As a participant in the Danish public health insurance scheme, you have the right to seek reimbursement for healthcare obtained in another EU/EEA state. While this rule has been in effect for a considerable period, the exact framework for "cross-border healthcare" within the EU/EEA states has now been provided through a Directive and amendments to Danish legislation.
The Directive outlines the circumstances in which you are entitled to seek healthcare in other states and receive full or partial reimbursement upon your return to Denmark.
Please note that the rules described in this document do not affect your entitlement to receive reimbursements under the EU Regulation on the coordination of social security systems, commonly known as the European Health Insurance Card.
Am I eligible for reimbursement for healthcare received in another EU state?
If you are covered by the Danish public health insurance scheme and possess a health insurance card (yellow card), you are entitled to reimbursement.
However, if you are a resident of Denmark and covered by the public health insurance scheme while also having health insurance coverage in Denmark through another EU/EEA state, such as due to working abroad or receiving pension payments from another country, you must apply for reimbursement from your foreign health insurance scheme.
Where can I purchase healthcare?
To be eligible for reimbursement for healthcare received in another country, you must purchase the healthcare service in another EU/EEA state.
The EU/EEA states include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
What healthcare services am I entitled to reimbursement for?
You are entitled to reimbursement for healthcare received free of charge or treatments eligible for reimbursement in Denmark. Examples of such treatments include hospital treatment, consultations with doctors/general practitioners, dental care, physiotherapy, psychological treatment, and dental care for children.
Please refer to the list of all eligible healthcare services for reimbursement on retsinformation.dk
Additionally, see below for information on reimbursement of expenses for hospital treatments and medicines.
List of all eligible healthcare services for reimbursement (in danish)
Healthcare not eligible for reimbursement
Costs for vaccinations included in the public vaccination schemes are not eligible for reimbursement. Examples include vaccinations for children or influenza vaccinations administered to specific groups within the Danish population.
What are the conditions for receiving reimbursement?
To receive reimbursement for your healthcare expenses, you must initially pay for your treatment abroad out of your own pocket. Afterwards, you can apply for reimbursement. However, please note that you are only eligible for reimbursement up to the amount you would have received if the healthcare had been provided in Denmark.
The conditions for reimbursement are the same as those for healthcare received within Denmark. Therefore, if you are not entitled to reimbursement for healthcare in Denmark, you are also not entitled to reimbursement for healthcare received in another EU/EEA state.
For example:
- The requirements for a referral from your general practitioner (GP) or a prescription are the same for treatment in another EU/EEA state and Denmark. This means that you must be referred by a GP to a specialist (except for citizens covered by Group 2). However, the referral doesn't have to come from your own GP in Denmark. You can obtain the referral from a GP in another EU/EEA state. Please note that a referral is not necessary for treatment with an otorhinolaryngologist or an ophthalmologist.
- If there are specific rules in Denmark regarding who can receive reimbursement, these rules also apply when seeking reimbursement for treatment in another EU/EEA state. For instance, there may be rules regarding reimbursement of treatment provided by psychologists, free physiotherapy, or special reimbursement for dental care for cancer patients.
- You will only be eligible for reimbursement for the same number of treatments or services as you would be entitled to in Denmark.
The therapist must be licensed by the authorities
Reimbursement is only granted for treatment provided by foreign therapists who hold a valid license from the authorities.
Hospital treatment
If you have been referred to a hospital for examination or treatment, you have the option to choose a hospital in another EU/EEA state to receive your treatment, and then apply for (partial) reimbursement of your expenses. The amount reimbursed will be equivalent to the cost of the treatment if it had been performed in Denmark. You will not receive reimbursement exceeding the amount you paid for the treatment abroad.
Apply for prior authorization
Please be aware that in certain cases, you will only receive reimbursement for your hospital treatment costs in another EU/EEA state if you have obtained prior authorization for the treatment.
For instance, prior authorization is required if a treatment necessitates overnight admission, involves special planning, or requires the use of highly specialized and expensive equipment. Sundhedsstyrelsen (The Danish Health Authority) has compiled a list of treatments that require prior authorization.
We recommend that you contact your regional authorities to inquire about the possibility of (partial or full) reimbursement of your expenses before deciding to receive hospital treatment abroad. This way, you can ascertain in advance whether you will receive partial reimbursement or if you will be responsible for covering the entire cost of the treatment.
