Medical examinations for young people

General information

Individuals aged between 15 and 17 (inclusive) registered with the Austrian Health Insurance (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse - ÖGK) will be invited for an annual health check. These checks are aimed at young people in work (and especially apprentices and trainees). They aim to increase health awareness among this group. The individual's employer will generally be notified that they have been invited for a medical. This is to ensure they are given time off to go to the examination.

By law, young people insured with SVS and BVAEB are also entitled to annual medicals.

The examination can be carried out once a year and is free of charge.

Procedure

Medicals for young people may be carried out by a range of doctors, inter alia paediatricians and general practitioners (GPs). They can take place in the workplace, at vocational training institutions, or at centres run by the relevant health insurer.

Any conversations between the individual and the doctor in the course of the examination are confidential. The examination covers the following areas:

• Height and weight
• Blood pressure, heart and lungs
• Mental well-being
• Nutrition and exercise
• Risk factors, including smoking and alcohol

Aim of the examination

• Detect any health problems at an early stage
• Ensure individuals are informed about health risks, including any risks related to their work
• Support them to change their lifestyles to promote good health

Further links

• feel-ok.at (→ Styria vitalis)^{German text} (a health platform specially aimed at young people)
• SVS medicals for young people (→ SVS)^{German text}
• BVAEB medicals for young people (→ BVAEB)^{German text}