Pensioners' Revolt

E-Card Fee: Government Once Again Flocks Seniors

Starting in 2026, millions of retirees in Austria will have to pay the annual E-Card fee for the first time.(Bild: Jürgen Fuchs)

The government wants to plug at least part of the ÖGK’s budget shortfall—with an e-card fee for retirees. Expanding the fee is expected to bring the health insurance fund an additional 40 million euros annually. The outcry among seniors is intense.

“40 million is a drop in the bucket for the ÖGK,” criticizes Ingrid Korosec, head of the Seniors’ Association, on the “Ö1 Morgenjournal.” “For 1.5 million seniors, however, who ‘already face a host of measures,’ the 26.85 is an additional burden.” “This has to stop now,” demands Korosec.

Korosec had already voiced criticism of the fee at the end of October: “I have spoken out against this additional financial burden on older people from the very beginning. Especially in light of the already rising cost of living, any additional burden on retirees is unacceptable.”

Ingrid Korosec, President of the Seniors’ Association(Bild: Imre Antal)

“A Move by Health Insurers”
The fee is also met with rejection by Fiscal Council President Christoph Badelt: “I see this primarily as a move by health insurers to generate a little more revenue.” On the other hand, he says, this could be understood from “an equality perspective.”

Critics point out that the measure, which was decided upon a year and a half ago, was hardly publicized, and now many of those affected have been caught by surprise.

2 Millionen Betroffene

Hintergrund der neuen Gebühr

• Due to a change in the e-card service fee, retirees must also pay starting this year. Until now, they had generally been exempt. The amount of just under 27 euros is due once a year.
• No separate application or bank transfer is necessary—those affected will simply receive a smaller payment in November. 

  Spread out over the year, the cost amounts to about 2.24 euros per month.

• Across Austria, more than two million people are affected by the fee.
• Retirees who receive a supplementary allowance are exempt from the fee. Likewise, individuals who are exempt from the prescription fee due to special social need generally do not have to pay the E-Card service fee.

Significant Fee Increase in the Summer
In July of last year—as part of austerity measures—numerous fees saw a significant increase. For example, the cost of issuing passports and driver’s licenses went up, as did the service fee for the e-card.