Hospital stays

No user charges are payable in Denmark.

In the Faroe Islands, persons who have been registered in the Faroese Population Register for more than six weeks, are not charged for hospital stays or treatment.

Residents of Denmark and Greenland are entitled to free treatment once they have been registered in the Faroese Population Register. Persons staying in the Faroe Islands for educational purposes are also entitled to free treatment even if their permanent address remains in Denmark or Greenland.

Residents of the other Nordic countries and the United Kingdom are entitled to free treatment in cases requiring urgent medical care.

Patients from other countries are charged for hospital treatment. Charges are calculated in accordance with the Danish DRG tariff schedule.

Persons temporarily staying in Greenland are entitled to healthcare services under rules set by Naalakkersuisut, either free of charge or for a fee.

Under Section 19(3) of the Greenland Home Rule Executive Order No. 15 of 19 May 1997 (ltf 15 1997), Naalakkersuisut may decide, after an individual assessment, that a stay exceeding six months in Greenland shall be treated as equivalent to registration in Greenland’s civil register, even if the person remains registered elsewhere. This ensures access to the same healthcare services as permanent residents, regardless of formal registration status.

Patients pay a charge for admission to hospitals and health centres: max EUR 71.50 for an out-patient visit and for overnight care in somatic department and EUR 32.80 in psychiatric departments. The charge for rehabilitation is EUR 18.80 per treatment day, and the maximum user charge for day surgery is EUR 233.80 plus EUR 71.50, if the patient must stay overnight. A series of treatment costs EUR 19.90 per visit (max. 45 times per year). Treatment for children under 18 year is free of charge excluding the first seven days in overnight care per calendar year.

The user charge for short-term inpatient care is EUR 50 per day and EUR 55 per day in the acute ward. For patients up to and including the calendar year in which they turn 21 the daily charge is EUR 35. Day surgery is subject to a user charge of EUR 100. Inpatient medical rehabilitation is charged at EUR 25 per day. The user charge for long-term institutional care is determined according to the patient’s ability to pay.

In-patient hospital treatment is free of charge to all persons that have health insurance in Iceland. In general, a person receives health insurance three months after registering their legal domicile in the National Register. This means that for the first three months, individuals who have moved to Iceland from other countries either pay full fee for medical services or take out a private health insurance. An exemption from the three-month waiting period can be granted for individuals from other Nordic countries, the other EEA countries, United Kingdom, or Switzerland if they were covered by the public social security system in the country of previous residence. See more information at - https://island.is/en/moving-to-iceland-insurance

In-patient hospital treatment is free of charge to all, but there are user charges for out-patient visits to doctors and specialists and for prescription medicines. Citizens must in general pay for radiology and laboratory tests and for non-emergency transportation. There are some exemptions, for example for people who suffer from chronic diseases, pregnant women and women who have just given birth.

The maximum payment for inpatient (hospital) care is SEK 130 per day. Hospital care is free for children below 18 years.

The fee for a hospital stay at emergency hospital emergency centre is SEK 400 for ages 18 to 84 years; SEK 120 for ages below 18 years, and SEK 0 for patients 85 years and more.

High-cost protection and free health card 

The maximum limit for patient charges is SEK 1 400 for out-patient health care for a 12 months period. After that, the patient receives a card for cost-free health care visits, valid in the whole country. The card does not cover: inpatient hospital care, non-appearance fees, certificates, vaccines, health examinations, etc.