Austria has abolished mandatory health insurance for Ukrainians: a detailed guide to health insurance after May 31, 2025

From June 1, 2025, the rules for health insurance for Ukrainians with temporary protection in Austria have changed. In this article, you will learn how to now apply for insurance, what options are available, what you need to do to maintain access to medical services, and also get answers to the most frequently asked questions.

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine

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From June 1, 2025, Austria will change the rules for health insurance for Ukrainians staying in a country with temporary protection (Ausweis für Vertriebene). In this guide, we have collected answers to the most important questions: will access to health services be maintained, what insurance options are available, and what needs to be done to remain insured.

Will access to health services in Austria be maintained for Ukrainians after May 31, 2025?

Yes, during the transition period of 6 weeks, i.e. until July 12, 2025, persons from Ukraine who were included in the state health insurance system in Austria can continue to use health services - see a doctor, receive medication, and go to hospitals.

Attention! From July 13, 2025:

- automatic exemption from paying for prescriptions and co-payments will cease;

- it is necessary to take out new health insurance to maintain the right to treatment.

How to apply for insurance in Austria after the end of the transition period?

The exact method depends on your personal situation - whether you work, study, receive social assistance, etc. There are several options:

- Compulsory insurance upon employment

If you are officially employed (with an income of more than 551.10 euros/month, as of 2025), insurance is taken out automatically - no separate application is required.

The obligation to register and pay contributions in such a situation usually falls on the employer, not the employee.

If the employee earns below the minimum threshold (551.10 euros per month in 2025), then compulsory health and pension insurance is not provided, but compulsory accident insurance remains.

Part-time employees can apply for exemption from prescription fees if they meet the appropriate income level.

If you work remotely for a Ukrainian company, you can also apply for Austrian health insurance, but it is important to check the conditions, as in some cases you will have to register yourself in the ÖGK system.

- Voluntary health insurance

If you do not have a job, but you live in Austria, you can apply for voluntary insurance. You can get a policy if you meet the following requirements:

1. You do not have other health insurance.

2. You live in Austria or an EU/EEA/Switzerland country.

The cost of such a policy is 526.79 euros/month, but a discount is possible depending on your income level. To reduce the contribution, you must submit an application and also confirm your financial situation (e.g. submit a tax return, savings account statement, certificate of receipt of financial support).

Important! The Voluntary Health Insurance policy starts immediately if you have been insured for at least 6 weeks. If not, after a 6-month waiting period, but contributions must be paid for the entire period.

Within the framework of this voluntary insurance, the right to health services extends not only to the insured person, but also to co-insured persons, such as children.

- Voluntary health insurance in Austria with minimum employment

If you work with a low income (up to 551.10 euros/month) and do not have other insurance, you can take out special insurance with minimum employment.

Its cost: 77.81 euros/month.

- Student insurance

If you are studying at an Austrian university, you can apply for preferential student insurance. The main conditions are:

1. Studying at an Austrian university, university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) or conservatory.

2. Not having your own health insurance.

3. Permanently residing in Austria.

The cost of such a policy is 73.48 euros/month.

The preferential voluntary health insurance for students is not provided in the following cases:

1. If the student's annual income exceeds 17,212 euros (based on data for 2025 according to the Student Grants Act).

2. If the student has changed his major more than twice or has done so after the end of the third semester.

3. If the period of study has exceeded the standard duration by more than four semesters without a valid reason.

- Insurance under basic social security

Basic social security is provided to foreigners who: are unable to cover their living needs on their own, do not have sufficient support from other sources or are in difficult living circumstances with family members.

This type of assistance is subsidised, i.e. only applies if other forms of assistance are not available.

Forcibly displaced persons who are already receiving basic assistance are automatically included in the state health insurance system:

1. Based on point 19 (Z19) of the inclusion ordinance in § 9 ASVG;

2. The insurance status is maintained even after 31.05.2025 - in contrast to persons insured under point 21 (Z21).

If you are not yet receiving assistance but meet the conditions for receiving assistance, contact the responsible basic social security authority in your federal state and submit an application with proof that you meet the criteria for assistance.

