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HEALTH

How freelancers in Austria can get a €100 health bonus in 2023

The public health insurance SVS, used by the self-employed and freelancers in Austria, is promoting a new €100 health bonus in 2023. Here's how you can get it.

Published: 14 March 2023 12:40 CET
How freelancers in Austria can get a €100 health bonus in 2023
Photo: Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash

Austria’s compulsory insurance company SVS, which mainly insures self-employed and freelance people, has a new campaign called “precaution together” (Gemeinsam vorsorgen) to promote health checks among its members.

Freelancers can get a €100 tax-free bonus if they do a preventive check-up. Here’s what you need to know.

What is the SVS?

Everyone in Austria must have public health insurance – with few exceptions. Enrolment is usually automatic and linked to employment, so most workers are insured by the company ÖGK through their employer. 

However, many will be insured with other companies (such as SVS for self-employed and freelancers and BVAEB for public servants). Insurance is also guaranteed to co-insured persons, such as spouses and dependents, pensioners, students, disabled people, and those receiving unemployment benefits.

READ ALSO: Everything foreigners need to know about the Austrian healthcare system

So, if you are a tradesperson, self-employed, freelancer or farmer, you (and dependent relatives) are insured with SVS.

What is the new campaign?

The Austrian health system consistently focuses on prevention, and its health insurance companies often have campaigns to promote healthier living. Now, SVS wants to raise awareness of preventive care.

“Preventive checkups are among the most important and effective measures for the early detection of diseases and are an essential investment in health.”

The idea is to incentivise people to take advantage of the free yearly checkup they are entitled to. Those who participate in the screening will get a €100 health bonus. 

This one-time bonus is also available for your co-insured dependents for participating in the preventive medical check-up and for children and adolescents aged 6-18 for participating in the SVS Health Check Junior.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How freelancers in Austria can pay four times less in social insurance

Who will get the money?

The health bonus is sent automatically for all those who are insured and:

  • have not yet reached the age of 40 on January 1st 2023 and complete a check-up between January 1st 2021 to December 31st 2023
  • have already reached the age of 40 on January 1st 2023, and undergo a preventive exam between January 1st 2022 and December 31st 2023 and,
  • children from six to 18 years of age who complete an adolescent examination or a Junior Health Check from January 1st 2021, to December 31st

The benefit works retroactively, as shown above, so if you went to an exam last year, for example, you would still get the payment. Additionally, the benefit can be claimed a maximum of once per insured person for themselves and once for each dependent relative. 

READ ALSO: ‘Kur’: The alternative treatments you can get from a doctor in Austria

How do I get the money?

From 2023, the payment will be made automatically based on the service billed or submitted for reimbursement. The money will be sent to your bank account on file with SVS – if there is none, the company will ask you to provide further details.

For all those who have already completed the preventive medical check-up in 2021/2022, the €100 bonus will be paid in the 1st quarter of 2023; for all others in 2023 after completion of the preventive medical check-up and settlement of the benefit by the SVS. 

The benefit is tax-free. You can read more about it HERE.

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For members

LIVING IN AUSTRIA

EXPLAINED: What you need to know about therapy in Austria

If you want to see a therapist in Austria, you can choose between going private or waiting for a public appointment. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 11 April 2024 09:28 CEST
EXPLAINED: What you need to know about therapy in Austria

In Austria, you can participate in a wide range of different therapy methods through both public and private practitioners. Here is what you need to know about the different options.

Public Therapy

To access therapy with a public health insurance therapist in Austria, you need a referral from your Hausarzt confirming your need for this kind of service.

The cost of therapy with a public practitioner in Austria can vary depending on factors such as the therapist’s qualifications, location, and your specific insurance fund.

In general, if you are covered by the most common public insurance fund, ÖGK, you can access therapy with a public therapist and receive a reimbursement of around €35 per hourly session. Other funds have different reimbursement scales, and some private healthcare funds may cover more of the cost. It is important for each patient to check with their specific fund.

Regarding availability, it can sometimes be challenging to get an appointment with a public therapist.

Some patients wait for many months, and the waiting time can vary depending on factors such as the urgency of your needs and, of course, the therapist’s availability. If you want to get an appointment as soon as possible, it is a good idea to sign up on the public therapist waiting list. 

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How the Austrian healthcare system works

Private Therapy

If you are looking for a private therapist, you are likely to receive help sooner. You do not need a referral and can contact the therapist yourself. This may contribute to more effective care, but it also comes with a higher price.

A one-hour session with a therapist costs around 80-150 euros, the price vary depending on factors such as the therapist’s fees and the type of treatment. If you are insured under the Austrian public health insurance system (ÖGK) and choose to see a private therapist, you typically pay for the sessions entirely yourself.

Some private insurance plans might cover the cost of private therapy sessions, which may make it beneficial to sign up for a private healthcare fund. The degree of coverage often depends on each patient’s specific case and insurance package.

Popular private insurance funds in Austria include Allianz and UNIQA, through which you can request more information about possible coverage.

English-Speaking Therapists

There are many English-speaking therapists in Austria, although they are more common in larger towns and cities.

Unfortunately, in more rural regions, it can be difficult to find an English-speaking therapist. However, many mental health practitioners offer their services online via video calls, a trend that increased during the 2020 pandemic.

When you visit your Hausarzt to discuss your therapy plan, you can ask them to refer you to an English-speaking therapist. If you instead prefer private therapy, you can search online for a therapist speaking your desired language.

READ MORE: Everything foreigners need to know about the Austrian healthcare system

Useful links for finding a therapist in Austria

Below are three organisations in Austria responsible for regulating the practice of psychotherapy and maintaining lists of registered therapists on their websites.

European Association for Psychotherapy

ÖBVP – Österreichischer Bundesverband für Psychotherapie

Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP)

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