Health insurance when moving to Denmark: the checkpoints

Anyone who lives in Denmark, that is, who is entered in the civil register (Folkeregister), is entitled to the benefits under the Danish Health Act; the public system is residence-based.

For people in security group 1, treatment with the chosen GP and in hospital is in principle free of charge; for dental treatment, physiotherapy and medicines an own share applies. The regions organise treatment locally.

The yellow health card (sundhedskort) proves the entitlement to public healthcare; it is issued when you register for the CPR number and sent to your Danish address after about two to three weeks; it is also available as an app.

In principle, the country where you work is responsible for health insurance, otherwise the country where you live; nationality does not count.

You get the CPR number from the municipality with the EU residence document and a permanent address in Denmark; the minimum period of residence for a permanent address is usually one to three months, depending on the municipality.

Anyone not entered in the Danish civil register (Folkeregister) is entitled to emergency hospital treatment during a temporary stay, for which the region in principle charges payment.

Citizens of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland who are over 18 and lived in one of these countries immediately before the move must give Udbetaling Danmark details of their previous country of health insurance, so that it can be clarified which country bears the treatment costs.

The EU directive ties the right of residence of economically inactive people to comprehensive health insurance cover in the host state; the Danish regulation and the SIRI documents we read name sufficient funds for this, but not health insurance.

EU citizens may stay up to three months without further formalities; anyone staying longer applies for an EU residence document (registreringsbevis) no later than three months after arrival. Employees and self-employed people have a right of residence of more than three months; for the residence document, an ID and proof of employment or self-employment are sufficient, and the regulation does not name proof of health insurance for it.

Anyone who does not work may stay longer than three months if they have sufficient funds and, after a case-by-case assessment, are not a burden on the social system; SIRI requires the proof for at least the first twelve months. Whether the authorities in practice still want to see insurance, you clarify with SIRI before the move.

How the rules have changed since the date of this page, you check against the sources on the day of your move. More on the policy under international health insurance.

Before you deregister (Abmeldung) in Germany, you clarify in writing what happens to your current insurance. The questions below apply to any destination country. They are questions, not legal advice: the answers are in your contract documents or come from the body you ask.

Three Denmark topics you clarify in advance with your Krankenkasse (German health insurance fund): the EHIC, a possible S1 (form for the entitlement in the new country of residence) and the day your cover in Germany ends. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) applies only during a temporary stay in another EU country; anyone who moves their habitual residence should, according to the EU Commission, register with form S1 and not use the EHIC.

If your family moves with you, you will find general information under health insurance for the family abroad.

If you have statutory insurance: questions for your Krankenkasse

• What happens to my membership when I deregister in Germany, and on what date does it end?
• Can I suspend the membership or take it up again later, and under what conditions?
• What confirmation of my previous insurance periods do I receive, and how quickly?
• What applies to co-insured family members: who stays insured and who does not?
• Is an S1 an option for me, and who issues it?
• Until which day does my cover apply, so that there is no gap between Germany and Denmark?

If you have private insurance: questions for your insurer

• Does my contract end with the move, is it suspended or does it continue?
• Is there an Anwartschaft (a German option to keep certain rights in private insurance while abroad), and what is preserved under it? Ask about the difference between the small and the large Anwartschaft, and whether a new health assessment would be needed on a return.
• Does my contract apply in the destination country, and for how long at a stretch?
• Which documents do I receive in writing before I cancel?
• Does the policy apply in Denmark for the whole length of stay, and do you confirm this in writing?
• Which treatments and costs does the policy include, and which not?

Do not cancel any contract before it is clarified in writing what applies afterwards. We explain the connections on the pages Health insurance when emigrating and PKV and Anwartschaft. For families, there is more at Health insurance for the family abroad.

1. EHIC as a permanent solution

   The EHIC applies only to a temporary stay. Ask your health insurer (Krankenkasse) about the route for a change of residence.

2. Treating the health card as automatic

   The yellow health card proves the entitlement to public healthcare and arrives with the CPR registration. Without a residence document and a permanent address there is no CPR number.

3. Forgetting the information on the country of health insurance

   Anyone moving to Denmark from an EU country must tell Udbetaling Danmark their previous country of health insurance.

4. Moving as an economically inactive person without a plan for insurance

   The EU directive requires economically inactive people to have comprehensive health insurance cover in the host state. Before the move, clarify with SIRI what it wants to see.

5. Not proving your funds

   Economically inactive people need sufficient funds, which SIRI assesses case by case. Keep bank statements, pension notices or contracts ready.