Healthcare
On this page, you can find information about healthcare in Denmark. This includes information about the Blue EU Health Insurance Card (EU citizens only), health insurance, acute medical assistance, choosing a doctor, dental care, emergencies, and healthcare for stays under 90 days.
Everyone residing in Denmark for more than three months, has the right to receive national health service treatment for free. This means that as soon as you are a registered resident here and have a CPR (civil registration) number, you have the same rights to medical assistance as Danish citizens.
The yellow health insurance certificate (sygesikringsbevis) is the documentation that you are entitled to health insurance services in Denmark.
Before coming to Denmark we advise you to make sure that you are covered by private healthcare until you get registered in Denmark. EU citizens should bring their blue EU health insurance card (blue card). We also advise you to bring your medical and dental records.
EU citizens and citizens from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are encouraged to bring the blue EU health insurance card with them from their home country. The EU health insurance card provides coverage within the EU for up to a year during holiday and work.
Denmark has a comprehensive public healthcare system, including general practitioners, specialist practitioners, hospitals, doctors on call and more.
Public healthcare in Denmark is tax-financed and the vast majority of healthcare services are free of charge for the users, including hospital services and visits to general practitioners.
Stays under 90 days
Please note that guest researchers on short-term stays are not covered by the public healthcare.
Guest researchers and guest PhD students on short term stays (i.e. less than three months) are not covered by Danish healthcare (only emergency treatment). They will need to arrange for private healthcare insurance before arriving in Denmark.
Contacts for emergency services
In the event of serious injury or life-threatening illness, you will need to contact your general practitioner or the after hour doctor depending on the hour of the day, and they will then refer you to the emergency room, if required. Below you will find a list of contact information divided by the three AAU campus cities:
In Aalborg (North Jutland Region)
In Esbjerg
In Copenhagen
EMERGENCY 112
In any case of serious injury or life-threatening illness or emergencies such as injury or fire, or if you urgently require police assistance, call the emergency call centre on telephone number 112. The number is the same no matter where in Denmark you are.
In Denmark, you access the public health system through your general practitioner (GP). You are required to choose a GP located within a 15 kilometres radius of your registered address. If you request a GP located more than 15 kilometres from where you live, you must bring along a written acceptance from the GP to Citizens’ Services. Furthermore, the GP you choose must be able to take on new patients.
You choose your own doctor at the National Registry Office (Folkeregistret). When you fill in the forms for a health insurance certificate, you receive a list of general practitioners in your area of residence. If you belong to insurance group 1, you have to choose a permanent doctor. You are free to choose between the general practitioners, who accept new patients as indicated on the list. You can subsequently change doctor if you wish. However, please be aware that the cost to change doctor is DKK 200.
- If you belong to insurance group 1, you can change your doctor by contacting the National Registry Office. The change will take effect 14 days after the authorities have received payment for the issue of a new health insurance card. You can also do it electronically at Borger.dk. You will need your NemId/MitID to complete the application online.
- If you are in insurance group 2, you do not choose a particular doctor, but may consult a new one whenever you please.
SPECIAL RULES FOR CHOOSING A GENERAL PRACTITIONER
You are entitled to choose between at least two doctors in your area.
Children under the age of 15 normally have the same general practitioner (GP) as their parents. If the parents have different GPs, the children usually have the same GP as the mother, unless otherwise agreed.
INTERPRETER ASSISTANCE
Healthcare staff are responsible for making sure that their patients understand the information, and therefore they will assess whether there is a need for an interpreter in connection with treatment.
If you have lived for more than three years in Denmark and you still need an interpreter to explain a medical problem, you are required to pay the cost yourself. Read more about interpreter assistance.
IF YOU MOVE TO A NEW ADDRESS
If you move to a new address, you are required to register your new address at the Citizens’ Services in the municipality to which you move. If you move to a new municipality or more than 15 kilometres away from where your general practitioner is located, you will need to choose a new general practitioner (GP). When you have registered your new address and chosen a GP, you will receive a new health insurance card, where the name and address of your GP will be stated.
