Denmark is known for its high quality healthcare and extensive medical services, which contributes to its excellent reputation. To enjoy these benefits, it is necessary to have the proper documentation, including a health insurance card. Applying for a health card is a key step in the process of ensuring adequate health care coverage during your stay in Denmark.
Before traveling to Denmark, people insured with the Polish National Health Insurance Fund should obtain a European Health Insurance Card. This card is an EU document that confirms the right to free treatment in EU or EFTA countries other than one's own. In Denmark, it entitles you to receive necessary medical services in public health care facilities.
It is worth noting that tourists from EU countries, including Poland, can receive free treatment on the basis of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), if a local doctor deems it necessary in connection with their health condition and planned stay in Denmark. The decision on what is considered necessary medical treatment is made by the local doctor, taking into account the patient's symptoms. EU tourists are treated equally with Danish citizens and are entitled to medical care under identical conditions.
When comparing the EHIC card with travel insurance, it is easy to see that the policy usually offers broader coverage. Still, commercial insurance is not without its drawbacks. One of them is the need to pay a premium at the time of purchase, while the EHIC card is issued free of charge by the National Health Service. Travel insurance, however, is relatively cheap, costing only a few zlotys a day. A bigger problem is exclusions of liability, that is, cases in which the insurer may refuse to reimburse medical expenses.
To obtain an EHIC card, you need to contact the relevant health insurance institution that is responsible for covering your medical expenses. The process of obtaining the card is extremely simple. All you need to do is fill out the appropriate application for an EHIC card and submit it - this can be done in person at a NHF branch or by using the online application option. The EHIC card is available to everyone who is insured in the national health system of the NFZ.
The EHIC card is valid for 5 years and is issued for each person individually. It is not possible to issue one common card for the whole family. Eligibility for the EHIC card also includes stateless persons, recognized refugees and family members of a person insured in the national health system of Denmark. A life partner, spouse and children under the age of 18 are considered family. Non-EU citizens who are legally resident in the European Union and covered by the national health insurance system are also eligible to apply for an EHIC card. Those covered by the national health insurance system in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland cannot use the EHIC card.
Before you travel to Denmark, it is advisable to obtain an EHIC, which is free and requires minimal paperwork. The card can be obtained in several ways:
- You can fill out an application through the ePUAP electronic mailbox or the Internet Patient Account (IKP) and pick up the card in person or have it mailed to you.
- Another option is to go to the NFZ branch or its delegation, download and fill out the application on the spot, and then receive the card right away.
- Alternatively, you can print the form from the NFZ website, fill it out and mail it to the NFZ, and the card will be delivered by mail.
- Electronic applications are available, but this option only applies to EHIC cards issued for work-related trips.
The validity period of the EHIC varies depending on the insured person's situation. The card can be granted for different lengths of time to suit individual needs:
- For postpartum women who are Polish citizens and live in the country, the card is valid for 42 days.
- For those who are uninsured, but who are legally receiving NHF benefits, such as pregnant women or refugees living in Poland, a card valid for 6 months can be granted.
- For adults who receive a pension, are 18 years old, are family members, are studying or studying and have their own insurance eligibility, the card is valid for 18 months.
- A card is issued for 3 years for those who are employed on a contract, receiving benefits or pre-retirement benefits.
- Retirees who have not yet reached retirement age and underage Polish citizens are issued a card for 5 years.
- Minors who are family members, receive a pension or have their own insurance entitlements receive a card until they reach the age of 18.
- For those of retirement age, the EHIC card is valid for 20 years.
- Registered unemployed or insured persons who do not fit into the above categories can receive a card valid for 2 months.
The time it takes to issue an EHIC card depends on the application method chosen. If the application is made in person, the card can be obtained almost immediately. If you choose another method, the waiting time can be up to 2 weeks.
The holder of an EHIC card is entitled to treatment under certain conditions:
- The treatment must be necessary and unscheduled, and should be under the same conditions as for citizens of the country.
