Note: Residents of the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway) need only to show a valid national ID card to prove eligibility for public healthcare in Sweden.

Emergency

• Call 112
• 1177, national service for healthcare advice:
  • online and by phone
  • 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • Nurses at 1177 will answer your questions, determine the need for further care, provide advice and/or recommend other healthcare assistance.
  • 1177 offers service in English.
  • Telephone: 1177
  • Website: www.1177.se, information available in several languages.

Treatment, coverage & costs

Doctors

The European Health Insurance Card entitles you to treatment at any public healthcare facility.

• Consult a doctor affiliated to the public insurance scheme.
• You need to present a valid European Health Insurance Card and a valid national ID/passport.
• Provided you have a valid card you are entitled to pay a subsidised fee for medically necessary treatment on the same basis as a Swedish resident. Charges are not refundable and may vary.
• Patients under 20 are treated free of charge in most areas.
• Without a card you will have to pay the entire cost of treatment yourself.

Private healthcare is in general not covered by the card but some private practitioners are affiliated to the public insurance scheme and accept the European Health Insurance Card. Before you visit a doctor or hospital, make sure that they accept the card in order to avoid unexpected costs.

Dentists

Most dentists can provide treatment under the public dental care scheme.

• Provided you have a valid card you pay the full cost up to 3 000 SEK. From 3 001 SEK to 15 000 SEK you pay 50% of the cost and over 15 001 SEK you pay 15% of the cost.
• Patients under 24 are treated free of charge.
• For more information, please contact the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), tel:+46 771 524 524.

Hospital treatment

• In-patient treatment is generally free, except for a non-refundable standard daily fee.
• For out-patient care you will pay a subsidised fee. Charges are not refundable and may vary.
• Specialist healthcare is charged.

Prescriptions

• You need to present a valid European Health Insurance Card at the pharmacy in order to pay the subsidised price.
• Charges may vary.

Ambulance

• Ambulance service is free of charge in most areas.

Air ambulance

• Air ambulance service is free of charge in most areas.

Reimbursement

• There is no reimbursement system in Sweden.
• With your European Health Insurance Card you should only be charged the standard patient fee, which is not refundable.
• If you have to pay for care, contact your national health insurance institution once you return home to apply for reimbursement.

Patient contribution

• The level of co-payment varies from 100 to 300 SEK if you visit a general practitioner. The level of co-payment is a bit higher if you visit a specialist doctor, from 100 to 400 SEK. These co-payments are only for non-hospitalised primary healthcare.
• For those patients who need healthcare more often there is a price ceiling, meaning that no one should pay more than 1 300 SEK per year.
• There is a maximum level of co-payment for hospitalised healthcare: 110 SEK per day.
• Healthcare for individuals under 20 year is free of charge in most of the counties and regions.
• Maternity care is always free of charge.
• In some counties and regions you need to pay a smaller fee for ambulance and helicopter service.

Dialysis, oxygen & chemotherapy

How do I apply for an EHIC?

The card can be ordered:

• By phone
• By visiting one of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency offices (find an office here)
• By using the Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s e-service (please note that this option is available in Swedish only)

You can read more about the EHIC and how to apply for it here.

Doctors & hospitals accepting the EHIC

• There is no overall central public database with doctors and hospitals in Sweden that accept the EHIC.
• Patients may contact 1177, the national service for healthcare advice, to get information about local healthcare providers that accept the EHIC.

Loss of card

Contacts for holders of EHICs issued in Sweden

Swedish social insurance agency, Försäkringskassan
Tel: +46 771 524 524 (customer service)