Healthcare

Healthcare
Denmark has a comprehensive public health service including doctors, medical specialists, hospitals, homecare, health visitor services, pediatric dental care, and much more. Most health insurance services and hospitalizations are free of charge. The Danish health service is based on the principle of equal access to health services for all citizens.

The municipalities are responsible for preventive healthcare programs for children, home nursing, health visitor services, pediatric dental care and in-school health services. The municipalities issue health insurance cards and administer citizens' choice of doctor and health insurance scheme group.

The CPR number is used for the purposes of registration and personal identification, and your health insurance card gives you access to the health services available to all residents in Denmark. Although anyone living in Denmark is entitled to hospital assistance in the case of accidents or sudden illness, you are encouraged to make sure that you are adequately covered during the period before you receive your Danish health insurance card as this can take several weeks.

Choice of general practitioner (Doctor)
When you register for your CPR number, you will also be asked to choose a primary general practitioner (doctor). You are free to choose a male or a female doctor.

Once you have registered, a health insurance card (“yellow card”) featuring your CPR number and the name of your doctor will be sent to you within approximately 6 weeks. Please make sure that your name is on the door/mailbox at your place of residence to ensure the delivery of the card.

Your doctor’s name, address, and telephone number will be listed on your health insurance card. It is recommended that you always carry the yellow health insurance card with you as it is required whenever you need to see a doctor, a dentist or go to hospital.

The yellow health insurance card can also be downloaded as an app on your smartphone (‘Sundhedskort-app’). This is a voluntary digital version of the physical plastic health insurance card and is not a replacement for the physical card. It is recommended that you keep your physical health insurance card at hand, at all times. 

There is no charge for changing doctors, but you must pay for the new health insurance card that will be issued as a result of doing so.

Specialist doctors
In general, there is no charge for consulting specialist doctors but you will need a referral letter from your general practitioner. (You can consult ophthalmologists and ENT doctors (Ear Nose and Throat doctor without a referral letter).

Dentists
You may choose freely among practicing dentists in Denmark; a referral is not necessary. You are free to go to the dentist of your choice every time you require dental care treatment.

A state subsidy is provided for standard adult dental care. The subsidy will already have been deducted when you receive the bill from the dentist.

If you are a member of a private insurance scheme, you may be entitled to additional dental care subsidies.

Pediatric dental care
All dental care treatment for children under 18 years of age who reside in Denmark is provided free of charge by the municipal pediatric dental care service. The municipal pediatric dental care service regularly checks children’s teeth and performs any necessary treatment. In addition, they may provide referrals for teeth straightening treatment if necessary.

Buying medicine

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines are regulated differently in Denmark. Prescription medicines are only available for purchase at pharmacies. A prescription from a doctor or dentist is required to purchase prescription medicines.

Some over-the-counter medicines are available for purchase without a prescription at pharmacies as well as at approved supermarkets, kiosks, drug stores, and petrol stations.

If you need to purchase medicine outside normal opening hours, you can find a list of 24-hour pharmacies here (Danish only). Please note that you need a prescription from your doctor or the Medical Helpline before.

Emergencies

You should call 112 (nation-wide emergency number):

• in case of an accident, fire, or a serious crime
• if lives, property, or the environment are in acute danger
• if there is a need for immediate police assistance, an ambulance, the fire brigade or environmental action

If you have suffered an injury or have you suddenly become ill when your doctor is closed, call the medical helpline 1813 (for the Copenhagen region , for the Sjælland region call 1818). For all regions, please find phone numbers here.

You also need to call the medical helpline before going to Accident and emergency (A&E) departments, unless you need urgent medical assistance with acute, life threatening illness or injury.

Call 114 if you require non-emergency police assistance.

Blue European Health Insurance card
You can obtain the Blue European health insurance card if you live in Denmark, are a citizen of an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or the United Kingdom and you are covered by national health insurance in Denmark.

The Blue European health insurance card covers essential doctor and hospital treatment and medicine during a short stay in an EU country, EEA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), Switzerland or the United Kingdom. It gives you access to same benefits and conditions as the citizens in the country, in which you are visiting. That means you may have to pay for a part of the treatment yourself, if that applies to people insured in the country you are visiting.

Please note that if you are travelling outside the above-mentioned countries or if you are not eligible for the Blue European health insurance card, you will not be covered and will need to purchase a private insurance plan.

If your travel is in connection with your work, please order an Europæiske Rejseforsikringthat will cover your business travel. The Europæiske insurance card can be obtained from your department administration.

More information
Please refer to lifeindenmark.dk for more information about healthcare in Denmark.