The ministry didn’t let this go and pointed out the deadline and the need for the communities to first register which of them would take part. Pensioners’ Association General Secretary Andreas Wolmuth warned in a broadcast that many affected families are threatened with a loss of care of several hours because the current registration offices are few and far between. He therefore called on Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) to “finally get going”. It is irresponsible to de facto make it impossible for those affected to access health care services, even though they have properly paid contributions for them.
Discontent in the Interior Ministry
The Ministry of the Interior reacted angrily. It was emphasized there that the initiative for the expansion to the municipalities came from the Chamber of Commerce, not the red pensioners’ association. The change in the law had been decided on for some time, but it was only published in the Federal Law Gazette on Thursday (March 28th). The regulation will be issued as quickly as possible.
First of all, contact must be made with the communities via the association of cities and municipalities. The corresponding letter has already been sent, the ministry continued. The regulation can only be issued in agreement with the health department as soon as it is clear which municipalities are taking part. It is voluntary and the communities concerned would then have to be explicitly mentioned in the regulation.
Until then, there will be no change to the status quo, according to the Interior Department. The existing registration offices – both for Austrian citizens and non-Austrians – are open www.chipkarte.at to find.
