Hospital stays for children in Austria are generally covered by health insurance. However, when parents or caregivers accompany the child, all federal states charge separate companion fees. While some regions have capped or reduced these costs, others—especially Vienna—continue to charge high fees, criticized the organization KiB Children Care (Children in Care) in a statement on Wednesday.

For families with seriously or chronically ill children, this results in a significant financial burden. KiB has now conducted a comparison across Austria’s federal states. The results show that Upper Austria is the most socially supportive, and Lower Austria—which ranked the worst two years ago—has become more family-friendly by reducing costs. Vienna remains at the bottom.

In Lower Austria, the companion fees are limited to 14 days, and they are completely waived for the care of children with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Additionally, children under three are exempt from all charges. From age three, fees range from €14.43 to €43.40 per day, depending on age. While Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, and Burgenland kept their rates stable, Tyrol and Carinthia increased their fees by around 14 percent, and Vorarlberg saw a 5 percent rise.

Vienna Has the Highest Companion Fees

In Vienna, the companion fees are still limited to 14 days per calendar year, and children under the age of three are exempt. But after that, costs rise steeply: for children aged three to six, parents pay €45.10 per day; for those over 14, it’s €96.69 per day. According to KiB Children Care, Vienna has seen a sharp increase in recent years, with fees rising by nearly 20% since 2023. A 14-day hospital stay can cost parents nearly €1,400. For longer stays crossing into a new calendar year, the costs increase further. Making matters worse, the fees must be paid upfront at the time of admission.

“This policy is unacceptable. The cost that health insurance would incur here is minimal. But for families with chronically ill or disabled children, these fees are a serious threat to their financial and emotional wellbeing,” said KiB Director Johanna Part. She added that parents also help hospital staff and contribute to their children’s faster recovery.

EACH Charter Advocates for Accompaniment Rights

The European Association for Children in Hospital (EACH) has issued a charter aimed at ensuring that children in hospitals have the right to be accompanied by parents or caregivers at all times—without financial burden. It also calls for parents to be actively involved in the care process and to receive adequate support. While this charter is recognized by Austria’s Ministry of Health, the reality, according to KiB, does not reflect its standards.

KiB contacted all political parties represented in Vienna’s state parliament for statements on the issue. The Greens, FPÖ, and ÖVP expressed support for easing companion fees. The governing parties SPÖ and NEOS, however, failed to respond despite multiple requests, according to the organization.