Special rules apply for coverage of treatment costs incurred during travel in the Faroe Islands, Greenland, the Nordic countries, and the United Kingdom. These rules come into effect before the public travel health insurance comes into play to cover additional costs not absorbed by the public health insurance in those countries.
On the Faroe Islands and in Greenland, persons covered by the Danish health insurance have the right to necessary and acute treatment under the same conditions as persons covered by the Faroese/Greenlandic health insurances respectively.
Regarding travels in the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland) and the United Kingdom, the provisions in the Nordic Convention (Nordisk Konvention) or the EU rules apply. These provisions grant Danes the right to treatment under the same condition as citizens covered by the public health insurance in the country in question. This means that you may have to absorb some costs yourself. The Nordic Convention likewise provides coverage for additional costs in connection with home transportation if such transportation is prescribed by a doctor. Costs not covered by the Nordic Convention/the EU rules may be covered by the public travel health insurance, provided the costs are of a type included under this scheme.
Public coverage under the EU rules
The EU rules apply for travels in: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland (The Netherlands), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Under the EU rules, costs of treatment by doctors or in hospitals necessary during your stay abroad are covered, as are costs of medication etc. The need for treatment is assessed under consideration of the type of treatment in question and the duration of your stay. Treatment is given on the same conditions that apply to the public health insurance for citizens of the country in question. It is the treatment doctor who will decide whether your condition will require treatment during your stay abroad.
The EU rules apply to travels for vacation purposes as well as for study or professional purposes for a period not exceeding one year, and may also cover costs of check ups and treatment of chronic diseases. Costs of home transportation are not covered under the EU rules.
The right to benefits under the EU rules is demonstrated by the EU health insurance card, which is issued by your municipal authority. The EU health insurance card is a plactic card, of credit card size and shape, which is normally issued with an expiry date. Within the United Kingdom, it is sufficient to present your Danish passport. Within the Nordic countries, the yellow health insurance card suffices.
For further information regarding the EU health card, please contact your local municipality.
