Forside English version Citizen Service Center Healthcare

In Denmark, healthcare is financed by taxation. Thus, you can go to the doctor and be hospitalised without having to pay any fees. However, you need to pay for medicin, dental treatments and certain special treatments such as physiotherapy.

CPR number

Upon arrival in Denmark, and when you register in the Danish National Register (“Folkeregisteret”) you will receive your personal, central Danish ID number or “CPR no.” – usually referred to in Danish as your “CPR nummer”. You will need your CPR no. when you contact the public authorities. You will also need your CPR no. if you want to open a bank account.

Your yellow Danish National Health Card

Approximately two weeks after you have registered, you will receive your yellow National Health Card to your Danish address. The card will show your name and address, your CPR no. and the name and address of your doctor. You will need the card as proof of identity at your doctor’s, at libraries and in many other contexts. We therefore recommend that you always carry your yellow Health Insurance Card with you.

Here you will find information about the health card, insurance categories, as well as fares and rules for renewal of the health card. In addition, the site will provide information about the validity of the health card when traveling abroad.

Health Card and its features

Living in Denmark you are entitled to services offered by the public health care system. The health insurance card proves that you are entitled to the services offered by the public health care system and the card has to be brought along on application to the following:

• General practitioner (GP)
• Medical specialist
• Dentist
• Physiotherapist
• Chiropractor
• Psychologist
• Pharmacy
• Hospital
• Municipality
• Traveling abroad

When moving and changing name you will automatically get a new card for free. In other cases you have to pay for a new health insurance card – see the paragraph on ”Change of doctor and category”

Insurance Category 1

In this category you must be assigned to a general practitioner. The GP can refer you to a medical specialist, physiotherapist and podiatrist, while you are free to choose dentist and chiropractor. All doctor and medical specialist expenses are paid by the health insurance. Financial aid is provided for treatment in other areas.

Insurance Category 2

In this category you are free to choose general practitioner, medical specialist, dentist and chiropractor. The GP must refer a physiotherapist and podiatrist. The person in charge of the treatment determines the expenses of the treatment. The same financial aid as in category 1 is provided, so the remainder of the expenses must be paid by you.

Change of doctor and category

You must pay for a new health insurance card if you change GP, insurance category, or if you lose or damage your health insurance card. You can obtain a new card by using the Municipality District of Aalborg’s self services.

Traveling and staying abroad

While on vacation for less than a month in a EU/EEA country, the standard yellow National Health Service medical card covers expenses of urgent illness, accidents and death (read more about these countries in “Read more” below). When staying abroad for a longer period, you must approach your social district. Here you will receive advise on how to relate to health and medical service issues.