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HEALTH

Austrians storm stores after coronavirus lockdown ends

After several weeks of lockdown, Austrians sought retail therapy on Monday - leading to concerns about a potential rise in cases.

Austrians storm stores after coronavirus lockdown ends
Photo: JOE KLAMAR / AFP

Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had hoped that taking part in a mass Covid testing scheme on Monday would draw crowds, but the lure of stores reopened after weeks of lockdown proved stronger for many.

Though Chancellor Kurz called on people to “spread out shopping urges” across days, additional police had to be dispatched to ensure social-distancing and other measures were observed at malls. 

Many shoppers, like subcontractor Robert Bauer, “couldn't wait with the shopping — even if it might be a bit crowded today”.

READ: Everything you need to know about Austria's latest coronavirus rules 

Since the lockdown came into effect on November 17, when the small country had one of the highest per capita number of new coronavirus cases, Bauer's family of four had been confined to their Vienna apartment as schools, stores, restaurants, bars and all cultural venues remained closed.

“And this morning, the kids were also really excited to return to school and for the younger one, to kindergarten,” Bauer's wife Petra said of their sons, 4-year-old Emilio and 8-year-old Ricardo, who will be finding a new game console under the Christmas tree.

With the numbers now down to above 3,000 new infections per day, the government aims to find hidden cases in a nationwide mass-testing scheme that kicked off in Vienna Friday.

So far, however, turnout has been low, and the minds of those who have grown weary of restrictions weren't changed by Kurz and Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig getting tested under the gaze of national media Monday.

“I am increasingly uncertain if there is a point to it,” said Gerhard, a 64-year-old retiree who was out to buy stamps, said of the government's strategy.

“There are still a lot of people who have this virus. And now they are all going outside to shop again. Look at them,” he said, gesturing at the long queue in front of the post office.

Museums and libraries also reopened in Vienna Monday, but residents strolled past shuttered restaurants, cafes and bars that will remain closed until after the Christmas holidays.

As Wham's “Last Christmas” played in the background, Jelena and Ivan Markovics zipped past Christmas trees and decorations, heading straight to a furniture store that had advertised generous “post-lockdown” sales.

The couple has just moved into a new but completely unfurnished apartment and urgently needed a kitchen, Ivan said.

“We were really looking forward to the stores opening again so we can finally order our new furniture,” he said.

Though the pandemic is causing that to be delayed, too, and their kitchen won't arrive for another eight weeks.

So their Christmas dinner will be cooked on an old electric stove, but they will be seated on a new couch.

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HEALTH

When can I ask for reimbursement for medical expenses in Austria?

If you visit an 'elective doctor' in Austria or go for certain procedures and examinations, you might have to pay the costs upfront. But when will your statutory health insurance reimburse you?

When can I ask for reimbursement for medical expenses in Austria?

Austria’s health system can seem complicated. Most people are insured by statutory insurance companies, ensuring they receive quality care for free in the country. 

However, there may be times when you want to go the private route – be it for specific examinations, or if you are searching for a particular specialist or, most commonly, if you just can’t or won’t wait to get an appointment via the public system. As the number of public doctors drops, more and more people have reached out to the “elective” doctors, or to private laboratories for certain exams instead of waiting weeks in the public system.

In those cases, the public health insurance funds often reimburse your expenses, at least partially. 

READ ALSO: Six things to know about visiting a doctor in Austria

When can I ask for reimbursement?

There are several cases when you can be reimbursed by Austria’s largest health insurance company, the ÖGK. These include:

  • Private or elective doctors: Elective doctors do not have a contract with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). You will therefore be treated there as a private patient and must initially pay for the treatment yourself. In most cases, ÖGK will reimburse part of the costs.
  • Dental Health: In addition to conservative dental treatment and dentures, the ÖGK dental services also include jaw adjustments (braces).
  • CT, MRI and x-rays: Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-rays are “diagnostic imaging procedures”. The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) covers the costs if the examination is carried out at an authorized institute.
  • Therapists: the ÖGK will cover costs for speech therapy, physio therapy and psychotherapy, among others. You can read more HERE.
  • Midwives: Midwives support women during pregnancy, during childbirth and in the initial period afterwards. The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) covers certain costs for the midwife.
  • Hospital stays: Persons insured with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) can receive outpatient or inpatient treatment in certain hospitals throughout Austria. The fund will not cover any special fees that are incurred for accommodation in “special class” (some hospitals offer private rooms as special class, for example). For medically necessary treatment in hospitals with which there is no contractual relationship,  ÖGK currently pays a daily care cost allowance of € 399.97, but not more than the actual costs incurred.
  • Medical aids and medication: The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) covers the costs of medical aids and aids such as hearing aids, diabetes supplies or bandages if you have a doctor’s prescription for them. The ÖGK also covers medication costs, but you need a prescription from a doctor. 

READ ALSO: How much can you expect to pay for private healthcare in Vienna?

How much will I get?

The reimbursement does not cover the whole cost. Once the reimbursement is approved, you will get 80 percent of what the ÖGK would have paid to the public system. This is not the same as 80 percent of your invoice.

The insurance fund doesn’t always approve invoices, it will evaluate the need and set up limits (so, you won’t get a refund on every doctor’s visit if you go to the same specialist type in a short period, for example). Particularly if you plan on a big expense, it’s worth it to check with the fund beforehand if they would cover the private costs.

How can I claim reimbursement?  

You first need to obtain receipts for all medical expenses, including doctor’s invoices, hospital bills, and pharmacy receipts. You’ll also need to gather payment confirmation. Then, you submit this information as a claim request on the website of your insurance company. With ÖGK, the link is HERE.  

You then wait for the processing time, which can take up to several weeks. If your request is approved, you’ll receive the money back straight to the bank account you have in your account details on the insurance website. 

READ ALSO: Will my Austrian health insurance pay for medical expenses abroad?

What if I have private insurance?

Most private insurance in Austria work with statutory companies. You’ll follow the same exact path. Once you get confirmation of how much the public insurance will reimburse you (or if it won’t reimburse you), you can then send all these documents to your private insurance. They will pay the difference between what you got from the public company and what you paid in private healthcare.

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