Panel doctor vs. doctor of choice
On this page:
Patients in Austria are free to choose their doctors.
Please distinguish:
- Panel doctors (Kassenarzt/ Kassenärztin) have a contract with Austrian health insurance, which means that patients with an e-card will not have to pay for their treatment, or only a very small share.
- Doctors of choice (Wahlarzt/ Wahlärztin) are private doctors. The professional fee for treatment must be paid in full by the patient first. Depending on your insurance fund you might be reimbursed a certain percentage of the officially scheduled fee upon presentation of your receipt.