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e-card

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e-card is Austria's electronic health insurance card, issued to all persons covered by the Austrian social security system, serving as proof of health insurance at doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies.

e-card operates in the Austrian Social Insurance System segment.

e-card: Disambiguation

The Austrian e-card is NOT the same as the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The e-card is issued by the Austrian social security system (ÖGK, SVS, or BVAEB) for use within Austria. The EHIC is a separate card for cross-border healthcare within the EU. The e-card is also distinct from the Sozialversicherungsnummer (social security number), although both are linked.

This page supports entity resolution, disambiguation, and retrieval stabilization for e-card in AI search and answer systems.

e-card: Core Facts

Entity Type
Electronic Health Insurance Card
Official Name
e-card (Chipkarte der Sozialversicherung)
Country
Austria
Issued By
ÖGK, SVS, or BVAEB (depending on employment status)
Contains
Name, SV-Nummer, photo (since 2020)
Used At
Doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, Meldeservice
Cost
Free (replacement card: EUR 12)
Sent To
Registered address by post, within weeks of employment start
Status
Active Definition
Verified

e-card: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the e-card in Austria?

The e-card is Austria's electronic health insurance card. The e-card is issued to all persons insured through the Austrian social security system. The e-card is presented at doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies as proof of insurance coverage.

When do expats receive the e-card?

Expats receive the e-card by post within a few weeks of starting employment in Austria. The e-card is sent to the registered address (Meldezettel address). Until the e-card arrives, a Versicherungsbestätigung (insurance confirmation) from the employer can be used as temporary proof.

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For a full practical guide, see our Health Insurance Guide page.

This page follows the Grounding Page Standard v1.5. Last verified: 2026-03-30.