Health care in Denmark
Denmark has a public health system financed by general taxes. Everyone who lives in Denmark and is registered in the Civil Registration System (CPR) has the right to public health care (public health insurance, sygesikring). You pay no premium, and visits to your GP, specialists and public hospitals are free. Today five regions run hospitals and GPs. From 1 January 2027 there will be four, because Region Hovedstaden (Copenhagen) and Region Sjælland merge into Region Østdanmark. The 98 municipalities run home nursing, rehabilitation and children's dental care.
Health insurance card and choosing a GP
- When you register your address, you choose a GP (praktiserende læge) who accepts new patients. If fewer than 2 GPs within 15 km of your home (5 km in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Tårnby and Dragør) have open lists, you can ask to join a closed list. You then get the yellow health insurance card (sundhedskort) by post after about 2–3 weeks, or use the Sundhedskortet app.
- Almost everyone is in group 1 (sikringsgruppe 1). You need a referral from your GP to see most specialists, a physiotherapist or a psychologist. You do not need one for an ear, nose and throat doctor, an eye doctor, a dentist or a chiropractor.
- In group 2 you are not registered with one GP and need no referral for specialists, but you pay the difference if the doctor charges more than the public subsidy.
- Changing GP costs DKK 40 (2026). It is free when you move, when your GP closes, or when you turn 15.
- Children under 15 follow their parents' GP and group.
Medicine, dental care and other costs
- Prescription medicine is subsidised more as your yearly spending grows. In 2026 an adult pays the full price up to DKK 1,135 in a 12-month period, and then a falling share. An adult never pays more than DKK 4,850 in a 12-month period for subsidised medicine.
- Dental care: treatment is free in the municipal children's dental service until age 18, and until 22 for young people born after 31 December 2003. Adults pay for dental treatment themselves, with a regional subsidy for check-ups, cleaning and fillings, for example. For treatment costing more than DKK 2,500 after the subsidy, the dentist must offer a written estimate.
- The region also gives subsidies for physiotherapy, psychologists and chiropractors under set conditions.
Out of hours and emergencies
- Outside your GP's opening hours, call the out-of-hours doctor (lægevagten) in your region. You must always book a time before you go.
- In a life-threatening emergency, call 112.
Common pitfalls for newcomers
- Without a CPR registration you have no yellow card. Register your address with the municipality as soon as you move in.
- Some GPs are closed to new patients. Check sundhed.dk for GPs with open lists before you choose.
- Do not turn up at the out-of-hours doctor without calling first. You always need an appointment.
- Adults pay most dental costs themselves. Compare prices on sundhed.dk and ask for an estimate.
Official guidance: borger.dk: health insurance and groups, lifeindenmark.dk: health insurance card, Danish Medicines Agency: subsidy thresholds, sundhed.dk