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Asylum seekers and persons entitled to subsidiary protection who are in Vienna’s basic health care system are automatically insured with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) if free co-insurance with relatives is not possible. Persons entitled to asylum are insured through the needs-based minimum income scheme (BMS) or through their employer.
As beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have no maximum time limit on basic care, they always enjoy health insurance similar to asylum seekers (see Reception Conditions: Health Care). Meanwhile, refugees enjoy basic care for 4 months after recognition of their status. When participating in courses of the job centres, they are also covered by health insurance. As soon as they start to work more than a few hours, the mandatory health insurance takes effect. When refugees are considered to be without resources and receive needs-oriented minimum basic benefits, they also have health insurance.
Access to psychological therapy for traumatised refugees and torture survivors is possible as a transitional measure within AMIF projects when the therapy had already begun during the asylum procedure. Although such projects exist in every federal province, their capacities barely cover the demand. Starting in 2021, a new project called RESET funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs was introduced. It provides extra funding for organisations offering psychotherapy to refugees.[1] Other costs of psychological therapy are only partly covered by health insurances.
Asylum seekers are not eligible for childcare subsidies. The care allowance is reduced from the minimal income for persons who qualify for asylum. Only those who have previously been employed are eligible for childcare assistance under subsidiary protection.
Childcare allowance must be applied for at the Insurance Fund (ÖGK). It is important that the application is submitted in good time – if necessary before the family allowance notice is received. Because the childcare allowance is only paid out retrospectively for 6 months and a full compliance with all mandatory mother-child passport examinations is required. The confirmation of this must be submitted to the health insurance company by the 15th month of the child’s life. Otherwise the childcare allowance will be reduced.
[1] Asylkoordination österreich, RESET heißt Neustart, available in German at: https://bit.ly/3O0cF3d.