- If self-payment for a doctor's visit is required, it is necessary to pay the appropriate amount. Medical services should be provided within the country's public health care system.
Services that are not covered by the Blue Health Insurance Card include:
- Emergency costs in EU/EFTA countries. In high-risk situations, such as extreme sports, it is advisable to check the rules of assistance and consider purchasing additional commercial insurance.
- In addition, the card does not cover the cost of returning to the country in case of sudden illness or deterioration of health.
A non-EU citizen's EHIC card can only be used in Denmark if one of the following conditions is met:
- Has resident status in Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden.
- Meets the criteria for a refugee according to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
- Is considered stateless under the 1954 UN Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons.
- Or is a family member of a person insured in the EU.
Using the EHIC in Denmark comes with some restrictions. For some medical services that are free in Poland, there may be charges in Denmark, and the National Health Service will not cover these costs.
In Denmark, the EHIC card allows free access to essential health care, including general, specialized and hospital treatment. However, there are some fees that must be paid:
- Reimbursable drug costs: reimbursement for adults is only available if annual drug expenses exceed 925 kroner, with reimbursement options of 50%, 75% or 85%. If annual drug expenses are less than 925 kroner, reimbursement is only available for children's drugs at 60% of the cost.
- Preventive dental treatment: partial reimbursement is 40%, and 65% for those under 26 years of age.
- Dentures and crowns: are paid for once and are not reimbursable.
- Medical return transportation costs to Poland: are not reimbursed.
If you have incurred the full cost of treatment, you can apply for reimbursement through the public health service. To do so, contact the local municipality (kommune) where you are currently located. You can get reimbursed for your medical expenses or receive detailed information on how to recover them. In order to begin the process of claiming reimbursement, you will need to present the original bills, prescriptions and referrals that were issued to you. In addition, you will need to present your EHIC card and provide information such as your SWIFT/BIC code and IBAN account number. Should the situation arise that you are unable to submit a claim for reimbursement during your stay in Denmark, it is also possible to contact your insurer once you have returned to the country.
Each EHIC card, issued by the National Health Service, has a specific validity period, which depends on the status of the insured person. Therefore, before you plan to leave, it is worth checking whether your EHIC is still valid. In a situation where the card is no longer valid, you should apply for a new copy as soon as possible.
In Denmark, when visiting a hospital or medical consultation, it is necessary to provide a personal CPR number and show a yellow insurance card. If someone does not have a yellow card, they will be charged for the visit. For those who are already covered by Danish health insurance, but do not have a yellow card, it is possible to recover medical expenses after submitting the appropriate forms.
One can apply for the card in two ways:
I. The first option is to deal with the authorities in person: Go to the Danish municipality (Kommune) to get a temporary special yellow card. It's worth noting that this is not the standard plastic card that Danish citizens or people with a registered address in Denmark receive. Prepare your employment contract and visit the nearest Kommune office - the temporary card will be issued on the spot or mailed to the address provided. The card is usually valid until the end of the employment contract, but can be renewed for a further period to be determined by the Kommune office.
II. The second option is to apply online: fill out the form below. If you meet the requirements, you will receive your card within the next 2-3 weeks. If you need to provide additional information or are not eligible for a card, the appropriate information will be sent to you by letter within 3 weeks. Issuance of the card is free of charge, however, if the card is lost or damaged, the fee for issuance of a new card is DKK 220.
In order to facilitate access to health services in Denmark, it is advisable to obtain a yellow card for the duration of your employment contract. To apply for this document, it is necessary to have a CPR number and to settle at least one salary.
In order to become a public health care patient in Denmark and be able to be reimbursed for medical expenses, it is necessary to apply for a yellow card. Here are the necessary steps to take:
- First, make sure you have all the required documents, such as an identity document, a CPR (Central Person Register) number, and documents proving employment or other legal basis for residence in Denmark.