List of treatmeants requiring prior authorization (in danish)
Prior authorization is granted by the regional authorities. Your region's name is indicated on your yellow health insurance card. When applying for prior authorization, please include the following documentation:
- A copy of the referral for hospital treatment from a doctor/GP
- Your permission for the regional authorities to gather additional information about your health, etc., which is necessary to assess your application
- A description of the treatment you are seeking prior authorization for, provided by the hospital abroad
- The date of your treatment at the hospital abroad
- A price estimate from the hospital abroad.
If you are not a resident of Denmark, please also include the following:
- A copy of your special yellow health insurance card.
You can find information about the five Danish regions here:
Region Nordjylland (North Denmark Region)
Region Midtjylland (Central Denmark Region)
Region Syddanmark (Region of Southern Denmark)
Region Hovedstaden (Capital Region of Denmark)
Region Sjælland (Region Zealand)
How to Apply for Reimbursement
To apply for reimbursement, you need to contact your municipal or regional authorities. The name of your municipality or region can be found on your yellow health insurance card.
If your healthcare service in Denmark offers reimbursement, you must apply for reimbursement through the municipal authorities.
Required Documentation for Reimbursement
When submitting your application for reimbursement to your municipal or regional authorities, it is essential to include the following documents:
- The original invoice and receipt.
- A description of the treatment you purchased, allowing for a comparison with treatments eligible for reimbursement in Denmark.
- A copy of the referral from a doctor or GP, or the prescription if applicable.
If you are not a resident of Denmark, please also include the following:
- A copy of your special yellow health insurance card.
- Information about the account where any reimbursement should be paid.
For reimbursement of hospital treatment expenses without prior authorization, enclose the following documents with your application to the regional authorities:
- A copy of the referral for hospital treatment from a doctor or GP.
- Your permission for the regional authorities to seek additional information about your health in order to assess your application.
- A description from the hospital abroad detailing the treatment you received, including the date of your hospitalization.
If you are not a resident of Denmark, please also include the following:
- A copy of your special yellow health insurance card.
- Information about the account where any reimbursement should be paid.
Calculation of Reimbursement
Reimbursement for treatment follows specific rules:
- Reimbursements set at a fixed amount in DKK will be granted at the same fixed amount that would apply if the treatment were purchased in Denmark.
- Reimbursements granted as a percentage of the treatment price will be calculated based on the price of the same treatment in Denmark.
- For treatments provided free of charge in Denmark, reimbursement is granted based on the equivalent price in Denmark.
Expenses for hospital treatment will be reimbursed at an amount corresponding to the costs of the treatment in Denmark.
The reimbursement cannot exceed the costs paid for the treatment abroad.
Complaints Regarding Reimbursement Decisions
If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by the municipal or regional authorities regarding your application for reimbursement of treatment costs abroad, you can submit a complaint to the Danish Agency for Patient Complaints (Styrelsen for Patientklager).
Danish Agency for Patient Complaints
Reimbursement of Medication Costs
The Danish rules on reimbursement for prescription medications also apply when purchasing medicines in another EU/EEA state. These rules apply whether you buy medicines during a visit to another EU/EEA state or online from a pharmacy or vendor in another EU/EEA state.
The Danish Medicines Agency (Lægemiddelstyrelsen) is responsible for administering reimbursement for medicines purchased in another EU/EEA state. For more information about reimbursement of medication costs, please refer to the agency's website.
The Danish Medicines Agency (Lægemiddelstyrelsen)
Information on Therapists and Treatment Abroad
If you need assistance in finding information about healthcare professionals or hospitals in other EU states, you can seek help from the National Contact Points established throughout the EU.
National Contact Points
The National Contact Points can provide information on professional standards and guidelines for the healthcare profession in the relevant EU state. They can also assist you in understanding your patient rights in that state.
Denmark has one coordinating National Contact Point and five regional National Contact Points. The coordinating National Contact Point is the Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed), which offers general guidance on treatment in Denmark and abroad.
The five regional National Contact Points in Denmark provide specific guidance to Danish citizens seeking treatment abroad and insured individuals from other EU/EEA states seeking treatment in Denmark. You can find contact information for these offices.
For a list of National Contact Points in all EU states, please visit the appropriate website.
National Contact Points
Complaints Regarding Treatment Received in Another EU/EEA State
If you are dissatisfied with the treatment received abroad, you must follow the complaint procedures and compensation rules of the state where you received the treatment. Danish law does not cover complaints or compensation for treatment purchased in another EU/EEA state.
The National Contact Point in the state where you received treatment can provide information on complaint procedures and applications for compensation.