Can I see any doctor with the e-card in Austria?
Any contracted doctor yes — a private doctor costs you more. With the e-card you have free choice among all contracted doctors (Kassenärzte); the visit is settled directly with your fund (e.g. ÖGK), with nothing to pay for the consultation. A private doctor (Wahlarzt) has no contract: you pay the full bill yourself and the fund reimburses 80% of the (much lower) contract rate — often only ~15–25% of what you actually paid. The prescription fee 2026 is €7.55 per package. Once you've paid 2% of your annual net income in prescription fees, you're exempt for the rest of the year. In short: contracted doctors freely chosen and free, private doctors costlier.
📋 The rules
- Free choice among all contracted doctors
- Contract visit with no out-of-pocket cost
- Private doctor: fund reimburses only 80% of the contract rate
- Prescription fee 2026: €7.55 per package
- Exemption from 2% of annual net income
🔓 Exceptions
- Hospital daily charge (first ~28 days) differs by province
- Prescription-fee exemption automatic for certain groups
- Some specialists need a referral
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Key figures: prescription fee €7.55 per package, exemption after 2% of annual net income (in practice after about 41 packages), plus an annual e-card service charge (around €13–14). Misusing someone else's e-card or false claims can lead to cost recovery and penalties. Beware a myth: "a private doctor is fully reimbursed" is false — you only get 80% of the contract rate, which is usually far below the actual fee. Tip: ask about the cost before a private-doctor visit and compare with a contracted doctor — it often saves a lot.
📎 Official sources
- ÖGK · e-card & doctor visits →
- gesundheit.gv.at · prescription fee →
- oesterreich.gv.at · prescription-fee exemption →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I see any doctor with the e-card?
With the e-card you have free choice among all contracted doctors. The visit is settled directly with your health fund, and you pay nothing for the treatment. With a private doctor who has no contract, by contrast, you pay yourself first and only get part back.
What do I get back from a private doctor?
A private doctor has no health-fund contract. You pay the full bill yourself, and the fund reimburses 80 percent of the much lower contract rate. In practice that's often only about 15 to 25 percent of what you actually paid. So ask about the cost in advance.
How high is the prescription fee in 2026?
The prescription fee in 2026 is €7.55 per package. If the medicine costs less, you pay the lower price. Once you've paid prescription fees amounting to 2 percent of your annual net income in a calendar year, you're automatically exempt for the rest of the year.
When am I exempt from the prescription fee?
You're exempt once your prescription fees in the calendar year reach 2 percent of your annual net income, in practice after about 41 packages. Certain groups, such as recipients of the equalisation supplement or low-income people, are automatically exempt from the outset.
Must I pay a hospital charge?
For an inpatient hospital stay, a daily hospital charge applies for roughly the first 28 days. Its amount differs by province. In an emergency or with a referral, access to treatment doesn't depend on free doctor choice.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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