Overview

Austria has a complex health system with responsibilities for health system governance divided between the federal and the regional level. Health insurance is mandatory and coverage is very high: more than 99% of the population was covered through SHI funds in 2023.  Austrians also benefit from a generous benefits package.

Health expenditure amounted to US$ (PPP) 7272 per capita in 2021 which is among the highest in the EU. Spending on health from public sources accounted for 78% of the total, while out-of-pocket spending accounted for nearly 16%. Out-of-pocket payments were related mainly to direct spending on pharmaceuticals, outpatient medical care, long-term care and dental care.

Reforms over the past decade have aimed to reduce fragmentation in the health system by promoting joint planning, decision-making and financing, and merged the 18 previously existing SHI funds into three. Other recent reforms focus on the development of a new primary care approach, promoting, among other things, the establishment and expansion of multidisciplinary primary health care units. Major developments in community nursing and long-term care target various improvements in working conditions, training and remuneration for health professionals, carers and care recipients. The comprehensive health care reform package for the period 2024–2028 also foresees the expansion of digitalization in health care, including making it a primary entry point into the health system, eg. through tele-consultations.