The mandatory insurance for displaced persons from Ukraine expired as planned at the end of May. The practical effects are initially however small, because a six‐week grace period until July 12 applies and until then an entitlement to benefits in kind such as doctor visits and medications exists. In addition, needy and employed Ukrainians remain insured anyway.
Affected persons will in this transition phase however have to look for a possibility to obtain permanent insurance. This is possible either through taking up gainful employment subject to social insurance or through self‐insurance.
Tens of thousands not affected
A large part of the displaced persons from Ukraine is not affected by the expiration. Because persons in basic care remain socially insured. At the beginning of May that was almost 35,000 Ukrainians. In addition come those persons who are already gainfully employed in Austria and thus in any case covered by health insurance.
Basic care is granted when a person cannot cover the cost of living for themselves and their dependents living in the same household from their own resources and does not receive adequate support from other sources. This already shows that the expiration of health insurance will probably mainly affect those persons who have larger cash reserves without engaging in gainful employment.
Exemptions also fall away
During the grace period in any case everything of medical services that may be necessary in everyday life is covered. This also concerns, for example, conservative dental treatments and hospital stays. Exemption from the prescription fee as well as from other co‐payments remains during the grace period. After July 12 this then also falls away as does the insurance.
Some other deadlines concerning Ukrainian displaced persons run a little longer. The entitlement to childcare allowance expires at the end of October. The same applies to family allowance. The government has already announced that it wants to change the entitlement conditions. The goal is to bring more Ukrainians into the labor market.