- Then, go in person to your local migration office (Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration - SIRI) or municipality (Kommune) to apply.
- Fill out the application form with all the necessary information, such as personal information, address, CPR number and details of your employment or residence status.
- Be sure to include all necessary documents. These should prove your identity, residence status and employment in Denmark.
- Once the application form is completed and signed, submit it to the appropriate office in person or send it by mail.
- After submitting your application, be ready to wait for a decision, which usually takes several weeks. If the decision is positive, you will receive a yellow card entitling you to public health care in Denmark.
- Finally, if your application is approved, you will be able to pick up the yellow card in person at the office in accordance with the applicable procedures.
It's worth keeping in mind that how to apply for a yellow card may vary depending on your personal situation and the requirements of local authorities. Before applying, it's always a good idea to check your current information and make sure you meet all the requirements.
If you want to access the Danish health care system, but are not a resident of Denmark, a special yellow health card sent to an address in Poland will be suitable for you. Such a document allows you to use the Danish health system on the same terms as Danish citizens, even though you are not registered in the Danish population register (in the case of a yellow card to a Danish address). This card should be used when visiting doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other specialists in Denmark.
The yellow health card, which is required to apply for a NEM ID or MitID digital signature, is valid for a maximum of 2 years, although it may have a shorter validity period, such as until the end of the year or the end of the contract. It is worth remembering that it should be renewed at the earliest one month before it expires. A reminder to renew the card will be sent by mail or e-mail.
To apply for an insurance card, you must first obtain a Danish CPR (PESEL) number from the SKAT tax office. Only after this is received can an application be submitted to Udbetaling Danmark. Once the application is submitted, Udbetaling Danmark has a maximum of eight weeks to issue the card, although it usually takes less time.
Once the Danish authority accepts your application for a yellow card, the document will automatically be sent to the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ). As a result, you will be able to use medical services in Poland on the same basis as Polish citizens, and Denmark will cover the costs of these services. You will not be required to pay health insurance premiums in your country of residence. An E106 insurance document and a yellow insurance card will be sent to the address indicated. If your wife/husband and children in Poland do not have insurance in their country, the yellow card may also cover them. In that case, it will be necessary to provide their data and address during a visit to the NFZ branch.
Denmark's health care system includes health insurance as a key component that guarantees access to quality medical services for residents and legal residents. For all people living in Denmark, both permanent residents and those lawfully residing there, this insurance is an essential component for providing health care.
During the course of an employment contract, an employee working in Denmark is entitled to basic medical care in the event of a sudden illness or accident. Children up to the age of 15, along with their parents, are also automatically covered under the health insurance system. After the age of 15, children get independent insurance, separate from that of their parents.
If you have moved to Denmark and are an adult over the age of 18, it is necessary to provide your country and health insurance information, provided you meet one of the following requirements:
- You are a citizen of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland,
- You lived in one of the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland before coming to Denmark.
- Danish citizens also have to provide data on their country of health insurance if they moved to Denmark from another EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
You should provide data on your country of health insurance, even if you do not have all the documents. If you do not have all the documentation, you have the option of sending it later to Udbetaling Danmark at: Kongens Vænge 8, 3400 Hillerød. In order for Udbetaling Danmark to be able to determine which country should cover the expenses of using the Danish health care system, it is necessary to provide this information. European Union regulations stipulate that in certain situations these expenses are covered by another European country, called the health insurance country, instead of Denmark.
When completing the “Health Insurance Country Information” form, you may be asked to attach additional documents. This is especially true in the following cases:
- You are a foreign student.
- You intend to work in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
- You have been posted from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
- You receive a pension exclusively from another EU/EEA country or Switzerland and are a pensioner.
