Health Care in Vienna

Summary: Learn about the health system in Vienna: how it can and cannot be used by expats, nomads, retirees and others moving to and living in Vienna.

Vienna has a public and private healthcare system that provides quality medical care to its citizens and visitors. Austria's public healthcare system is called the Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegegesetz (GKK) and is used by both citizens and foreigners. People generally recommend using public hospitals in Vienna for serious medical emergencies and major surgery. Public hospitals in Vienna are well-equipped and staffed with experienced medical professionals. Foreigners, including expats and digital nomads, are allowed to use the public healthcare system in Austria. However, many expats primarily use private hospitals for their medical needs. Private hospitals in Vienna are known for their excellent care and modern facilities. People recommend using private hospitals for serious medical emergencies and major surgery.

Hospitals and Clinics for Expats in Vienna

Recommended clinics and hospitals in Vienna include:

AKH Vienna (public hospital), located in the Alsergrund district
Wilhelminenspital (public hospital), located in the Mariahilf district
MedUni Vienna (public hospital), located in the Meidling district
St. Anna Children's Hospital (public hospital), located in the Landstraße district
Lainz Hospital (private hospital), located in the Penzing district
Donauspital (private hospital), located in the Brigittenau district
Krankenhaus Hietzing (private hospital), located in the Hietzing district

If there are few or no hospitals in Vienna, expats in Vienna may go to hospitals in nearby towns such as Baden (25 km away by car) or Krems (50 km away by car).

Emergency Services in Vienna

Vienna has an ambulance service that can be called by dialing the emergency number 144. Ambulances usually arrive quickly, but there may be delays depending on the situation.

Health Insurance Companies in Vienna

The most popular private health insurers in Vienna are BVAEB, Wiener Gebietskrankenkasse, and SVA. Expats and digital nomads typically use these companies or specialized expat health insurance providers.

About the Author

Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.