Austria uses standard German medical terminology with a few Austria-specific institutional terms. The most important concepts to understand are the two-tier insurance system (Kassen vs. Wahlarzt) and the e-card.
The Insurance System
ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse)
Austria's main public health insurance body, covering the majority of employed and registered residents. Formerly split by profession into multiple Krankenkassen; merged into ÖGK in 2020. Your ÖGK membership is accessed via your e-card.
e-card
The electronic insurance card — your proof of ÖGK coverage. Presented at every Kassenarzt visit and hospital admission. Without it (or a temporary substitute), you may be billed as a private patient. Keep it on you.
Kassenarzt
A doctor who has contracted with ÖGK — a "public" doctor. Consultations are free at point of use (your insurance covers it). The trade-off: longer waits, and some Kassenärzte are less experienced with LGBTQ+ sexual health or more conservative in their approach.
Wahlarzt
A private doctor with no ÖGK contract. You pay the full consultation fee upfront (typically €80–200 for a specialist), then submit a claim to ÖGK, which reimburses approximately 80% of the equivalent Kassenarzt rate — meaning you recover a portion, but not all. Many of Vienna's most LGBTQ+-affirming and PrEP-experienced doctors practice as Wahlarzt. The higher cost buys flexibility, expertise, and often a shorter wait.
Rezeptgebühr
The prescription fee — a small co-payment (currently around €7 per prescription item) charged when filling a Kassenarzt prescription at a pharmacy. Waived for people with low income and certain other exemptions. For Wahlarzt prescriptions, you pay full pharmacy price (generics for PrEP are ~€50–70/month).
Krankenschein (historical)
The old paper insurance voucher — replaced by the e-card system. You may occasionally hear older patients or doctors reference it, but it is no longer in use.
Key Institutions
Aids Hilfe Wien
Austria's leading community HIV and sexual health organisation, based in Vienna. Operates the most LGBTQ+-affirming sexual health service in the country. aids.at
AKH (Allgemeines Krankenhaus Wien)
Vienna's main university hospital — the primary destination for PEP, complex STI treatment, and HIV specialist care. The relevant department is the Klinische Abteilung für Infektionen und Tropenmedizin (Infectious Disease outpatient).
Landeskrankenhaus (LKH)
State hospital — the main public hospital in each Austrian state capital. Equivalent to the AKH for PEP and specialist care outside Vienna.
Infektionsambulanz
Infectious Disease outpatient clinic — the department to ask for at a university or state hospital when you need PrEP prescription follow-up or PEP continuation.
Notaufnahme / Notfallambulanz
Emergency department. Notaufnahme (emergency reception) and Notfallambulanz (emergency outpatient) are used interchangeably across different hospitals.
HOSI Wien
Homosexuelle Initiative Wien — Vienna's main LGBTQ+ advocacy and community organisation. hosi.at
Key Phrases
Testing
| Purpose | German |
|---|---|
| Full STI screen | "Ich möchte eine vollständige Geschlechtskrankheiten-Untersuchung." |
| Three-site swabs | "Ich brauche auch einen Rachen- und Analabstrich." |
| Anonymous testing | "Ich möchte anonym getestet werden." |
| PrEP monitoring | "Ich bin auf PrEP und brauche meine Dreimonatskontrolle." |
PrEP
| Purpose | German |
|---|---|
| Requesting PrEP | "Ich möchte PrEP verschrieben bekommen." |
| On-demand protocol | "Kann ich das Bedarfsschema (2-1-1) nutzen?" |
PEP Emergency
| Purpose | German |
|---|---|
| At A&E triage | "Ich hatte vor [X] Stunden einen HIV-Risikokontakt und brauche PEP." |
| Partner status | "Mein Partner war HIV-positiv / unbekannter Status." |
Insurance and Doctors
| Purpose | German |
|---|---|
| "I want a private doctor" | "Ich suche einen Wahlarzt." |
| "I have public insurance" | "Ich bin bei der ÖGK versichert." |
| "Can I pay and reclaim?" | "Kann ich als Privatpatient bezahlen und dann bei der ÖGK einreichen?" |
Emergency Numbers
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 112 | Pan-European emergency (ambulance, fire, police) |
| 144 | Austrian ambulance direct |
| 142 | Telefonseelsorge — 24/7 crisis and emotional support line |
| 141 | Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst — out-of-hours GP service |
Quick Reference
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ÖGK | Public health insurance body |
| e-card | Electronic insurance card |
| Kassenarzt | Public insurance doctor (free) |
| Wahlarzt | Private doctor (pay upfront, ~80% reimbursed) |
| Rezeptgebühr | Prescription co-payment (~€7) |
| AKH | Vienna General Hospital (university) |
| LKH | State hospital (regional capitals) |
| Infektionsambulanz | Infectious disease outpatient |
| Notaufnahme | Emergency reception |
| PrEP | Prä-Expositions-Prophylaxe |
| PEP | Post-Expositions-Prophylaxe |
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