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While we still had to pay 13.80 euros for the e-card last year, the fee will rise to 25 euros this year. The reason for this is the government’s cost-cutting measures.
Some Austrians probably don’t even know they are paying a fee. We are talking about the annual fee for the e-Card. This is due every year in mid-November and is deducted from the following year’s salary. In most cases, the Christmas bonus is also paid out with it, so the slight deviation—last year, the fee amounted to 13.80 euros—is hardly noticeable.
e-Card service fee almost doubled
However, due to the tight budgetary situation – both at a national level and at the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) – this fee is now being significantly increased and almost doubled. By the end of 2025, (almost) all insured persons in Austria will have to pay 25 euros instead of the current 13.80 euros. It should have been “only” 14.65 euros, as the Chamber of Labor reported.
Why do people pay the e-Card service fee?
The umbrella organization of social insurance companies (DVSV) told 5 Minuten about the e-Card service fee: “This is a flat-rate deductible for health insurance benefits per the General Social Insurance Act (ASVG).”
Pensioners will also have to pay the e-Card fee from November 2026
Incidentally, no stone will be left unturned regarding the service fee for the e-Card next year. While pensioners have been exempt and will continue to be exempt this year, they must also pay from November 2026. Read more here: Pensioners are to be hit with a new fee. According to the strategy report on the double budget for 2025 and 2026, this should bring the social insurance institutions additional revenue of 37.4 million euros in 2025 and 78.7 million euros in 2026.
Health insurance contributions for pensioners to be increased
The improvement in the balance of the social insurance sector is generally expected to amount to 0.9 billion euros this year, roughly the amount that would be needed to avoid being in the red. Next year, the figure will even be 1.5 billion euros. In addition to the increase in the e-card fee and the extension of this to pensioners, this also includes the rise in health insurance contributions for pensioners. This means that Austria’s elderly will sometimes incur additional costs of hundreds of euros per year. Read more here: From then on, pensions in Austria will be cut.
ClimateTicket, driving licenses, passports, etc., will also become more expensive
Incidentally, the increase in the e-Card fee is by no means the only cost-cutting measure planned by the federal government in the coming months and years. Among other things, the prices for the Austria-wide ClimateTicket and driving licenses, passports, etc., are also rising rapidly in some cases.
How much do I pay for the e-Card?
You don’t have to pay anything for the e-Card. However, you will have to pay an annual service fee for 2025 (payable in November 2024), which was 13.80 euros and will rise rapidly to 25 euros from November 2025.
How is the e-Card fee paid?
The employer must collect it, and it is paid via the payroll. The employee usually does not have to do anything themselves.
Who has to pay the e-Card fee?
These persons must pay an e-Card service fee:
Employees
independent contractors
apprentices
Persons in a training relationship
Employees who receive at least half of their remuneration from their employer due to incapacity for work
Recipients of vacation compensation under Section 10 of the Vacation Act (UrlG)
Recipients of compensation instead of notice
From November 2026, pensioners will also belong to this group.
- source:5minuten.at/picture: hp
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