CHANGING YOUR GENERAL PRACTITIONER
You can change your general practitioner (GP) by contacting the Citizens’ Services in the municipality in which you live. It takes 14 days from Citizens’ Services have received your request, before it is put into practice. Note: If you change GP without moving to a new address at least 15 kilometres from where your current GP is located, a DKK 200 fee applies, as you will need a new health insurance card.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED MEDICAL CONSULTATION
You must contact your general practitioner if you need medical consultation. You call the doctor and make an appointment, for either the same day or one of the following days depending on the severity of the illness. Most doctors also have phone consultations one hour a day. You also have to contact your general practitioner if you want a referral to a medical specialist, physiotherapist, psychologist or a chiropodist, or if you need a prescription for medicine.
PAYMENT
If you are covered by the public health insurance and have chosen insurance group 1, medical consultation is free. You need to bring your yellow health insurance card to the consultation.
OPENING HOURS
Danish doctors are normally open between 8.00 and 16.00.
EMERGENCY DOCTOR
If you need medical consultation outside opening hours, you need to contact the after hours doctor. If needed, they will refer you to the emergency room.
If you need dental treatment, you can freely choose the dentist of your preference. You need to make an appointment in advance before seeing the dentist. If you need to see a dentist at the weekend or on public holidays, you can call the emergency dentist in your region.
Be aware that dental treatment in Denmark is not free of charge, but subsidised by the state. Consequently, you will be charged a self-payment. It is therefore a good idea to ask in advance about the cost of the treatment.
Dental care is free of charge for all children under the age 18 residing in Denmark. Children dental treatment is offered at the municipal dental health services (Den Kommunale Tandplejeordning).
You can look up on the internet to find a dentist close to you under tandlæger.
Outside opening hours
In case of an emergency outside office hours (16.00-08.00), you can visit the emergency dental service (Tandlægevagten).
You cannot make an appointment in advance.
Remember to bring your yellow health insurance card and cash or other form of payment.
Orthodontic treatment
Children who need to have their teeth corrected will be referred to an orthodontist by the municipal dentist, and the procedure is free of charge. Adults over 18 years of age must pay for orthodontic treatment.
Going to the dentist
A visit to the dentist requires an appointment, and it is important that you show up on time. Remember to bring your health insurance card with you.
Many dentists charge a fee from customers who do not show up for a scheduled appointment or do not give sufficient notice of cancellation.
Pricing
Note that all dental treatments and services have set prices and that all adults will be charged for all services. Ask your dentist for the prices of the various services. If you are a member of a private insurance scheme, you may be entitled to extra financial assistance with regular or special dental treatment or operations. Read more about private health insurance under Insurance.
Contact information of emergency dental services can be found under During your stay - Emergencies.
You can call 112 in case of emergency and/or IF someone needs IMMEDIATE medical treatment.
The emergency number 112 is the same in all of the European Union.
If you need to contact the police, please call 114 instead.
In case of an accident, a fire or a serious crime
112 IS THE NATION-WIDE NUMBER TO CALL IN CASE:
- Of an accident, fire, or a serious crime
- Lives, property, or the environment are in acute danger
- There is a need for immediate police assistance, an ambulance, the fire brigade or environmental action
When you call 112, you will hear the following message in Danish:
"De har kaldt alarmcentralen 112. Brandvæsen, politi og ambulance. Vent roligt her"
(Translated: You have called the emergency call centre 112. Fire service, police and ambulance. Please wait).
The staff speaks English, and will ask you (as a rule):
- What has happened – where and when?
- Which phone number are you calling from?
- How many people are injured?
In case of sickness or accidents, you will quickly be referred to a health professional employee.
Help will be sent to you while you are talking with the staff member at the 112 emergency call centre. Please remain where you are until help arrives.
IMPORTANT!
Avoid calling 112 if the situation is not acute. You risk blocking the telephone line for an emergency call.
Instead, call 114, which is the service number to the police all over the country.
In case of emergency dental treatment
If you have an accident involving your teeth, you should consult an emergency dentist that is open outside normal opening hours. The emergency dental service treats both adults and children.
Please note that such consultations and treatments are considerably more expensive than dental care provided during usual opening hours. Children under the age of 18 will receive the dental treatment free of charge.
