Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

I am exploring the option of retiring in Vienna, which I know well and where I have professional connections and friends. I currently live in Texas and have state and other pensions from both the USA and the UK.

Can anyone please give me advice about what I need to know before doing this? I am particularly interested to know whether my NHS entitlement is transferable from the UK to Austria, but any snags (or perks!) that you know about would be of great interest and help.

Many thanks,

David

PS: I am posting in the German threads because I cannot find anything specific to Austria. Please correct me if I am wrong! :)

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Hi David

why don't you post the question about the NHS entitlements in the European section in a more general way. I assume that regulations should be similar for all European Union countries.

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Thanks! I will do so.

Best regards,

David

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

If you have a State ension from any EU state then you are entitled to health treatment in another EU country if you are resident there. This will not be UK NHS but whatever the local system is !!

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Thanks, scot47. I am still waiting to hear from Newcastle about my pension, which is supposed to be 24/30 of what I would have received had I stayed in the UK. I dont know whether that makes any difference to any NHS entitlement in Austria.

David

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Even if is a "fractional pension" you should be entitled to Austrian Health
Care, You need a letter/form from DWP. I have no idea what Austrain Health Care will cover.

Pension is currently about £110 a week for 30/30ths ,so yours will be pro rata

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

I hope you are correct, scot! At present I am in excellent health. All I need is to be kept going until it's a waste of time trying! :)

David

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens...e/index_en.htm

You should also invetigate getting an EHIC, for use when travelling.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...-the-ehic.aspx

This is FREE from the NHS site. Avoid other sites that charge you !

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

WoW! Thanks, Scot! I am feeling more healthy already!

David

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Interesting information in the first document:

Having stated that one can obtain an S1 form to get coverage in another EU country when receiving a pension from the UK, it goes further and basically says that, having established residence and healthcare in another EU country, one cannot receive treatment in the UK. (See extract below)
===========================================
You are entitled to complete healthcare coverage in both the country which pays your pension and the country where you now live (if these are different).

However, this applies only if the country which pays your pension is one of the following:

Austria, France, Netherlands, Belgium. Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus, Hungary, Spain, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, or Sweden.

If you paid contributions in a country which is not in the list above, you will only be entitled to complete healthcare coverage in the country where you live.
===========================================
I wonder how this distinction is determined.

Presumably, if one became completely incapacitated and were dragged back by relatives to the UK screaming, one could change one's election and revert to the NHS... (!)

David

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Amazing how many people never think of checking things out before they move !

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

This distinction comes about because to be eligible for the NHS one needs to be permanently resident in the UK.

Eligibility is based on permanent residency and not citizenship. The UK/NHS system will pay for medical treatment in another country if you have fulfilled certain criteria such as being in receipt of a State pension from the UK.

If your relatives drag you back to the UK you will get emergency treatment only.

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Best advice in the thread, great detective skills scot! :thumbsup:

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Finally got the award of my UK pension, and today an email telling me that I shall be entitled to the same medical cover in Austria as an Austrian national. When I know the exact date of my move to Austria and my new address there, I have to request a form S1 from the UK and then register this with the Austrian authorities.

Thanks to all who responded to my posting and who helped me navigate this minefield. As one can see, time is not of the essence for the authorities, though it is for those retiring!

David

Re: Advice on Retiring in Vienna, Austria
 

Great news! Good luck with your move David and if you like keep us posted about your life in Vienna. Fantastic city!