- You are receiving unemployment benefits from another EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
- You receive other benefits, such as sickness, maternity or pre-retirement benefits, from another EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
Before filling out the form, it is a good idea to first prepare these documents as digital files. For example, you can scan the documents or take photos of them with your cell phone, saving them later on your computer in the appropriate format. Uploading all documents is not necessary. If you have a health insurance form or an EHIC card, you only need to send the form. If you have only one of these documents, there is no need to send the decision or the A1 social security legislation certificate. The A1 document specifies the country in which you are covered by the social security system. If you are posted to work in Denmark by a foreign employer, you can apply for an A1 certificate in the country where you live. If you are working in several countries at the same time, you should contact Udbetaling Danmark, which handles international social security.
Udbetaling Danmark will assess whether you are covered by the health insurance system in Denmark or in another country after reviewing the information you have sent. A decision regarding health insurance will be made based on the information and documents you submit. The key is to determine which country will be responsible for covering the cost of any treatment under the Danish health care system.
In order for Danish health insurance to be effective, an employee must have at least one salary reported to SKAT by the employer and a CPR number. It is worth noting that until the first salary is cleared and a CPR number is obtained, health insurance in Denmark may not be in effect for up to eight weeks after starting work. For this reason, it is important to carry the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which confirms your existing insurance, or alternatively, have private health insurance before traveling to Denmark.
Individuals working in Denmark but living in another country are issued a special Health Insurance Card, also known as Særlige sundhedskort (formerly det gule sygesikringsbevis). This document confirms that you have health insurance and provides free access to medical services.
Danish residents who have a CPR number and a local address receive a Sundhedskort. This document allows them to receive medical services on an equal basis with residents, even though they are not registered in Denmark. It is important to carry this card with you at all times, either digitally on your phone or physically, and present it to health care facilities such as family doctors, dental offices or psychological offices.
For anyone working in Denmark but not registered there, having a særlige sundhedskort card is crucial. The card is also important for employees working in Denmark who travel to Poland. Once a person working in Denmark is registered in the local population registry, his special insurance card is exchanged for a standard yellow card, known as det almindelige gule sundhedskort.
Seafarers employed on Danish-flagged ships and family members of workers employed and living in Denmark can also use the særlige sundhedskort card. However, those whose families work in Denmark but are themselves residents of another EEA country are not eligible for this card.
The special insurance card is issued free of charge by Udbetaling Danmark on the basis of an application. Interested persons can apply electronically via Digital Post, as long as they have a NemID. Usually the card is delivered after a 2-3 week wait. The validity of this card is a maximum of 2 years.
To apply for the Særlige Sundhedskort (Special Health Card) in Denmark, follow the instructions below:
1. The first step is to gather all the necessary documents. Among the documents required are proof of employment in Denmark or other legal basis for residence, and a valid identity document.
2. Next, you will need to obtain an application form. This can be done through the Udbetaling Danmark website or by visiting their office in person.
3. After obtaining the form, the next step is to fill it out. You will need to provide all the required data, such as personal information, CPR (Central Person Register) number, details of your employment or residence status in Denmark.
4. Attach all the required documents that prove your identity, residence status and employment in Denmark to the application. Make sure all documents are attached before submitting the application.
5. Once the form is filled out and all documents are attached, the application should be submitted. You can do this in person at the Udbetaling Danmark office or submit it electronically.
6. After submitting an application, you have to wait for a decision to be issued. The entire application process usually takes several weeks, so you should be patient.
7. If your application is successful, you will receive a Særlige Sundhedskort card. This card allows you to receive health care in Denmark on an equal basis with Danish citizens.
Before you apply for a Særlige Sundhedskort card, it is worth remembering that the procedure may vary depending on your personal situation and local requirements. It is recommended that you always check the latest information and verify that you meet all the required criteria before proceeding with your application.
Get our help to get a Danish health insurance card seamlessly and enjoy access to quality medical care in Denmark. Our team will guide you through the entire application process, ensuring that all the paperwork is handled efficiently and in accordance with the regulations. With us, you will avoid unnecessary stress and quickly enjoy the full health benefits offered by Denmark. Contact us today to get the support you need!