- Emergency dental care in the Capital Region of Denmark (In Danish)
- Emergency dental care in Central Region Denmark (In Danish)
- Emergency dental care in the North Denmark Region (In Danish)
- Emergency dental care in Region Zealand (In Danish)
- Emergency dental care in the Region of Southern Denmark (In Danish)
In case you lost your credit card
If your credit card is lost or stolen, it is important to report it immediately.
You can call Nets – a Nordic provider of payment solutions, credit card and information services – 24 hours, year round.
- For Dankort, Visa/Dankort and Visa Electron please call: (+45) 44 89 29 29
- For MasterCard, Maestro, Visa and American Express, please call: (+45) 44 89 27 50
To deal with unauthorised charges, you must contact your own bank, which can also issue a new credit card.
In case you need an accident and emergency department
Accident and emergency (A&E) departments treat serious injuries, which your own GP (general practitioner) is unable to treat; for example a broken finger.
A&E departments are often busy, so you should expect some waiting time.
In case of accidents and very serious injuries, always call 112.
In some regions, you must make a call before going to the accident and emergency department. It differs from one region to another whether you are to call the accident and emergency department, your GP or others.
The links below will shows you the addresses of all the accident and emergency departments in the country, and they will inform you of where you may have to call before going to the accident and emergency department.
- Emergency medical services in the Capital Region of Denmark
- Emergency contact information in Central Denmark Region
- Emergency care in North Denmark Region
- Emergency help from Region Zealand
- Emergency care in the Region of Southern Denmark (In Danish)
In case you need out-of-house medical service
The out-of-hours medical service is open when your own GP (general practitioner) is closed – in the evening and on weekends.
If you fall ill or suffer an injury outside your own GP’s normal opening hours, you can call the out-of-hours medical service – if the problem cannot wait until your own GP is available.
A doctor will answer your phone call, and either:
- You will get a consultation on the phone
- You will be asked to come for a consultation at an emergency service centre
- Or – in special emergencies – a doctor will come and visit you in your home
In many cases, you will be asked to contact your own GP for a consultation.
The out-of-hours doctor can, among other things, prescribe medicines, refer you to an accident and emergency (A&E) department or admit you to the hospital.
The out-of-hours doctor will be able to assist you more quickly, if you have your health insurance card ready and if you have taken your temperature, if you suspect you are running a fever.
Find phone numbers of out-of-hours medical service in your region (in Danish)
In case you want to report a crime
Call the police at 114 to report a crime. 114 is the nation-wide service number of the police.
Call 114 if you:
- want to report a crime where there is no need for immediate police assistance
- have information for the police about the commitment of a crime
- need information or guidance about permissions issued by the police
If there is a need for immediate police assistance, please call 112 instead.
You can also call or contact your local police. Please find addresses and phone numbers on the website of the police.
Find your local police office.
In case you want to report a theft or property damage
In case you experience theft or minor crimes, you can easily report it online on the website of the police.
Please note that attacks, housebreaking/burglary or other offences that demand immediate intervention by the police, must be reported to the police by phone or by personal application.
In very urgent cases, you must call 112.
To contact your local police office, please find addresses and phone numbers on the website of the police.
If you stay in Denmark for less than three months, please be aware that you will not be covered by the Danish national healthcare system. We strongly recommend that you take out private health insurance before coming to Denmark.
Non-EU/EEA citizens
We strongly recommend you to take out private health insurance. Read more about recommended insurances.
EU/EEA citizens
If you have a blue European health insurance card, we recommend that you bring it with you when traveling to Denmark. With this card, you will be entitled to Danish healthcare on equal terms with other Danish citizens. Read more about EU health insurance.
Nordic citizens
If you are covered by the public healthcare system in your home country, you will be entitled to Danish healthcare on equal terms with other Danish citizens.
Can you go to the doctor without a Danish health insurance card (CPR)?
During working hours, you can contact any doctor in your area of residence and request a consultation. You can find doctors by typing online "lægen i Aalborg" (doctor in Aalborg), for example.
After 16:00 (4 p.m.) on weekdays, or around the clock at weekends and public holidays, you can call the Medical Helpline, Vagtlægen. The telephone numbers of your emergency doctor service are divided by region:
If you are using a mobile phone service based outside Denmark, please remember to use Denmark’s country code +45 or 0045 before dialing your region's number.