trade authority (Magistratisches Bezirksamt) and contacts the SVS to obtain her e-card. All relevant information about her social insurance can be found at svs.at.

Note: EU citizens cannot be insured in two countries simultaneously. If Jana is still insured in Bulgaria, she must notify her health insurance fund.

Jana’s 10-year-old son and her mother also move to Vienna. Her son can be insured under Jana at no additional cost, provided Jana shows his birth certificate to the SVS.

Jana’s mother receives a pension from an EU country. In this case, the ÖGK is responsible. If she presents a registration certificate (Meldezettel) to the ÖGK, she will receive an e-card and be covered by health insurance in Austria. However, she will not qualify for financial support through social benefits.

For more information on the right to work and residence, visit our StartWien website and check out our videos.