The authority will consider the case individually and determine the amount of support.

If the decision is positive, you will receive health insurance as part of the social package.

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What documents are required to apply for a health insurance policy in Austria?

To apply for most forms of insurance, you need to have the following set of documents:

- Insurance application (appropriate form).

- Copy of international passport.

- Certificate of residence (Meldezettel).

- Temporary displaced person's certificate (Ausweis für Vertriebene).

- Documents confirming previous insurance or student/employee status.

Where to apply for insurance in Austria?

You can get help with health insurance at the basic social security offices in the federal states:

- Burgenland (Burgenland)

Email: post.a6-asyl@bgld.gv.at

Phone: +43 2682 600 0

- Kärnten (Carinthia)

Email: abt13.flw@ktn.gv.at

Phone: +43 50 536 33007

- Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)

Email: post.ivw2fluechtlingshilfe@noel.gv.at

Phone: +43 2742 9005 15672

- Oberösterreich (Upper Austria)

Email: gvs.so.post@ooe.gv.at

Phone: +43 732 77 20 152 21

- Salzburg (Salzburg)

Email: grundversorgung@salzburg.gv.at

Phone: +43 662 8042 5602

- Steiermark (Styria)

Email: grundversorgung@stmk.gv.at

Phone: +43 316 877 5458

- Tirol (Tyrol)

Email: soziales@tirol.gv.at, office@tsd.gv.at

Phone: +43 512 508 2592 (Land Tirol), +43 512 21 440 (TSD)

- Vorarlberg (Vorarlberg)

Email: grundversorgung@vorarlberg.at

Phone: +43 5574 511 24105

- Wien (Vienna)

Email: gvs@fsw.at

Phone: +43 1 24 5 24

What services can displaced persons from Ukraine receive during the transition period?

During the transition period, displaced persons from Ukraine can receive the following medical services:

- Consultations with a general practitioner or specialist;

- Surgical and conservative dental treatment;

- Hospital stay;

- Obtaining prescription drugs.

- The exemption from prescription fees and other co-payments for medical services is also maintained during this period.

What conditions must be met for joint insurance in the ÖGK?

Insured persons in the ÖGK system (Austrian General Health Insurance Company) can include their relatives in the insurance under certain conditions. This is the so-called joint (family) insurance. The main conditions are:

- Permanent residence in Austria of a family member.

- Lack of own health insurance under the ASVG (General Social Insurance Act) or other laws.

- Lack of a valid right to health care on other grounds.

- Absence of grounds for exclusion from the social insurance system.

This joint insurance allows unemployed relatives to receive medical services without a separate insurance premium.

You can find out more about the conditions on the official website: www.gesundheitskasse.at.

When do insured persons receive an Austrian e-card?

Insured persons in Austria receive an e-card (electronic insurance card) by mail in the following cases:

- When they start working with an income exceeding the minimum threshold;

- When they take out voluntary health insurance;

- When they are insured together with another insured person (as part of joint insurance) in the ÖGK.

The delivery time for the e-card is approximately 7-10 working days after registration in the insurance system.

This card is confirmation of the right to receive medical services within the framework of the Austrian social security system.

In order not to lose access to doctors after July 12, it is important to take out health insurance for Ukrainians in Austria in time – mandatory, voluntary or through social assistance.

What should you do now?

- Check your status in the ÖGK system.

- Apply for voluntary insurance if you have not already done so.

- Contact the social security authority in your state if you are entitled to assistance.

If you do not have time to take out insurance during the transition period, you can still apply for it later – but it will be valid from the date of submission, not from the date of expiry of the previous policy.

To stay protected during this transition period, take out health insurance from Visit Ukraine.

Our policy covers basic medical expenses and allows you to have peace of mind while you deal with the new insurance conditions in Austria.

We remind you! The newly elected three-party coalition in Austria wants to close the family reunification programme for asylum seekers.

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