Chapter II: Health Care Chapter II: Health Care
Applicable statutory basisLaw of 1962 on General Social Security with amendments.
BeneficiariesAll residents.
No ceiling.
All residents.
No special rules for pensioners.
ConditionsNo qualifying period required.
From beginning of illness.
Unlimited.
OrganisationApproval
All doctors qualified to practise are able to be affiliated to the sickness insurance (sjuk- och föräldraförsäkring).
Payment
Doctors employed by the public health authorities are paid an income.
Private practitioners affiliated to a county council paid according to a tax which is fixed after negotiations between the government and the doctors' organisations.
Public hospitals established by regional health authorities (county councils).
Private hospitals: the regional health authorities may conclude agreement with private hospitals.
BenefitsFree choice of doctors in the public health and private practitioners affiliated to a county council.
The patient pays a part of the cost himself. The doctor, if it is a private practitioner, will be paid the rest from the regional health authorities.
The insured person pays between SEK 100 (EUR 11) and SEK 140 (EUR 15) per visit to a doctor.
For specialist care the patient pays between SEK 120 (EUR 13) and SEK 250 (EUR 26).
Emergency cases: between SEK 120 (EUR 13) and SEK 300 (EUR 32). Below the age of 20 no charge.
Free choice of regional public hospitals and approved private establishments.
The patient will be charged maximum SEK 80 (EUR 8.45) per 24 hours.
See "Hospitalisation".
See "Hospitalisation".
For children up to 20 years of age dental care is free of charge in the public dental care.
A new system of dental care subsidies is introduced from 1 January 1999. Free pricing is introduced for dentists and dental hygenists.
For basic treatment the insurance pays a fixed amount to the dentist and the individual the remaining costs. The amount from the insurance corresponds to 30% of the tariff valid for 1998.
For prosthetic treatment and orthodontic treatment there is a limit for high costs, where the insurance pays double the fixed amount for basic care reduced by SEK 3,500 (EUR 370) and the individual pays the rest.
The patient pays the whole cost up to and including SEK 400 (EUR 42).
Costs between SEK 401 (EUR 42) and SEK 1,200 (EUR 127) are subsidised by 50%.
Costs between SEK 1,201 (EUR 127) and SEK 2,800 (EUR 296) are subsidised by 75%.
Costs between SEK 2,801 (EUR 296) and SEK 3,800 (EUR 401) are subsidised by 90%.
Costs above SEK 3,800 (EUR 401) are subsidised totally.
The county councils provide appliances on certain conditions.
Reimbursement for transportation costs on certain conditions.
Limitations for high costs. When a person within a 12 months period has costs for public health and medical care the limit is a maximum of SEK 900 (EUR 95). For pharmaceutical products the limit is SEK 1,300 (EUR 137) for a period of 12 months.