What Health Insurance policies are approved for Residency

Keith Davies
Feb 4, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Jul 1

Introduction

There have been many posts regarding Health Insurance products that are approved for immigration purposes (residence permit). Ordinarily a Schengen Visa travel insurance policy is accepted for a Visa application to Austria, BUT it is NOT accepted for a residence permit.

The BMI have the final determination as to what is approved for applications, but the information below is provided to allow the end-user to make an informed choice based on information that is in the public domain.

Working and Co-insurance

If you are working, you will most likely be insured via your employer with OeGK or possibly BVAEB (for some professions). For those that are self-employed there is also SVS. Some international organisations have special private insurance policies that are approved.

The non-working spouses/partners and family members of employees should look at Mitversicherung (co-insurance). BVAEB which is the insurance for those associated with the Austrian Civil Service and Railway also has a similar scheme.

Please note that non-working spouses/partners can sometimes experience on boarding issues (e.g. 6 month wait) if they are unable to prove they have been insured elsewhere; you also cannot be insured by two state providers at the same time (e.g. elsewhere in the EU and Austria).

Students

Students have their own reduced rate (EUR 73,48 per month in 2025) policies which are available from OeGK and some private providers. OeAD has further details.

State Health Self Insurance

The Austrian State Health Self Insurance scheme (OeGK Selbstversicherung) which costs approximately EUR 526,79 (2025) per month is approved, provided there is no 6 month wait. Discounts can be applied for in some cases.

On boarding for this can sometimes be tricky especially if you come from another EU country (or the UK). There is a 6 month wait if you cannot prove you have been “insured” elsewhere for Health Insurance purposes. They may also want proof that you are no longer insured by another state provider.

Private Policies

The only list of approved Private Health Insurance policies that is the public domain is the one provided by Vienna (MA35).

The Care Concept policy is one that can be purchased online and is called Care Austria 364 and can be purchased direct from Care Concept DE or via Care Austria. Some of the Uniqa policies can also be purchased directly via Feelsafe. For most of the others you will need to speak to a broker or an agent.

Some of these policies are restrictive on age and pre-existing conditions. They may also increase significantly on renewal especially if you make claims. Also be careful of minimum terms; a 2-year minimum is not unusual!

Seek professional advice from an INDEPENDENT broker and ensure they are MA35 approved.

NOTE: There have been several sponsored Facebook posts for companies selling health insurance for Austria. If you use one of these providers, please double check that the policies are approved by MA35 to avoid any issues.

Pensioners & Seconded Employees

For those in receipt of an EU pension (or UK) and seconded EU employees, you should look at the social security co-ordination provided via an S1 Form which can be registered via OeGK. Pensioners doing this may have this insurance cancelled if they start working.

AMS

If you have made sufficient social insurance contributions either in Austria or another EU/EEA country you are entitled to claim unemployment benefits from the AMS which will include health insurance. BUT you will not be able to claim benefits if you haven’t contributed enough. For those moving from another EU country, form U1 is relevant (see below).

Some other countries such as the UK also have social security co-ordination agreements with Austria, but they are not always easy to navigate.

Useful Links

Footnote: If you want to maintain residence in Austria you MUST maintain a non-interrupted, valid Health Insurance policy, failure to do so will result in immigration issues.